BMW M3 US · model year

2011 BMW M3 US

14 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011BMWM3 US carries 14 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 M3 US is engine with 4 filings, followed by power train (3) and air bags (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2011 M3 US. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

14
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

14 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE4
POWER TRAIN3
AIR BAGS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recent Complaints

20190724ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3 US. WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RALLYE BMW (516-393-0000, LOCATED AT 1 BRUSH HOLLOW RD, WESTBURY, NY 11590) WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BATTERY BE REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE SAME AS THE ONE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V472000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,250.

Mileage: 15,250

20190724POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3 US. WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RALLYE BMW (516-393-0000, LOCATED AT 1 BRUSH HOLLOW RD, WESTBURY, NY 11590) WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BATTERY BE REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE SAME AS THE ONE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V472000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,250.

Mileage: 15,250

20170630FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE DRIVING CAR ON SMALL COUNTY HIGHWAY, ENGINE STALLED. PULLED CAR TO SHOULDER AND SMELLED ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. GOT OUT TO CHECK CAR AND SAW SMOKE. WITHIN MINUTES ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. FIRE BURNED THROUGH HOOD AND BROKE WINDSHIELD. ENTIRE ENGINE BAY WAS DESTROYED. CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY. HAD BEEN PURCHASED ONLY 5 WEEKS PRIOR FROM DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY SORT OF SIGNS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. CAR ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 50K MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 50,000

20170627AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL BMW DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE HONORING THEIR RECALL OBLIGATION. I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE DESPITE CONTACTING THE DEALER REPEATEDLY. BMW HAS BEEN PROMISING THE PARTS FOR OVER ONE YEAR NOW. I BELIEVE THEY ARE STALLING TO REDUCE THEIR COST DUE TO CARS FALLING OUT OF SERVICE FROM WRECKS ETC. THE DEALER ALSO REFUSES TO DISABLE THE AIRBAGS LEAVING BMW OWNERS NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS CARS. YET THEY CAN FIND ENOUGH AIRBAGS TO MANUFACTURE NEW VEHICLES. I KNOW THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM BUT IF THE NHSTA CAN EXERT A LITTLE PRESSURE FOR THESE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS TO EMPHASIZE REPAIRING THEIR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CARS THE PUBLIC WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

20170417AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3 US. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170306ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON A CALIFORNIA INTERSTATE, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST FORWARD MOMENTUM, POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN TO THE DASH, THE DCT TRANSMISSION HAD SHIFTED ITSELF TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN. I UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED A RESTART AS I TRIED TO SAFELY MAKE MY WAY THROUGH THE RIGHT LANES OF TRAFFIC SO I COULD PULL OFF ON THE SHOULDER. AFTER NARROWLY BEING HIT BY PASSING CARS, I MANAGED TO GET INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND COAST OFF A FREEWAY EXIT RAMP. THE CAR BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND BRAKE. AS I TURNED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS SOON AS I HIT 10MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY PUT ITSELF IN PARK, CAUSING A JOLTING SENSATION AND AN ABRUPT, UNSAFE STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OVER SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS ALERTED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL PAN AND THAT CYLINDER ONE HAD SEIZED DUE TO ROD BEARING FAILURE. THE ENGINE HAD 53,000 MILES WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THIS NECESSIT

Mileage: 53,000

20161209AIR BAGS

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE AIRBAG RECALL FIXED BUT MY BMW DEALERSHIP HAS CONTINUED TO SAY THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OF THE REPAIR KITS. I HAVE BEEN WAITING ALMOST A YEAR AND AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION. RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT TO ME FEB 2016. *TR

20160701ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE THIRD LANE AT 70 MPH MY ENTIRE ELECTRICITY TO THE CAR SHUT OFF . WITH THREE CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND NO TIME TO GET OVER I ALMOST GOT HIT . AFTER BEING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF SEVERAL HIGH SPEEDING CAR. IT SUDDENLY CAME ON AGAIN. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME ,JUST THE DANGEROUS MOMENT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY, REPLACED IT AN THIS HAPPENS.

Mileage: 70,000

20151005ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS TRAVELING AROUND 45MPH. AS I SWITCHED GEARS FROM 2ND TO 3RD I NOTICED AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. MY VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE CAR THEY SAID THERE WAS AN ENGINE FAILURE MOST LIKELY DUE TO ROD BEARING FAILURE.

Mileage: 48,000

20141005ENGINE

MY CAR WAS IN SECOND WASN'T SPEEDING ON A LOCAL STREET AS I PUT IT IN 3RD GEAR MY CAR SHUT OFF THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I TOOK IT TO BMW SINCE I HAVE WARRANTY FOR 3 YEAS MIND YOU I ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 5 MONTHS I GOT THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN TENAFLY,NJ I GOT THE CAR AT 31K MILES ON IT AND WHEN MY CAR LAST WORK WHICH WAS LAST WEEK IT HAS 36K THERE TELLING I HAVE TO PAY 26K UP TO FIX . *TR

Mileage: 36,000

20141005POWER TRAIN

MY CAR WAS IN SECOND WASN'T SPEEDING ON A LOCAL STREET AS I PUT IT IN 3RD GEAR MY CAR SHUT OFF THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I TOOK IT TO BMW SINCE I HAVE WARRANTY FOR 3 YEAS MIND YOU I ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 5 MONTHS I GOT THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN TENAFLY,NJ I GOT THE CAR AT 31K MILES ON IT AND WHEN MY CAR LAST WORK WHICH WAS LAST WEEK IT HAS 36K THERE TELLING I HAVE TO PAY 26K UP TO FIX . *TR

Mileage: 36,000

20130930ENGINE

DRIVING IN 60/MPH SPEED. WHEN OVERTAKING A TRUCK; 'ENGINE FAULT' WARNING LIGHT CAME-UP. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY TURNED TO NEUTRAL. ENGINE WAS CUT-OFF. TRUCK WAS ABOUT TO REAR-END MY CAR. UNFORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT (TODDLER WAS INSIDE THE CAR). I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT THIS ISSUE WAS DUE TO 'FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE VACUUM SENSOR'. I REQUEST NHTSA & BMW TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND DETERMINE IF A RE-CALL IS REQUIRED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM W/ SIMILAR MODEL/YEAR CARS. *TR

Mileage: 8,200

20130930FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

DRIVING IN 60/MPH SPEED. WHEN OVERTAKING A TRUCK; 'ENGINE FAULT' WARNING LIGHT CAME-UP. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY TURNED TO NEUTRAL. ENGINE WAS CUT-OFF. TRUCK WAS ABOUT TO REAR-END MY CAR. UNFORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT (TODDLER WAS INSIDE THE CAR). I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT THIS ISSUE WAS DUE TO 'FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE VACUUM SENSOR'. I REQUEST NHTSA & BMW TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND DETERMINE IF A RE-CALL IS REQUIRED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM W/ SIMILAR MODEL/YEAR CARS. *TR

Mileage: 8,200

20130930POWER TRAIN

DRIVING IN 60/MPH SPEED. WHEN OVERTAKING A TRUCK; 'ENGINE FAULT' WARNING LIGHT CAME-UP. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY TURNED TO NEUTRAL. ENGINE WAS CUT-OFF. TRUCK WAS ABOUT TO REAR-END MY CAR. UNFORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT (TODDLER WAS INSIDE THE CAR). I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT THIS ISSUE WAS DUE TO 'FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE VACUUM SENSOR'. I REQUEST NHTSA & BMW TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND DETERMINE IF A RE-CALL IS REQUIRED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM W/ SIMILAR MODEL/YEAR CARS. *TR

Mileage: 8,200

Compare 2011BMWM3 US to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 BMW M3 US have?
The 2011 BMW M3 US has 14 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW M3 US?
The most-complained component for the 2011 BMW M3 US is ENGINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2011 BMW M3 US safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.