2001 Bmw M3: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 20 complaints
20
Total Complaints
129,000mi
Median Mileage
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Top Issue
1
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

46,710 25th Percentile
129,000 Median Mileage
155,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
SUSPENSION
2
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
1
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
1
VISIBILITY
1

Severity Assessment

1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"MY CAR EXHIBITS A LOUD CLUNKING IN THE REAR OF THE CAR WHEN SHIFTING, GOING ON/OFF GAS AND FROM RELEASING THE CLUTCH AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE SEVERITY IS INCREASING WITH MILEAGE. THE SERVICE CENTER THAT I AM USING: BURDICK BMW, 3904 BREWERTON RD., N. SYRACUSE NY 13212, 315-458-7590 HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX..."
"MY CAR EXHIBITS A LOUD CLUNKING IN THE REAR OF THE CAR WHEN SHIFTING, GOING ON/OFF GAS AND FROM RELEASING THE CLUTCH AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE SEVERITY IS INCREASING WITH MILEAGE. THE SERVICE CENTER THAT I AM USING: BURDICK BMW, 3904 BREWERTON RD., N. SYRACUSE NY 13212, 315-458-7590 HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX..."
"LOTS OF COMMON COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET SITE WWW.BIMMER.ORG E46M3 POST BOARD. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28