RoadVitals

2010 BMW 3 Series Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
30
Latest Feb 11, 2019
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 27, 2010

What this page shows

Our database holds 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2010 BMW 3 Series. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 30 · page 1 of 2

Airbags
Filed Feb 11, 2019

AIR BAG LIGHT JUST CAME ON, HAD IT CHECKED BUT STILL THERE

NHTSA ID
11176210
Incident
Feb 6, 2019
Mileage
85,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 4, 2018

FOUND A BROKEN BOLT OF THE INTAKE CYLINDER HEAD, WAS BROKE WITHOUT ANY REASON. I NOT THE ONLY ONE, FOUND THIS VIDEO. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=A7HIZIB96PQ THERE ARE 3 MORE BOLTS INSIDE THE CYLINDER HEAD THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE ON THE ENGINE IF BROKEN.

NHTSA ID
11145232
Incident
Nov 1, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Sep 28, 2018

TAKATA RECALL - I THINK AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME. BMW SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AFFECTING THIS. BOTH STATIONARY AND MOVING.

NHTSA ID
11132144
Incident
Sep 22, 2018
Mileage
103,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 11, 2018

TOO LONG TO REMEDY

NHTSA ID
11119313
Incident
Aug 11, 2018
Electrical
Filed Jun 5, 2018

IN NOVEMBER 2017, BMW SENT ME LETTERS REGARDING POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARDS DUE TO DEFECTS OF THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING AND THE PCV VALVE HEATER (RECALL NUMBERS 17V-676 AND 17V-683). NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AND NO REPAIR OFFERED TO CORRECT POSSIBLE DEFECTS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEM RELATED TO THESE PARTS. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THESE ISSUES, BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL AND REPAIR AFFECTED CARS PROMPTLY.

NHTSA ID
11099988
Incident
Jun 5, 2018
Airbags
Filed Aug 24, 2017

TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL

NHTSA ID
11019259
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 15, 2017

BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRE TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE - DELIMITATION? NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING IN ARIZONA. TIRE APPEARS TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT TREAD LEFT AND STILL HOLDS AIR. SEE PHOTO.

NHTSA ID
11015385
Incident
Aug 14, 2017
Mileage
53,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 7, 2017

FAULTY FUEL INJECTORS. KNOWN PROBLEM AT BMW AND MECHANICS. BMW HAS OFFERED AN "LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION". WHY WASN'T IT A FULL RECALL? MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. I'M REPORTING IT ONLY AS A CONCERN.

NHTSA ID
11013535
Incident
Aug 7, 2017
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 7, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY AIRBAG TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
11013373
Incident
Aug 7, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 18, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN FEBRUARY 2016. IT IS NOW ALMOST AUGUST 2017. 18 MONTHS FOR A SAFETY RECALL IS BEYOND REASONABLE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11006134
Incident
Jul 18, 2017
Mileage
52,300 mi
Airbags
Filed May 19, 2017

TAKATA RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10990524
Incident
May 18, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jan 7, 2017

"TAMARA RECALL" - AFTER CALLING MY DEALER TO ASK WHEN MY CAR WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED ABOUT WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN. I RECEIVED MY RECALL LETTER EARLY LAST YEAR. IT SEEMS TO ME AS THOUGH SOMEONE IS DRAGGING THEIR FEET. MAYBE YOUR AGENCY NEEDS TO LIGHT A FIRE UNDER THOSE INVOLVED IN EXPEDITING THIS RECALL FULFILLMENT.

NHTSA ID
10940282
Incident
Mar 31, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jan 5, 2017

TAKATA RECALL BMW PROMISED TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG IN 2016 LATE SUMMER. BUT NOW IT IS JANUARY, 2017. THEY STILL HAVEN'T PROVIDED PARTS TO GET IT FIXED IN A TIMELY MANNER. I CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY ARE JUST GIVING BS. THERE ARE 17 SIMILAR CUSTOMERS LIKE ME WAITING FOR PARTS. BMW SHOULD NOT ALLOW TO SELL ANY NEW CARS IN NC UNTIL WE GET THE PARTS. BECAUSE ALL NEW CAR COMES WITH NEW AIR BAG. IF THEY CAN SELL NEW CAR, THEY SHOULD HAVE AIR BAG. SO WHY NOT PUT THE SAFETY OF EXISTING CUSTOMER IN THE HIGHEST PRIORITY? *TR

NHTSA ID
10939927
Incident
Jan 5, 2017
Engine
Filed Dec 29, 2015

CATALYTIC PERMANENT FAILURE-REPLACE, 08MAY14, 30KMILES. OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACE, 16JUN14, 30KMILES. EXTREME CARBON BUILD UP-WALNUT BLAST CYLINDERS,CLEAN INTAKE&EXHAUST SIDE, 23MAR15, 35KMILES. REPLACE INJECTOR, 08APR15, 35K MILES. REPLACE NOX SENSOR, 17APR15, 29KMILES. DIESEL ACTIVE TANK FAILURE 28 SEPT 15, 37K MILES. CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE-PART ON BACK ORDER, 28SEPT15, 37KMILES. DSC REAR SENSOR FAILURE,07DEC15, 38K MILES. ABOVE ENGINE AND RELATED EMISSIONS FAULTS CAUSED POOR MILEAGE AND POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS, LIKELY TO BE NEEDED AGAIN-SPECIFICALLY WALNUT BLASTING. PER BMW PROBLEM CAUSED DUE TO CAR BEING DRIVEN IN CITY AND NOT HIGHWAY, "TO BLOW IT OUT"- LUCKILY NO ACCIDENTS

NHTSA ID
10816877
Incident
Mar 23, 2015
Engine
Filed Aug 4, 2015

WHEN DRIVING ON PA-401, I APPROACHED STOP SIGN AT PA-82. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, SLOWING TO MAKE A ROUTINE STOP. WHEN APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION AT LOW SPEED, I STARTED HEARING A PULSING THUMP FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. DROVE SLOWLY HOME AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A BMW DEALER. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE TWO ALUMINIUM ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR SNAPPED. THIS MEANT THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT PROPERLY FASTENED TO THE FRAME - A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS SHOULD NOT SNAP FOR NO REASON. AND BMW SHOULD COVER THEIR REPLACEMENT (PARTS AND LABOR) AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. (MY CAR WAS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED, SO I ONLY HAD A $50 OUT OF POCKET COST, BUT ONCE IT EXPIRES LATER THIS YEAR, MY COST WOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER, NOT TO MENTION THE DANGER OF DRIVING A CAR WITH A BOUNCING, UNSECURED ENGINE)

NHTSA ID
10746023
Incident
Jul 25, 2015
Mileage
68,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 27, 2015

PASSENGER SIDE REAR TURN SIGNAL CEASED TO FUNCTION....UPDATED 03/31/15 *BF THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TAIL LIGHT. IT WAS JUST A LOOSE CONNECTION.

NHTSA ID
10702259
Incident
Mar 23, 2015
Mileage
58,511 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 26, 2015
Crash reported

DRIVING FROM WORK ON A SNOWING DAY, GOING ABOUT 25 TO 35. THE REAR OF THE CAR STARTED GOING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF LANE. I TRADED TO GET CONTROL BUT IT WAS TO LATE. I HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER CAME OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10702037
Incident
Mar 20, 2015
Mileage
85,178 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 5, 2015

ENGINE IGNITION COIL FAILED AND CAR STARTED TO SHAKE RENDERING IT UNABLE TO DRIVE. CAR IS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THAT IGNITION COIL FAILURES ARE A COMMON ISSUE ACROSS BMWS. THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND I AM WONDERING WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL IN THE US. *TR

NHTSA ID
10692354
Incident
Mar 4, 2015
Mileage
56,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jan 13, 2015

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 295 AROUND 67 MPH. WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 10 MINUTES I FELT A LOSS OF SPEED ABOUT FIVE TIMES. IT FEEL LIKE I LET GO THE GAS PEDAL, BUT I NEVER DID. AND SUDDENLY THE CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS ON 67 MPH. I TRY TO PULLED TO THE RIGHT SIDE LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. I TRY TO START THE CAR BACK UP BUT IT WON'T START. I KEEP TRYIN FOR ABOUT TEN TIMES AND IT ABOUT HALF AN HOUR WENT BY IT START BACK UP AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10672035
Incident
Jan 13, 2015
Mileage
66,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 25, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE HOOD OF VEHICLE WAS OPEN, HE OBSERVED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THE EMISSION VALVE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID
10639084
Incident
Sep 23, 2014
Mileage
38,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 21, 2014

I AM 5'2", FAT AND WANTED EITHER AN ON/SWITCH FOR MY FRONT DRIVER'S AIRBAG, OR I WAS GOING TO APPLY UNDER YOUR GUIDELINES TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DISCONNECTED. BMW APPARENTLY CAN DO NEITHER SINCE THEIR AIRBAG IS TIED INTO ITS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING BUT A RUN AROUND REGARDING WHAT FOR ME IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T WANT TO BE DECAPITATED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. DO YOU HAVE ANY ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER THIS THAT WOULD MAKE BMW COMPLY WITH YOUR REQUIREMENTS? *TR

NHTSA ID
10627101
Incident
Aug 21, 2014
Mileage
44,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 11, 2014

NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKER STARTED TO BLINK QUICKLY. THE BRAKES AND TAIL LIGHTS USE A BULB WHILE THE BLINKER HAS APPROXIMATELY 15 LEDS. THEREFORE THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL OF THE LEDS DO NOT LIGHT UP AND THE ONES THAT DO ARE DIM. TWO WEEKS LATER THE DRIVER SIDE BLINKER DID THE SAME THING. THIS CONCERNS ME AS ANOTHER DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT I AM TURNING UNTIL IT IS TO LATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597574
Incident
May 22, 2014
Mileage
61,500 mi
Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 27, 2013

DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT CURLED UP AT FRONT AND WAS CAPTURED BY CLUTCH PEDAL WHEN CHANGING GEAR. WHEN CLUTCH WAS AGAIN ENGAGED, MAT WAS PULLED UP AND INTERFERED WITH SUBSEQUENT BRAKE OPERATION BEFORE FREEING ITSELF AND FALLING BACK ONTO FLOOR WELL. SINCE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, IT TOOK A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509785
Incident
Apr 1, 2013
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Feb 18, 2012

I WAS EXITING A FREEWAY AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PASSED THE VEHICLE AND ACCELERATED IN ORDER TO KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR BEHIND ME. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, WHEN I "PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL", I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. MY CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER FOR ABOUT 5 - 8 SECONDS. THE CAR I HAD JUST PASSED NEARLY REAR-ENDED ME BECAUSE THEY DID NOT EXPECT ME PASS AND THEN REDUCE MY SPEED. I TOOK MY CARE TO THE BMW DEALER WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THEY CHECKS OUT THE CAR (IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS OLD) AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE MORE OFTEN IN SPORT MODE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES OVER THE LAST 21 MONTHS AND THE DEALER HAS SAID EACH TIME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10448436
Incident
Jul 9, 2010
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 18, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 328I EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO CONTACT TIRES, SIZE 205/55/R16, DOT NUMBER: 1LT4 BXH62711. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES WOULD CONSISTENTLY LOOSE AIR AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000. UPDATED 11/17/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. SHE ALSO STATED THE TIRES MUST BE CHECKED ON A WEEKLY BASIS. UPDATED 06/13/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID
10430693
Incident
Mar 31, 2010
Mileage
4,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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