There are no safety recalls for the 2003 BMW 3 Series, but owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA.
2003 BMW 3 Series problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 25 | |
| Air Bags | 21 | |
| Electrical System | 12 | |
| Structure | 5 | |
| Power Train | 4 | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 4 | |
| Suspension | 4 | |
| Tires | 3 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | |
| Visibility | 2 | |
| Engine | 2 | |
Most reported parts
- Structure › Body — 4
- Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 3
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 2
- Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Control Unit/Module — 1
- Electronic Stability Control › Automatic (Asc) — 1
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 1
- Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System — 1
- Electrical System › Wiring — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 77,217 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2003 BMW 3 Series complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Exterior Lighting · at 117,000 miles · reported Jun 16, 2019
Brake lights on both sides gets stuck on once the pedal is pressed. This produces no error codes. I was told it could be the brake pedal pressure sensor switch. I changed this and it did nothing. This is very dangerous to other drivers because they are not sure if the car is braking as the light is always on and will burn out the bulbs and melt the housing if constantly on. This can be reproduced either while parked or in motion.
Electrical System · at 50,000 miles · reported Jul 31, 2017
Transmission will drop out of gear and shut car down, while vehicle in motion during normal use. Vehicle will only work when cold, manufacturer is aware of badly designed smg temp sensor and negligently designed computer logic that shifts transmission to neutral and shuts car down.
Exterior Lighting · reported Nov 27, 2016
The zkw xenon headlights have a flaw in the plastic projector housing. The housing gets too hot and melts and the light output is severely restricted. This happens to 100% of the headlights made by this manufacturer and is a safety issue. The reflective coating on the headlights melts and the light can no longer be projected out correctly. The fog lights are now brighter then the headlights. The vehicle can no longer be safely driven at night. Spare parts are not available and the only fix is to replace the entire headlights at a cost of over $2000. There should be a recall to replace the…
Air Bags · reported Oct 10, 2016
Takata recall. After waiting 9 months for replacement of passenger side air bag I received another recall notice for the drivers side airbag. It has now been nearly 15 months and no remedy in sight . Received a " final remedy available " letter dated sept. 2016 asking that I call dealer for repair. Called local dealer october 10/16 and was told no parts are available.I have not had full use of my vehicle for nearly 2 years and see no remedy coming anytime soon.
Air Bags · reported Aug 18, 2016
I sent you my first complaint on or around august 10, 2016, and only received a 'thank you' return note, and that you would get back to me. You have not! To recapitulate the earlier complaint, I received recall campaign no. 15v-318 in july 2015, and have since not received anything from bmw. I called bmw customer relations around august 4, to find out the status of the airbag replacement. After getting no information from the first customer relations person, I was connected to a supervisor who also gave me no information. I asked when I could expect a airbag replacement - they told me…
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2003 BMW 3 Series have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2003 BMW 3 Series as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 BMW 3 Series?
Owners report exterior lighting problems most often (25 reports), followed by air bags (21). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 77,217 miles.
Are BMW recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized BMW dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.