2022 BMW 3 Series problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 8 owner complaints about the 2022 BMW 3 Series, or 1.7 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.04, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2022 vehicles we track, it ranks #2 for fewest complaints per year. Against other BMW models its rate is 85% lower; against other Luxury sedans it is 67% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Limited data: fewer than 30 complaints, so shares and indexes are unstable.
Complaints filed between 2022-01-19 and 2026-07-24. Median delay from incident to filing: 15 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2021) drew 5.8 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2023) drew 3.3 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2022 model collected 6 complaints, 92% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Wheels, tires & suspension (37.5% of complaints), followed by Interior & equipment (25.0%) and Engine (12.5%). Wheels, tires & suspension complaints are 15.1 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 1 reports (12.5%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.04
- vs. other BMW models0.15
- vs. other 2022 models0.04
- vs. other Luxury sedans0.33
- Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (6)0.08
- #2 of 92 · 2022Rankings ›
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Problem areas: Engine · Electrical
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 1
- Fires reported: 0
- Injuries: 2
- Deaths: 0
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 17 months
What owners report
Hours after a software update to the vehicle, a sudden unintended acceleration event occurred as I pulled into the alley of my office's driveway/garage. The brakes failed to work, and the vehicle rapidly accelerated in less than 2 seconds.
Vehicle threw code 21A50A (Starter Pinion Timeout) and a Drivetrain Malfunction warning. Car still starts and drives. This is the exact mechanical failure described in Starter Recall 26V-438 / 26V-441, but my 2022 330e VIN is currently excluded.
Sunroof exploded out of nowhere. The glass shattered everywhere.
Driving at 75 mph on highway, tire "exploded". Tire air pressure immediately dropped to zero, resulting in some lack of steering control. Warning message on dash appeared upon tire failure. Drove with caution lights to open gas station.
Driving on highway at 75 mph, tire "exploded" resulting in immediate loss of air pressure and some lack of steering control. Road conditions were optimal with clear sunny weather and no road hazards. Dashboard warning light appeared upon tire failure.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · 2022 · Luxury sedans
| Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Audi A4 | 6 | 1.3 | 0.03 |
| 2022 BMW 3 Series | 8 | 1.7 | 0.04 |
| 2022 Lexus ES | 14 | 3.0 | 0.07 |
| 2022 BMW 5 Series | 16 | 3.4 | 0.08 |
| 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 21 | 4.5 | 0.11 |
| 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 26 | 5.6 | 0.13 |
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year.
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2022 BMW 3 Series?
8 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2022 BMW 3 Series, or about 1.7 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2022 BMW 3 Series?
The most common category is Wheels, tires & suspension, accounting for 37.5% of complaints.
Does the 2022 BMW 3 Series have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Is the 2022 BMW 3 Series still generating complaints?
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
How does the 2022 BMW 3 Series compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 8 owner complaints about the 2022 BMW 3 Series, or 1.7 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.04, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2022 vehicles we track, it ranks #2 for fewest complaints per year. Against other BMW models its rate is 85% lower; against other Luxury sedans it is 67% lower.