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All cars · BMW 3 Series · Transmission

BMW 3 Series transmission problems by year.

Worst years for transmission complaints per car sold: 2000 (285 complaints), 2001 (59 complaints), 2008 (47 complaints). Fewest since 2010: 2017, 2019, 2024.

BMW 3 Series
Photo shows a 2006 BMW 3 Series. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · background removed

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

2000285317.8 per 100K sold20015957.2 per 100K sold20022319.9 per 100K sold20033228.6 per 100K sold20043129.1 per 100K sold200554.7 per 100K sold20061210 per 100K sold20072114.7 per 100K sold20084741.8 per 100K sold20092931.9 per 100K sold201055 per 100K sold20111718 per 100K sold201233 per 100K sold20131512.6 per 100K sold2014117.7 per 100K sold201564.3 per 100K sold201643.8 per 100K sold201711 per 100K sold201833.9 per 100K sold201911.4 per 100K sold202023.9 per 100K sold202134.1 per 100K sold202211.5 per 100K sold20230no sales data202411.4 per 100K sold20250no sales data

What owners describe

Delay or hesitation12%
Transmission replaced12%
Lost power while driving10%
Stuck in gear or limp mode10%
Hard or jerky shifting4%
Slipping4%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

  • 2022 2022

    The mechatronics unit inside the transmission may not have been assembled properly, which could result in an internal leak.

  • 2014 2020

    The constant-velocity joint which transfers power between the transfer case and the rear drive shaft, may become damaged, possibly resulting in loss of power to the rear wheels.

  • 2011 2011

    BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 328I XDRIVE AND 335I XDRIVE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 8, 2011, THROUGH JULY 29, 2011.

  • 2011 2017

    The rear driveshaft constant velocity (CV) joint on the affected vehicles may fatigue and break.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

In owners' words

Could not back up in the middle of a busy intersection (no reverse and no warning). 323i bmw 2000 transmission failed.

2000 BMW 3 Series owner · NHTSA complaint

2000 bmw 323ci transmission just stopped going into reverse. Forward gears work fine. Vehicle has less than 75000 miles.

2000 BMW 3 Series owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which BMW 3 Series years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst BMW 3 Series years are 2000, 2001, 2008.

What are common BMW 3 Series transmission problems?

Owners most often describe delay or hesitation, transmission replaced, lost power while driving.

Which BMW 3 Series years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the BMW 3 Series years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2017, 2019, 2024.

See every problem, not just the transmission: BMW 3 Series reliability by year. How we count

Updated

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