All cars · BMW 3 Series · 2015
2015 BMW 3 Series. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 22,000 and 89,000 miles. Median 51,000, from 91 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical | 87,800 | 37,500–100,000 | 29 |
| Engine | 74,200 | 37,500–93,200 | 20 |
| Engine | 100,000 | 68,500–110,000 | 20 |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 57,600 | 34,000–86,400 | 9 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 49,000 | 1,800–80,000 | 7 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Brakes | 14% |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 14% |
| Engine | 14% |
| Electrical | 11% |
| Speed control | 9% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 217 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 16 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 4
24V608000 Aug 2024 Engine And Engine Cooling / Cooling System / Pump
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Risk. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
24V527000 Jul 2024 Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Remedy. The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
24V288000 Apr 2024 Air Bags / Side/Window
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
15V520000 Aug 2015 Exterior Lighting
Defect. BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parkin
Risk. If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | High pressure fuel pump failure | 2023 | – |
| Open | Desiccated air bag inflator rupture | 2021 | – |
Manufacturer communications 493
BMW filed 493 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Engine Oil Quick Reference Chart and Drain Plug Torque: The current version of ISTA/D has an…
- BUZZING NOISE FROM VALVETRONIC MOTOR BEFORE OR AFTER ENGINE OPERATION: Buzzing noise may be heard
- ?Various Check Control Messages Caused by Shorted K- CAN This Service Information bulletin…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 328D 4 DR RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| BMW 328D Xdrive SW AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| BMW 328D Xdrive 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Optional | Optional |
YouTube repair topics
87 videos about the 2012–2018 BMW 3 Series (F30), 33.5M views.
| Topic | Videos | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Timing chain & engine | 6 | 2.3M |
| Brakes & ABS | 8 | 1.6M |
| Oil changes & service | 4 | 1.4M |
| No-start: theft light, key & ignition | 2 | 1.2M |
| Gauges, lights & wiring | 4 | 819K |
| Oil leaks & gaskets | 3 | 608K |
| Transmission & shifter | 1 | 457K |
| Windows, doors & mirrors | 1 | 240K |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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