1995 BMW M3 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1995 BMW M3, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes533.3%
- Suspension213.3%
- Airbags213.3%
- Other / unspecified16.7%
- Seat belts16.7%
- Steering16.7%
- Tires & wheels16.7%
- Engine16.7%
- Fuel system16.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWED THIS 1995 BMW M3 SINCE NEW AND ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON VERY FREQUENTLY. ABS: NEED TO REPLACE ABS PUMP AND ABS MODULE. AIRBAG: NEED TO REPLACE SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *NM
WHILE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO COME ON. THE DRIVER HAS PLACED REFUSES ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER BRAKE LIGHT WHICH NEEDED REPLACEMENT BUT THE CAMPAIGN BULLENTIN WAS NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHOCK TORN OUT FROM THE SHOCK TOWER. STRESS CRACKS IN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SHOCK TOWER WITH FAILURE IMMINENT. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE SHOCK TOWERS BEFORE AND AFTER THEY WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE CAR AS WELL AS THE SHOCK TOWERS THEMSELVES. I HAVE FOUND MANY EXAMPLES OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON BMW M3'S REPORTED ON NATIONAL E-MAIL LISTS. I CAN PROVIDE COPIES OF THE E-MAILS.*JB
BOTTOM OF DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED - BROKE COMPLETELY AND RATTLING AROUND IN LOWER SUPPORT. COULD NOT IDENTIFY RATTLE FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL RECENTLY. MOST PROBABLE CAUSE OF FAILURE THIS EARLY IN THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE PART WAS THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR MATERIALS USED. IF THE SPRING HAD FAILED IN THE MIDDLE, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE. SINCE THE PART BROKE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE, I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE UNIT AT THEIR EXPENSE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON FOR 2 MINUTES; COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1995 3 SERIES ACCORDING TO INTERNET FORUM (HTTP://WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/T595499-AIRBAG_LIGHT). *TR
WHEN A SLOWER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF CAR, DRIVER HIT BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE SPINNED, LOST CONTROL AND SMASHE DINTO CONCRETE CARRIER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TIRES ARE MANUFACTURED BY FEDERAL (TAIWAN IMPORT). TREAD IS DELAMINATING OVER THE ENTIRE CROSS-SECTION OF TREAD, TIRE UNDER 3 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 5K MILES. WIDE-SPREAD ISSUE PER GOOGLE. TIRES HAVE BEEN USED FOR REGULAR ROAD-DRIVING IN NJ. NO ACCIDENT HAS TAKEN PLACE (YET).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWED THIS 1995 BMW M3 SINCE NEW AND ABS AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON VERY FREQUENTLY. ABS: NEED TO REPLACE ABS PUMP AND ABS MODULE. AIRBAG: NEED TO REPLACE SAFETY SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WAS SIDESWIPED, RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TIRES ARE MANUFACTURED BY FEDERAL (TAIWAN IMPORT). TREAD IS DELAMINATING OVER THE ENTIRE CROSS-SECTION OF TREAD, TIRE UNDER 3 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 5K MILES. WIDE-SPREAD ISSUE PER GOOGLE. TIRES HAVE BEEN USED FOR REGULAR ROAD-DRIVING IN NJ. NO ACCIDENT HAS TAKEN PLACE (YET).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
SAFETY RECALL 98V-178; REGARDING THE 1995 BMW M3. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICE ELEVEN TIMES FOR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, HOT COOLANT WAS EXPELLED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN THROUGH THE OPEN WINDOW AND SUNROOF. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED MINOR BURNS AND IRRITATION TO HIS SKIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, HOUSING, RELATED GASKETS AND CONNECTORS WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WAS STATED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL AND THERE ARE SMELLS OF GAS VAPORS WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. DEALER HAS FIXED VEHICLE FOR SAME PROBLEM BEFORE. DEALER REPLACED FITTINGS IN THE SENDING UNITBUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .