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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Bmw M3 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

31 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

43,300 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 31 complaints (51.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting516.1%
Electrical and battery issues516.1%
Braking behavior412.9%
Steering behavior412.9%
Engine operation39.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
16
Electrical System
7
Air Bags
6
Power Train
4
Service Brakes
2
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
2
Exterior Lighting
1
Steering
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine16
Electrical System7
Air Bags6
Power Train4
Service Brakes2
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars2
Exterior Lighting1
Steering1

Engine: 16; Electrical System: 7; Air Bags: 6; Power Train: 4; Service Brakes: 2; Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Steering: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
6
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,9996
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011
1
2012
1
2014
6
2015
1
2016
3
2017
6
2018
4
2019
4
2020
2
2021
1
2022
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20111
20121
20146
20151
20163
20176
20184
20194
20202
20211
20221
20231

2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 6; 2018: 4; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10479293 · 2012-10-08 (October 8, 2012)

THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP CONTROL. THE DANGER IN THIS BEHAVIOR OCCURS WHEN MAKING A TU…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479293 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10661151 · 2014-11-27 (November 27, 2014)

2011 BMW DCT M3 ENGINE TURNS OFF BY IT SELF WHILE DRIVING THROUGH INTERSECTION. TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. "N" POPS UP ON THE CENTER COCKPIT. STEERING WHEEL LOCK. BRAKES WORK. HAD TO MAINTAIN FOOT ON BRAKES. HAVE TO PUSH "ENGINE START" BUTTON. CAR STARTS UP AGAIN. ENGINE STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF IS A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IF THE CAR IS IN MOTION. COULD CAUSE DEATH TO END USERS OR OTHER PEOPLE. CAN CAUSE PROPERTY DAMAGES AS WELL. THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE WITHIN A 8 WEEK PERIOD. MOST RECENTLY ON NOV 26,2014 APPROXIMATELY 430…

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661151 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10955248 · 2017-02-17 (February 17, 2017)

THE CAR WAS PARKED AT A FLAT SPACE PARKING LOT. WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE VEHICLE USING A FOB KEY, THE ALARM STARTED TO GO OFF. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN USING A KEY BLADE TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY, HOWEVER ALL SYSTEM WAS DEAD. I HAVE REPLACED THE FOB KEY BATTERY, CHECKED THE BATTERY STATUS, AND RAN THE ERROR CODE SYSTEM, BUT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SIMILAR MODELS (BMW 3 SERIES) FOR A FUSE BOX - BATTERY CONNECTION ISSUE. AND GIVING A GOOD PRESS TOWARDS …

Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10955248 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11073899 · 2018-02-20 (February 20, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THE ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC ENTERED THE CABIN. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE FUSES TO THE AIR CONDITIONER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. REEVES IMPORT MOTORCARS DEALER LOCATED IN TAMPA, FLORIDA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. *TT *…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11073899 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10893768 · 2016-08-06 (August 6, 2016)

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE ROAD MY ENGINE AUTOMATICALLY PLACED ITSELF ON NEUTRAL, THE STEERING FROZE, AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. AFTER TURNING THE SYSTEM OFF, I TURNED IT BACK ON AND DROVE AWAY NORMALLY. ONCE I APPROACHED THE A STOP LIGHT THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT HAD A CRACKING-RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OIL LIGHT, MY CAR SUFFERED FROM BROKEN MAIN AND ROD BEARINGS AS STATED BY THE BMW DEALER. THIS HAS CAUSED A LOT OF METALLIC DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE CAUSING E…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893768 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10626774 · 2014-08-20 (August 20, 2014)

I WAS DRIVING IN QUEENS MID TOWN TUNNEL, SUDDENLY MY ENGINE STALLED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WAS A TWO LANE TUNNEL, MY CAR WAS BLOCKING ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC. CALLED NYPD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SAFE LOCATION. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER OF PARK AVE BMW. THEY THINK ITS A ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626774 at NHTSA ↗