VehicleVerdict

2003 BMW 3 Series lighting problems

The 2003 BMW 3 Series has 25 lighting complaints filed with NHTSA — 26% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

25

Lighting complaints

26%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Lighting complaints by year

3 Series lighting complaints by model year43 complaints2000: 2 complaints2001: 8 complaints2002: 3 complaints2003: 25 complaints2004: 43 complaints2005: 4 complaints2006: 2 complaints2007: 7 complaints2008: 2 complaints2009: 5 complaints2010: 2 complaints
3 Series lighting complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

ZKW BI XENON HEADLIGHTS REFLECTORS BURN OUT OVER TIME. THE BOWLS ARE SHOT AND THEY WERE BLACK, BURNED TO A CRISP. THEY WERE MADE OUT OF A PLASTIC MATERIAL WITH A CHROME COATING, INSTEAD OF A METAL REFLECTOR. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR BMW. THEY GOT THE TAIL LIGHT WHICH WORKS FINE IN MY CAR, I NEED…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · December 11, 2011

Common questions

How many lighting complaints does the 2003 BMW 3 Series have?

NHTSA has 25 complaints about the 2003 BMW 3 Series lighting — 26% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.