Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2015 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 ↗Air Bag Inflators May Rupture
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
- Consequence
- An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Rear Sub-Frame Bolts may Loosen
- Summary
- BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 BMW M2 Coupe vehicles, 2015-2017 M3 Sedan vehicles and 2015-2016 M4 Coupe and M4 Convertible vehicles. During servicing of the rear differential for a prior service action, the rear sub-frame bolts may have been reused instead of being replaced. Reuse of the existing bolts may cause the bolts to loosen.
- Consequence
- Loose rear sub-frame bolts may adversely affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear sub-frame bolts with new bolts, free of charge. The recall began on November 3, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Driveshaft Slip-Joint may not have been Greased
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 M3 Sedan vehicles manufactured May 30, 2015, to September 2, 2015, 2016 M4 Coupe vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to September 11, 2015, and 2015-2016 M4 Convertible vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to August 4, 2015. The affected vehicles have a driveshaft with a slip-joint that may not have been filled with grease. As a result, the slip-joint may fail over time.
- Consequence
- If the slip-joint fails, there would be a loss of power to the rear axle and therefore the vehicle would stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driveshaft, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 14, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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 (4)
4 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The fuel/propulsion system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 50% |
| Engine | 1 | 25% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 25% |
How 2015 compares with other M3 years
Best and worst M3 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 15 | 4 |
| 2011 | 31 | 4 |
| 2012 | 6 | 3 |
| 2013 | 13 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 | 3 |
| 2016 | 5 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 | 2 |
| 2018 | 9 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
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 20 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $4,100
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 440 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 20 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 L 6-cyl · 6-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 26 / 20 | $4,100 | 440 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · Automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 19 | $4,350 | 459 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2015 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
2015 BMW M3 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2015 BMW M3 have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 24V288000 (air bag), 16V653000 (structure), 15V782000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2015 BMW M3 problems?
Owners filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. Fuel/propulsion system (2), Engine (1), Unknown or other (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2015 BMW M3 get?
EPA rates the 3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed manual version at 17 city, 26 highway and 20 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2015 M3 compare with other years?
Among the 2010–2021 BMW M3 model years at least five years old, the 2017 drew the fewest complaints (3) and the 2011 the most (31). The 2015 drew 4. 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.