2023 BMW 3 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 4 of 12 complaints (33%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 8 in 2022 to 12 in 2023.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | vs. 2023 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,600–3,100 | 2,600–3,100 | 2,650–3,000 | 2,650–3,000 | 2,500–2,650 | |
| Combined MPG | 25–30 | 25–30 | 26–29 | 26–29 | 29–31 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–26 / 30–36 | 22–26 / 30–36 | 22–25 / 31–34 | 22–25 / 31–34 | 26–28 / 33–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 298–313 | 298–337 | 308–340 | 308–341 | 286–304 | |
| Complaints filed | 33 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 4 | |
| Recalls issued | 9 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2023 BMW 3 Series have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2023 BMW 3 Series?
Electrical: 4 of 12 NHTSA complaints (33%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2023 BMW 3 Series get?
EPA rates it 26–29 MPG combined across 6 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2023 BMW 3 Series?
EPA estimates $2,650–$3,000 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 23 mpg | 32 mpg | 26 mpg (low) | $3,000 (high) | 339 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 23 mpg | 31 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $3,000 (high) | 340 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 25 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | $2,650 (low) | 308 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 24 mpg | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 322 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium and Electricity | Compact Cars | 24 mpg | 32 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 158 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium and Electricity | Compact Cars | 22 mpg (low) | 32 mpg | 26 mpg (low) | $3,000 (high) | 172 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY · Campaign 26V438000 · Jul 9, 2026
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Supra, 2022-2025 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2023 5 Series, 2022-2026 Z4, 2023-2024 4 Series Gran Coupe, 4 Series Convertible, 4 Series Coupe, 3 Series, 2021-2025 X4, and 2021-2024 X3 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all models. The engine starter may overheat and catch fire due to wear on an internal component.
Consequence: Fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning August 28, 2026. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall 26V056.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY · Campaign 26V056000 · Feb 2, 2026
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Toyota Supra, 2022-2023 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2024 5 Series (xDrive), 2021-2022 Z4, 2022-2024 4 Series (Gran Coupe), 2021-2024 4 Series (Convertible and xDrive Convertible), 2021-2023 4 Series (Coupe), 2021-2024 3 Series, 2021-2023 X4, 2021-2024 X3 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all models. The engine starter may overheat and catch fire due to wear on an internal component.
Consequence: Fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 24, 2026.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) · Campaign 23V821000 · Dec 7, 2023
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota GR Supra, 3 Series Sedan (330i xDrive, M340i xDrive, M3), 5 Series Sedan (530i, 530i xDrive, M5), 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 4 Series Convertible (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 8 Series Coupe (840i, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Convertible (840i, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Gran Coupe (850i xDrive, M8), X3 SAV (X3 xDrive30i, X3M), X4 SAV (X4 xDrive30i), X5 SAV (X5 xDrive40i, X5 M50i, X5M), X6 SAV (X6 xDrive40i, X6 M50i, X6M), and Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i vehicles. The weld seam of the integrated transmission control unit's cover may not have been manufactured properly, which could allow automatic transmission oil to leak into the transmission control unit.
Consequence: Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics module and the automatic transmission fluid, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE · Campaign 23V118000 · Feb 23, 2023
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, 330e, 330e xDrive, 430i Convertible, 430i xDrive, M440i, 2022-2023 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive, i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 vehicles. During a service visit, a replacement electronic control unit (ECU) may have been installed with incorrect programming, which can cause the automatic door locking (ADL) function to not lock the doors as intended.
Consequence: Doors that do not lock as intended while the vehicle is in motion may open during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE · Campaign 22V747000 · Oct 7, 2022
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 330e and 330e xDrive hybrid electric vehicles. After shifting into reverse, the rearview camera software may cause a portion of the rearview image to be obstructed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: An obstructed rearview image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 21, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-80-525-7417.