2004 Bmw 3 Series: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 93 complaints
93
Total Complaints
80,000mi
Median Mileage
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Top Issue
1
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

45,000 25th Percentile
80,000 Median Mileage
112,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
41
AIR BAGS
15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
3
VISIBILITY/WIPER
3
SEATS
2
POWER TRAIN
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1
STEERING
1

Severity Assessment

1
Crashes
4
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I FIND THE HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS ON MANY CARS VERY DISTRACTING. I AM NOT SURE BUT I THINK THEY ARE ON GERMAN CARS. I AM TOLD THEY ARE WELL LIKED BY THE DRIVERS OF THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS BUT I FIND THEM HAZARDOUS FOR THE CARS WHICH ARE FACING THEM. THESE HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO ME AS DANGEROUS AS SOMEONE ..."
"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND A KNOCKING NOISE IS HEARD DURING ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIM..."
"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, THE VEHICLE SHAKES DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND A KNOCKING NOISE IS HEARD DURING ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIM..."

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