2004 BMW M3 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 19%of 31 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 68,750miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2004 BMW M3, 19% of the 31 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 68,750 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“This is the second time this happened to my car the smg (sequential manual gear) light comes on and then my service engine light comes on as well every time in that order , also my car shifts itself into neutral all on its own and I can,t control the acceleration on the highway or anywhere else so the car begins top slow down, many people have addressed this issue to Bmw n.a. And nothing and it only happens during hot weather, and Bmw ran a diagnostic on my car and they gave me multiple things that can cause it so they expect me to pay for all of them even if they are not all the culprits. …”
NHTSA complaint #10522847, filed 2013-07, 54,462 miles“Faulty smg pump possibly caused by a culmination of other failing parts in smg system. Car is rendered inoperable in potentially hazardous driving situations that would otherwise be circumvented by a system more capable of warning the owner of an impending failure. The remedy the majority of dealerships are using are replacement of the entire smg system, which costs up to $7,000.00. As hideous as this sounds, there more than likely is a very small factor or part that is causing the entire system to fail. Bmw needs to address this immediately.”
NHTSA complaint #10583717, filed 2014-04, 110,201 miles“The smg transmission in a 2004 Bmw M3 will randomly shift into neutral disabling the vehicle on hot days without warning. Occurs on any day where temperatures exceed 95 degrees.”
NHTSA complaint #10422714, filed 2011-08, 95,000 miles“The contact owns a 2004 Bmw M3 convertible. The contact stated that the vehicle would slip out of gear while driving at any speed. The contact stated that because the vehicle had a smg transmission, the failure would not allow the contact to accelerate and he would have to shut the vehicle off and restart to allow the gear to re-engage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer yet he was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage and current mileage was 40,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10386218, filed 2011-03, 40,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 11% |
| 2016 | 1 | 20% |
| 2013 | 3 | 23% |
| 2011 | 4 | 13% |
| 2010 | 2 | 13% |
| 2009 | 24 | 53% |
| 2008 | 37 | 45% |
| 2006 | 2 | 14% |
| 2005 | 2 | 17% |
| 2004 | 6 | 19% |
| 2003 | 14 | 26% |
| 2002 | 8 | 20% |
| 2001 | 4 | 29% |
| 1999 | 1 | 9% |
| 1998 | 3 | 21% |
| 1997 | 1 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2004 BMW M3
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 BMW M3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology