2015 BMW M3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Apr 24, 2024 · 4 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other M3 years
Not enough data 19th of 28 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 BMW M3. That ranks 19th out of 28 M3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (2 complaints, 50%). There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.

BMW M3
BMW_M3_CS in Böblingen. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2015 BMW M3 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Fuel/propulsion System2
Engine1 · ~95,000 mi
Unknown or Other1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Fuel/propulsion System250%———
Engine125%95,000——
Unknown or Other125%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2022, with 2 complaints
2019: 1201912020: 1202012022: 220222

n = 4 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2015 BMW M3 recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:side/windowApr 24, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V288000 · 5,761 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.

Risk: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Structure:frame and membersSep 9, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V653000 · 196 vehicles

Problem: BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 BMW M2 Coupe vehicles, 2015-2017 M3 Sedan vehicles and 2015-2016 M4 Coupe and M4 Convertible vehicles. During servicing of the rear differential for a prior service action, the rear sub-frame bolts may have been reused instead of being replaced. Reuse of the existing bolts may cause the bolts to loosen.

Risk: Loose rear sub-frame bolts may adversely affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear sub-frame bolts with new bolts, free of charge. The recall began on November 3, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Power train:driveline:driveshaftNov 23, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V782000 · 42 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 M3 Sedan vehicles manufactured May 30, 2015, to September 2, 2015, 2016 M4 Coupe vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to September 11, 2015, and 2015-2016 M4 Convertible vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to August 4, 2015. The affected vehicles have a driveshaft with a slip-joint that may not have been filled with grease. As a result, the slip-joint may fail over time.

Risk: If the slip-joint fails, there would be a loss of power to the rear axle and therefore the vehicle would stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driveshaft, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 14, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Gas tank has a significant leak. This allows for the opportunity to ignite the car putting all persons lives in danger, and effects emissions. Problem has been confirmed by independent Indy shop technician

Fuel/propulsion System · received May 14, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11464603

Fuel tank top weld has failed, and is actively leaking fuel. This is likely to cause ignition of the vehicle during use and poses a threat to the lives of passengers and other drivers on the road as well as emissions failure. The failed weld was confirmed by independent Bmw technician. This part is…

Fuel/propulsion System · received May 14, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11464617

Rear view camera stopped working, screen displays "no signal". Fuse did not blow.

Unknown or Other · received Jul 28, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11341883

Crank hub spun timing sprocket causing valves to impact piston and catastrophic engine failure. Quoted more than $10k out of pocket to repair. This is caused due to poor crank hub design. Car companies have been using keyed crankhubs for generations but bmw decided to not used a keyed hub.. This is…

Engine · received Dec 18, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11289890

Other BMW M3 years

← 2014 M3 · 2016 M3 →

See all BMW M3 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2015 BMW M3?

Owners most often report fuel/propulsion system, engine, unknown or other problems. The top one, fuel/propulsion system, accounts for 2 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2015 BMW M3?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2015 BMW M3 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other M3 model years, the 2015 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.