Model year record
2011 BMW M3 Us recalls & problems
The 2011 BMW M3 Us has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 10 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine (4 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2011 BMW M3 Us.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 42,000 mi |
| Power train | 3 | 15,250 mi |
| Air bags | 3 | — |
| Electrical system | 2 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Electrical 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.
- Unknown or otherFire
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.
- Air 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…
- Air 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.
- Engine
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…
- Air 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
- Electrical 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.
- Engine
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.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.