1997 BMW M3 vs 1997 Honda Civic
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 BMW M3 | 1997 Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 19 | 373 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 7 | 132 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 67 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–21 | 27–34 |
| Median reported mileage | — | 89,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW M3 | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 | 140 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 38 |
| Visibility | 4 | 33 |
| Tires | 4 | 27 |
| Electrical System | 0 | 30 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 25 |
| Power Train | 1 | 25 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 22 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 16 |
| Stalling | 0 | 10 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 10 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 10 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 10 |
1997 BMW M3
1997 Honda Civic
Compare all BMW M3 vs Honda Civic years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.