2008 BMW M3 vs 2009 BMW M3
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 | 2008 BMW M3 | 2009 BMW M3 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 82 | 45 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 127 | 127 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 16 | 16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 30,000 mi | 5,750 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW M3 | BMW M3 |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 37 | 24 |
| Engine | 20 | 4 |
| Air Bags | 9 | 8 |
| Electrical System | 9 | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1 |
| Seats | 2 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Hesitation / surging | 15 | 9 |
| Loss of power | 11 | 6 |
| Stalling | 10 | 6 |
2008 BMW M3
2009 BMW M3
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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.