Representative model. Photo: Land Rover Series 3, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2003 BMW M3 recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2003 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 5
Park-it warnings: 4
Complaints: 141
Latest campaign: Jan 15, 2020

Recall summary by component5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Park‑it	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	4	4	Jan 15, 2020	20V018000 14V428000 15V318000 13V172000
Visibility	1	–	Apr 29, 2003	03V160000

Safety recalls5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

4Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Jan 15, 2020Latest campaign


Jan 15, 202020V018000	Air bags: frontal passenger side An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Do not drive until repaired DetailsHide details for campaign 20V018000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. Risk An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Campaign NHTSA 20V018000 · Jan 15, 2020
Jun 11, 201814V428000	Air bags In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal… Do not drive until repaired DetailsHide details for campaign 14V428000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. Risk In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants. Remedy Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com. Campaign NHTSA 14V428000 · Jun 11, 2018
May 28, 201515V318000	Air bags: frontal driver side In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants… Do not drive until repaired DetailsHide details for campaign 15V318000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. Risk In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Remedy Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall. Campaign NHTSA 15V318000 · May 28, 2015
May 2, 201313V172000	Air bags In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously… Do not drive until repaired DetailsHide details for campaign 13V172000 What's wrong BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. Risk In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants. Remedy Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW intends to issue initial notifications to owners informing them of the safety defect in June 2013. Once replacement parts are available, estimated for July, BMW will notify owners again to contact their dealers and schedule a replacement of the passenger air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com. Campaign NHTSA 13V172000 · May 2, 2013
Apr 29, 200303V160000	Visibility: power window devices and controls OCCUPANTS COULD BE PINCHED BY A WINDOW THAT IS BEING CLOSED. DetailsHide details for campaign 03V160000 What's wrong ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE WINDOW LIFTING ANTI-PINCHING DEVICE MIGHT NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. Risk OCCUPANTS COULD BE PINCHED BY A WINDOW THAT IS BEING CLOSED. Remedy DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE WINDOW LIFTING ANTI-PINCHING DEVICE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 27, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117. Campaign NHTSA 03V160000 · Apr 29, 2003

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2003 BMW M3? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component141

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

141Complaints filed

8Involving a crash

2Involving a fire

7Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Air bags	37	26	5	0	6
Exterior lighting	27	19	1	0	0
Power train	21	15	1	0	0
Electrical system	18	13	1	0	1
Structure	11	8	0	0	0
Suspension	9	6	0	0	0
Tires	7	5	0	0	1
Engine and engine cooling	6	4	0	0	0
Latches/locks/linkages	6	4	0	0	0
Visibility	6	4	0	1	0
Engine	5	4	0	0	0
Fuel system	4	3	0	0	0
Unknown or other	3	2	0	0	0
Wheels	3	2	0	0	1
Service brakes	3	2	2	0	0

12 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names M3 Convertible, M3 Coupe.

Latest reports

Tires
“On May 01, 2026, at approximately 0230 while traveling on hwy. I75 I heard a loud pop towards the rear for the vehicle as the car started to slide.”
Filed 05/04/2026 · ODI 11735676
Air bags
“The contact owns a 2003 BMW M3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V018000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable.”
Filed 08/18/2025 · ODI 11681428
Air bags
“I was driving on the freeway, then all of a sudden my drivers side air bags deployed.”
Filed 10/16/2019 · ODI 11268883

Other BMW M3 model years

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2003 BMW M3 recall questions

How many recalls does the 2003 BMW M3 have?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns for the 2003 BMW M3. The most recent, 20V018000 (reported January 15, 2020), concerns air bags. 4 campaigns carry a park-it or park-outside warning. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2003 BMW M3 recalls for?

The largest group is air bags, with 4 campaigns. Others: visibility (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2003 BMW M3?

Air bags is the most-reported component, named in 37 complaints out of 141 filed with NHTSA (26%). Across all complaints, owners reported 8 crashs and 2 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2003 BMW M3?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised BMW dealer.

Check a specific BMW by VIN

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