BMW 3 Series
Every model year 2016–2027: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Every BMW 3 Series model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per year| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Gas | A* | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 2026 | Hybrid | A | 0 | 1 | ★★★★★ | 31 mpg | |
| 2025 | Hybrid | B | 1 | 6 | ★★★★★ | 31 mpg | |
| 2024 | Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas | C | 2 | 11 | ★★★★★ | 29 mpg | |
| 2023 | Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas | D | 4 | 14 | ★★★★★ | 29 mpg | |
| 2022 | Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas | D | 3 | 15 | ★★★★★ | 30 mpg | |
| 2021 | Plug-in hybrid Gas | F | 9 | 33 | ★★★★★ | 30 mpg | Park outside |
| 2020 | Gas | F | 13 | 53 | — | 30 mpg | Park outside |
| 2019 | Gas | F | 9 | 41 | ★★★★★ | 30 mpg | Park outside |
| 2018 | Plug-in hybrid Gas Diesel | F | 7 | 73 | ★★★★★ | 36 mpg | Park outside |
| 2017 | Plug-in hybrid Gas Diesel | F | 4 | 80 | ★★★★★ | 36 mpg | Park outside |
| 2016 | Plug-in hybrid Gas Diesel | F | 6 | 106 | ★★★★★ | 35 mpg | Park outside |
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2023 is the cleanest 3 Series year we hold, and the 2018 the one to check hardest. The 2018 carries a standing park-outside or do-not-drive advisory, which outranks every other number on this page.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2027: added gas; dropped hybrid; 4 → 0 EPA configurations
- 2025: dropped plug-in hybrid, gas; best combined mpg 29 → 31; 6 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2023: best combined mpg 30 → 29
- 2022: added hybrid; 4 → 6 EPA configurations
- 2021: added plug-in hybrid; 2 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2020: 5 → 2 EPA configurations
- 2019: dropped plug-in hybrid, diesel; best combined mpg 36 → 30; 17 → 5 EPA configurations
- 2017: best combined mpg 35 → 36
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 3 Series vs Porsche Taycan · Midsize Sedan | 3 Series +14.5 | |
| 2027 3 Series vs Kia K4 · Midsize Sedan | Toss-up | |
| 2027 3 Series vs Nissan Sentra · Midsize Sedan | Sentra +24.7 | |
| 2027 3 Series vs Hyundai Ioniq 6 · Midsize Sedan | Toss-up | |
| 2027 3 Series vs Tesla Model 3 · Midsize Sedan | Toss-up | |
| 2026 3 Series vs Toyota Camry · Midsize Sedan | Camry +26.6 | |
| 2026 3 Series vs Honda Civic · Midsize Sedan | Civic +28.2 | |
| 2026 3 Series vs Hyundai Elantra · Midsize Sedan | Elantra +27.7 | |
| 2026 3 Series vs Genesis G70 · Compact Sedan | G70 +14.4 | |
| 2025 3 Series vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class · Compact Sedan | Toss-up | |
| 2025 3 Series vs Toyota Corolla · Compact Sedan | Corolla +19 | |
| 2025 3 Series vs Volkswagen Jetta · Compact Sedan | Jetta +3.9 |
Common questions about the BMW 3 Series
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich BMW 3 Series year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2023 3 Series comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade D (69/100), 4 recalls and 14 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What BMW 3 Series years should I avoid?
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 have the weakest recall records in this range — one carries an active park-outside or do-not-drive advisory. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every 3 Series model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the BMW 3 Series have?
Across model years 2016–2027, NHTSA has posted 58 recall campaigns for the BMW 3 Series. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.