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2017 BMW M3 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
3
Latest Jul 28, 2024
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 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

  • Electrical133.3%
  • Fuel system133.3%
  • Powertrain (other)133.3%

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

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE IS A 2017 BMW M3 WITH 6352 MILES. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THE VEHICLE HAD STARTED AND HAD BEEN OPERATING NORMALLY THE DAY PRIOR. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WOULD NOT START.IT WAS CLEAR THERE WAS NO POWER GETTING TO THE ELECTRONICS EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED BY FLATBED TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATED THE ROOT CAUSE AND FOUND THE PRIMARY BATTERY CABLE CONNECTOR TO THE ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION BOX HAD FAILED WHERE THERE WAS NO LONGER ELECTRICAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE CABLE END AND THE DISTRIBUTION BOX TERMINAL. THE DEALERSHIP HAD NOT INITIALLY DISCLOSED THAT THEY HAD DONE REPAIR WORK ON OTHER MODELS FOR THE SIMILAR TYPE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RECALLS FOR MANY DIFFERENT MODELS OF BMW INCLUDING 1 SERIES, 3 SERIES AND Z SERIES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURE MODE OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FAILURE AT THE BATTERY CABLE/ DISTRIBUTION BOX CONNECTION. THE FOLLOWING ARE SO FAR THE KNOWN RECALLS RELATED TO THE BATTERY CABLE CONNECTOR FAILURE: 18V-314 FOR MODEL YEARS 2010-2011. OVER 7000 VEHICLES AFFECTED 19V-472 FOR MODEL YEARS 2008-2012 13V-044 FOR MODEL YEARS 2008-2012 OVER 500,000 VEHICLES AFFECTED IT WAS EVENTUALLY CONFIRMED BY THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS A SIMILAR FAILURE MODE OF THE CONNECTOR THAT THEY HAD SEEN IN THE PAST HOWEVER THEY COMMENTED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST 2017 MODEL THAT THEY HAD SEEN WITH THIS FAILURE. THE CONCLUSION CAN BE DRAWN ON THAT THE BATTERY CABLE/ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION BOX CONNECTOR DESIGN IS SIMILAR TO THAT USED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS AND THEREFORE WILL FAIL IN A SIMILAR MANNER AND THAT ADDITIONAL MODEL YEARS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL SO THAT THE DEFECT CAN BE IDENTIFIED AND REMEDIED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID 11301469 · filed Jan 23, 2020

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

My car was leaking fuel. This has been reported in numerous vehicles of the same make and model. There is an active warranty extension for this issue, I have attached the bulletin from BMW. My car is not covered for some reason although earlier years of my exact same car are covered. My car was was manufactured a few months after the latest covered date in the attached bulletin. This is a huge safety concern. There was always fuel dripping from my car. This resulted in puddles of fuel if my car was parked for longer than 30 mins. The slightest spark or someones cigarette could have lit up my entire vehicle in flames. Not only is it a safety concern, it should be an environmental concern as well. Everywhere I parked, fuel would be on the ground. Picture of my fuel tank attached. It is consistent with the issue in the bulletin. Photo is from the dealership that repaired my car.

NHTSA ID 11605001 · filed Jul 28, 2024

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2017 BMW M3. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle failed to operate as designed, without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driveshaft was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V713000 (Power Train). The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.

NHTSA ID 11440045 · filed Nov 10, 2021

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

Data on this page last refreshed .