Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2001 BMW M3. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 2001 BMW M3. Not checked against your VIN.
NHTSA: Do not drive. NHTSA says owners should not drive these vehicles until the recall repair is done. What a Do Not Drive recall means
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflators May Explode
Air bags · frontal · passenger side · inflator module
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
42.4% repairedof 292,948 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 20V018000
Listed for 2001 BMW M3. Not checked against your VIN.
NHTSA: Do not drive. NHTSA says owners should not drive these vehicles until the recall repair is done. What a Do Not Drive recall means
Passenger Side Air Bag Inflator may Rupture
Air bags
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
29.1% repairedof 574,007 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 14V428000
Listed for 2001 BMW M3. Not checked against your VIN.
NHTSA: Do not drive. NHTSA says owners should not drive these vehicles until the recall repair is done. What a Do Not Drive recall means
Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator may Rupture
Air bags · frontal · driver side · inflator module
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
24.7% repairedof 230,117 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 17V047000
Listed for 2001 BMW M3. Not checked against your VIN.
BMW/PARKING BRAKE CABLE
Parking brake · conventional · mechanical · linkage and cable
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TWO SCREWS THAT SECURE THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE MOUNTING BRACKET TO THE BACKING PLATE WERE NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE SCREWS COULD LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY FALL INTO THE PARKING BRAKE DRUM.
- Consequence
- IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, THE CABLE MOUNTING BRACKET WOULD NO LONGER BE FIXED TO THE BACKING PLATE AND THE PARKING BRAKE COULD NO LONGER BE APPLIED ON THAT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT A SCREW COULD LODGE WITHIN THE PARKING BRAKE DRUM, IMPAIRING THE FREE MOVEMENT OF THE DRUM. THIS WOULD PRODUCE NOISE, AND COULD CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE ON THAT SIDE TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE ATTACHING SCREWS AND SECURE THEM WITH THE PROPER TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Repair progress not yet reported2,438 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 01V245000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (14)
14 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
1involved a crash
0involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 4 | 28.6% |
| Structure | 4 | 28.6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 21.4% |
| Suspension | 3 | 21.4% |
| Air bags | 1 | 7.1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 7.1% |
| Parking brake | 1 | 7.1% |
| Visibility | 1 | 7.1% |
| Wheels | 1 | 7.1% |
How 2001 compares with other M3 years
Best and worst M3 years →19961
199719
199814
199911
200114
200240
200354
200431
200512
200614
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 | 19 | 2 |
| 1998 | 14 | 1 |
| 1999 | 11 | 1 |
| 2001 | 14 | 4 |
| 2002 | 40 | 5 |
| 2003 | 54 | 5 |
| 2004 | 31 | 3 |
| 2005 | 12 | 3 |
| 2006 | 14 | 5 |
This year (2001)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 17 mpg combined
17
mpg combined
14
city
21
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $4,850
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 523 g/mi
- EPA class
- Minicompact Cars
What it costs you to run
$3,842per year
$320per month
882gallons a year
Miles ÷ 17 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2 L 6-cyl · 6-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 / 21 / 17 | $4,850 | 523 |
| 3.2 L 6-cyl · 6-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 22 / 17 | $4,850 | 523 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2001 M3 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2001 BMW M3 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2001 BMW M3 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 20V018000 (air bag), 14V428000 (air bag), 17V047000 (air bag), 01V245000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2001 BMW M3 problems?
Owners filed 14 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (4), Structure (4), Engine and engine cooling (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2001 BMW M3 get?
EPA rates the 3.2 L 6-cyl · 6-speed manual version at 14 city, 21 highway and 17 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2001 M3 compare with other years?
Among the 1996–2006 BMW M3 model years at least five years old, the 1996 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2003 the most (54). The 2001 drew 14. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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