I have been trying to get the airbag recall fixed but my BMW dealership has continued to say they have not received any of the repair kits. I have been waiting almost a year and am not comfortable driving this car in its present condition. Recall notice was sent to me feb 2016. *tr
2011 BMW M3 airbags problems
moderate 9 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
When does it fail?
Of the 9 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 BMW M3, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of BMW M3 in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Airbags accounts for 22% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 BMW m3. The contact received notification NHTSA campaign number 16v071000 (air bags), however the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact called the stevens creeks BMW (4343 stevens creek blvd st clara ca 95051 800-298-1501) and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was aware of the issue and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 BMW m3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v071000 (air bags); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 BMW m3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v071000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 BMW m3. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag light flickered while the seat was occupied or unoccupied. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v428000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure…
Between 11/04/16 and 11/08/16 I left my vehicle with reeves BMW dealership in tampa, fl for the takata airbag recall which they told me they completed. I continued to get warning letters from the NHTSA for this recall and recently I brought my car to a different BMW dealership which told me the reeves BMW dealership reported they completed the work and my airbag could not be changed under the…
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 BMW M3?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2011 BMW M3?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 9 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 9 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 65,699 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/BMW/M3.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.