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2023 BMW 3 Series

Plug-in hybridHybridGas
Compact Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
56 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical5
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA10
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA29 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2023 BMW 3 Series is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas compact car with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 330i Sedan, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 10 complaints, most often about the exterior lighting. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
330e SedanPlug-in hybridRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 80 kW PMSM243227 (39 MPGe blended)22 mi electric483 h$2,850
330e xDrive SedanPlug-in hybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 80 kW PMSM223226 (36 MPGe blended)20 mi electric453 h$3,000
M340i SedanHybridRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion233126———$3,000
M340i xDrive SedanHybridAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion233226———$3,000
330i SedanGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253429———$2,650
330i xDrive SedanGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243327———$2,850

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 47215, 47216, 45603, 45493, 45765, 46130.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 BMW 3 Series is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Electrical System

318,495 vehicles
ProblemBMW 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.RiskFire increases the risk of injury.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 26V438000reported Jul 8, 2026BMW of North America, LLC
!critical

Electrical System

87,394 vehicles
ProblemBMW 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.RiskFire increases the risk of injury.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 26V056000reported Jan 30, 2026BMW of North America, LLC
▲high

Power Train

Toyota - 23TA14
552 vehicles
ProblemBMW 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 propRiskTransmission 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.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V821000reported Dec 6, 2023BMW of North America, LLC
○minor

Electrical System

120 vehicles
ProblemBMW 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.RiskDoors that do not lock as intended while the vehicle is in motion may open during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V118000reported Feb 23, 2023BMW of North America, LLC
○minor

Back Over Prevention

1,296 vehicles
ProblemBMW 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."RiskAn obstructed rearview image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V747000reported Oct 7, 2022BMW of North America, LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
10complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2022: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 3

Most-cited components

Unspecified3
Exterior Lighting3
Electrical System3
Service Brakes2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Forward Collision Avoidance1

What owners describe

“I own a 2023 BMW 330i xDrive. The factory passenger-side/right-front inner LED daytime running light has failed while the other headlight functions continue to operate normally. The vehicle has not been involved in a collision, the headlight has not been physically damaged, and no aftermarket DRL or headlight component…”Sep 1, 2026 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2023 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V056000 (Electrical System). The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact ha…”Jul 21, 2026 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“On one occasion, the car automatically applied the breaks and parked itself while driving on a main road. On another occasion, while parking the car at the home it accelerated aggressively and almost crashed into the garage- driver lost complete control of the car. On a separate occasion, the gauge console (screen behi…”Mar 23, 2026 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★9%
4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★9%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2023 3 Series with

2023 Toyota Corolla →

Other 3 Series model years

A

2026 BMW 3 Series

0 recalls · 0 complaints

B

2025 BMW 3 Series

1 recalls · 4 complaints

D

2024 BMW 3 Series

3 recalls · 8 complaints

D

2022 BMW 3 Series

3 recalls · 14 complaints

F

2021 BMW 3 Series

9 recalls · 33 complaints

F

2020 BMW 3 Series

11 recalls · 52 complaints

F

2019 BMW 3 Series

9 recalls · 41 complaints

F

2018 BMW 3 Series

7 recalls · 72 complaints

F

2017 BMW 3 Series

4 recalls · 77 complaints

F

2016 BMW 3 Series

6 recalls · 100 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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