2001 Model Year

BMW 3 Series

NHTSA Complaints & Reliability Data

Compare
Complaints
36
Recalls
1
Crashes
1
Severe
1

Active Recalls

Manufacturer safety recalls

21V401000 May 2021

Other

No consequence data available

Recent Complaints

Latest owner reports

Tires
Oct 2018

COMPLETE DISINTEGRATION OF OF A HANOOK VENTUS S1 NOBLE WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. TIRE DID NOT HIT ANY OBSTACLES, NOR WAS THE TIRE. U...

STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Aug 2018

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE CAR JERKED AND STUTTERED ALMOST AS...

Electrical System
Dec 2017

OUR 2001 E46 HAS ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS WHICH ARE FAILING. MY WIFE HAS FOUND HERSELF LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR, UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE LOCKS FREEZE,...

Air Bags
Mar 2017

I TOOK IT TO BMW DEALER TO FIX THE RECALL PART--AIR BAG MODULE ON MAY 01,2015, NEXT DAY I WENT TO PICKUP THE CAR, THEY TOLD ME IT IS DONE. I HAD NOT L...

SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,WHEELS
Oct 2016

WAS DRIVING ON HWY 99 GETTING READY TO EXIT ON JENSEN AVE WHEN I FELT A BUMP THEN MY DRIVER CURTAIN/ DOOR AIRBAG DEPLOYED. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I...

Exterior Lighting
Nov 2015

THE REAR PARKING LIGHT WENT OUT IN MY CAR, SO I PURCHASED MORE BULBS, BUT THE BULB NEVER WORKED. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY BMW DEALERSHIP FOR THE TAKATA...

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Aug 2015

THE "YAW SENSOR" FAILS IN THESE CARS, FREQUENTLY CAUSING A SUDDEN BRAKING ON ONE SIDE OF THE CAR AND PULLING THE CAR IN THAT DIRECTION. THIS IS A REA...

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jun 2015

A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR CARS PRODUCED FROM 9/1/01 TO 02/01/05. [RECALL CAMPAIGN 11V-438: REPAIR GROUND CABLE FOR REAR LIGHT LAMP...

Air Bags
May 2015

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE AIR BAGS GO OFF. ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF AND WON'T START AGAIN.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
Feb 2015

RECALLED PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS REPLACED BY DEALER LAST WEEK, BUT THE DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF. THE DEALER SAYS TH...

VS

Vehicle Safety Research Team

Automotive Data Analysts

Independent researchers analyzing NHTSA data to help consumers make informed vehicle decisions.

Data updated: March 5, 2026

Summary

The 2001 BMW 3 Series has 36 complaints and 1 recalls on record. The most commonly reported issue is Exterior Lighting. 1 crash-related incidents have been reported.

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