2010 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 2010 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
- Airbags842.1%
- Engine421.1%
- Brakes210.5%
- Powertrain (other)210.5%
- Electrical15.3%
- Exterior lighting15.3%
- Seat belts15.3%
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (BMW OF DALLAS, 6200 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75209 (972) 763-5528) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL. MANUFACTURER STILL DELAYING REMEDY FOR MY VEHICLE. (IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF SINCE THE RECALL) I'M DRIVING THE CAR WITH LIFE THREATENING RISK EVERYDAY IN FEAR. PLEASE ENFORCE REPLACEMENT REMEDY ASAP.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEY MY NAME IS [XXX] , I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASE A USED BMW M3 FROM A BMW DEALERSHIP ON 06/11/17. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF USING THE CAR MY MOTOR GAVE A ROD KNOCK WHICH IS A COMMON KNOWN PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE DATABASE. I REALLY NEED HELP WITH THIS SITUATION. THIS HAPPENED TO BE ON THE WAY FROM FLORIDA WHICH WAS 500 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ROD BEARINGS FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. MANY BMW M3'S SUFFER THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IF THE TIGHTNESS OF THE ENGINE WHICH LEADS TO OIL STARVATION AND METAL SHAVINGS BEGIN TO DESTROY THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AFTER SITTING FOR A FEW HOURS, I START THE CAR TO DISCOVER A TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. UPON CHECKING THE OIL, I HAVE FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Parked on a slight hill, shifted out of drive and applied the ebrake by pulling up firmly. Unbucked my seat belt, opened the door, and got out of the vehicle. Left the door open to go in my house, grab my wallet, and come back. The car stayed in neutral instead of shifting into park which should have happened but multiple components of the car failed to detect me exiting (door latch sendor, software, seat sensor, seat belt sensor). Leaving the car in neutral meant the parking brake was all that was available to hold the car. As it turns out, the electronic brake was not strong enough to do so, and the car rolled down the hill hitting another car, pushing that car into a structure and causing my car to be totaled. This never happened before but due to car not shifting into park with exiting, the vehicle became a rolling hazard putting all people and property around it at risk. I did not hear or see any warning messages as I had exited the car as I had always done previously. I should not have to turn off the car (press power on/off) to engage park or there should be a "park" button like most cars. Given there is no labeled park, the system gives you no indication of what steps you have to take if autopark doesn't engage. My car has been totaled and released to copart. It may be available for inspection from them.
WHEN BRAKING HARD AND DOWNSHIFTING SMG SEEMS TO BE CONFUSED AS TO WHAT GEAR YOU WANT. HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AND BRAKING HARD THEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN . ## VIN PASSED ## 2010,BMW,M3 ##. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND A TICKING NOISE THAT WHINED UP WHEN ACCELERATED AND SLOWLY WHINED DOWN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED. IT APPEARS TO BE BAD ROD BEARING AND IT OCCURRED WITHIN AN HOUR OF AN OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO ONLINE FORUMS THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE.
WHEN BRAKING HARD AND DOWNSHIFTING SMG SEEMS TO BE CONFUSED AS TO WHAT GEAR YOU WANT. HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AND BRAKING HARD THEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN . ## VIN PASSED ## 2010,BMW,M3 ##. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE OEM WIRING INSULATION IN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING HAS FLAKED OFF. THE BARE WIRES CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHEN I REPLACED A LIGHT BULB. BMW SAYS THAT THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HOUSING FOR $2100. THIS WILL NEED TO BE DONE ON THE OTHER SIDE EVENTUALLY, AS THE INSULATION IS DETERIORATING IN THAT HOUSING AS WELL. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN MANY DIFFERENT MODELS BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF WIRING THAT WAS SPECIFIED BY BMW JUST DOES NOT HOLD UP UNDER HIGHER TEMPERATURES. KNOWING THAT IT WILL BE SUBJECT TO HIGHER TEMPERATURES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS A DESIGN OVERSIGHT AND WILL LEAD TO DANGEROUS MALFUNCTIONS WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE OEM WIRING INSULATION IN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING HAS FLAKED OFF. THE BARE WIRES CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHEN I REPLACED A LIGHT BULB. BMW SAYS THAT THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HOUSING FOR $2100. THIS WILL NEED TO BE DONE ON THE OTHER SIDE EVENTUALLY, AS THE INSULATION IS DETERIORATING IN THAT HOUSING AS WELL. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN MANY DIFFERENT MODELS BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF WIRING THAT WAS SPECIFIED BY BMW JUST DOES NOT HOLD UP UNDER HIGHER TEMPERATURES. KNOWING THAT IT WILL BE SUBJECT TO HIGHER TEMPERATURES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS A DESIGN OVERSIGHT AND WILL LEAD TO DANGEROUS MALFUNCTIONS WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME.
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
Parked on a slight hill, shifted out of drive and applied the ebrake by pulling up firmly. Unbucked my seat belt, opened the door, and got out of the vehicle. Left the door open to go in my house, grab my wallet, and come back. The car stayed in neutral instead of shifting into park which should have happened but multiple components of the car failed to detect me exiting (door latch sendor, software, seat sensor, seat belt sensor). Leaving the car in neutral meant the parking brake was all that was available to hold the car. As it turns out, the electronic brake was not strong enough to do so, and the car rolled down the hill hitting another car, pushing that car into a structure and causing my car to be totaled. This never happened before but due to car not shifting into park with exiting, the vehicle became a rolling hazard putting all people and property around it at risk. I did not hear or see any warning messages as I had exited the car as I had always done previously. I should not have to turn off the car (press power on/off) to engage park or there should be a "park" button like most cars. Given there is no labeled park, the system gives you no indication of what steps you have to take if autopark doesn't engage. My car has been totaled and released to copart. It may be available for inspection from them.
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 .