There are 20 owner-reported tires & wheels complaints for the 2003 BMW 3 Seriesin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Continental Sport Plus 215/50 ZR17 Replaced Michelin tires with four of this size/brand. Highly unstable at highway speeds. Even more unstable under wet roadway conditions.
MY 4TH GT RADIAL TIRE SIDE WALL BLOW OUT. ON 10/29/2017, MY 4TH TIRE BLEW OUT THE SIDE WALL ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 70 MPH. I HAVE SAVED THE THIS TIRE AND THE 3RD ONE THAT BLEW OUT A FEW MONTHS BACK FOR INVESTIGATION. I ALSO HAVE PICTURES.
I PURCHASED A SET OF 4 GT RADIAL TIRES FROM DISCOUNT TIRE DIRECT AND 3 OF THE 4 TIRES HAVE NOW BLOWN THE SIDEWALLS DUE TO AIR LEAK AT THE SIDEWALL. TIRE #1- RIGHT FRONT BLEW OUT ON 9/28/2016. TIRE #2- LEFT REAR- BLEW OUT ON 7/28/2017, TIRE #3- LEFT REAR ( MOVED THE TIRE FROM LEFT FRONT TO REAR) BLEW OUT ON 8/19/2017. WHEN I CALLED GT RADIAL TIRE TO FILE A COMPLAINT (SEPT 7, 2017 4:12PM EST), I ONLY GOT TO LEAVE A VOICE MAIL TO THEIR CONSUMER SERVICE PERSON. I NEVER GOT A CALL BACK. AFTER THE 3RD TIRE BLEW OUT, I QUESTIONED THE SAFETY OF THE TIRE AND THAT'S WHEN I LOOKED UP TIRE RECALL BY GT RADIAL AND FOUND THEIR TOURING TIRES OF THE SAME MODEL AS MINE HAD THE SAME DEFECT AND WAS RECALLED. I BELIEVE MY TIRES ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TIRE INFORMATION FROM THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. I AM SAVING THE TIRE AND ALSO HAVE PICTURES. DOT CODE- 9UPE-00A-2114, E4 0257209-S, GT RADIAL- CHAMPIRO UHP1, SIZE= 255-35-18 94W XL
I PURCHASED A SET OF 4 GT RADIAL TIRES FROM DISCOUNT TIRE DIRECT AND 3 OF THE 4 TIRES HAVE NOW BLOWN THE SIDEWALLS DUE TO AIR LEAK AT THE SIDEWALL. TIRE #1- RIGHT FRONT BLEW OUT ON 9/28/2016. TIRE #2- LEFT REAR- BLEW OUT ON 7/28/2017, TIRE #3- LEFT REAR ( MOVED THE TIRE FROM LEFT FRONT TO REAR) BLEW OUT ON 8/19/2017. WHEN I CALLED GT RADIAL TIRE TO FILE A COMPLAINT (SEPT 7, 2017 4:12PM EST), I ONLY GOT TO LEAVE A VOICE MAIL TO THEIR CONSUMER SERVICE PERSON. I NEVER GOT A CALL BACK. AFTER THE 3RD TIRE BLEW OUT, I QUESTIONED THE SAFETY OF THE TIRE AND THAT'S WHEN I LOOKED UP TIRE RECALL BY GT RADIAL AND FOUND THEIR TOURING TIRES OF THE SAME MODEL AS MINE HAD THE SAME DEFECT AND WAS RECALLED. I BELIEVE MY TIRES ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TIRE INFORMATION FROM THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. I AM SAVING THE TIRE AND ALSO HAVE PICTURES. DOT CODE- 9UPE-00A-2114, E4 0257209-S, GT RADIAL- CHAMPIRO UHP1, SIZE= 255-35-18 94W XL
2003 BMW 330XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SPONTANEOUS CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED ON HIS DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE FAILED,CREATING A VOID AROUND THE OUTSIDE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE, ABOUT MID-WAY BETWEEN THE BEAD AND TREAD LINES. THE CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED THE SIDEWALL PILES SIMPLY GAVE WAY AND WITHOUT THAT INTERNAL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, THE TIRE SUDDENLY LOST AIR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DISCOUNT TIRE STORE FOR AN INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT OBSERVE ANY ROAD TRAUMA OR EXTERNAL REASON FOR THE SUDDEN FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE VIRTUALLY NEW. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED, THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON DUNPLOP'S PART. DUNLOP REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE, BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER AND THE TIRES HAD BEEN PURCHASED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER MORE THAN SIX YEARS AGO.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW S10 (NA). THE CONTACT PURCHASED AFTERMARKET CHROME RIMS ONLINE. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE RIMS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRES AND SHATTERED INTO SEVERAL PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.
ON MARCH 2ND 2007 AROUND 10:30AM I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 BMW M3 EAST BOUND ON INTERSTATE 40 FROM CHAPEL HILL NC TO RALEIGH NC. APPROACHING EXIT 292 MY REAR TIRE WHICH WAS A MICHELIN PILOT SPORT SIZE 255/35ZR RIPPED ON EACH SIDEWALL INNER AND OUTER. THE CENTER OF TIRE CAME COMPLETELY SEPARATED WHILE THE OUTER OF THE TIRE WAS STILL CONNECTED TO THE INNER AND OUTER OF THE REAR LEFT TIRE. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THE TIRE SIMPLY SHREDDED ON THE INNER AND OUTER SIDEWALL CAUSING ME TO SWERVE, GAIN CONTROL OF CAR AND PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO PERFORMANCE BMW IN CHAPEL HILL. I AM EXPECTED THERE TO BE RIM DAMAGE AS WELL. AT THIS POINT AND TIME NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. BMW ADVISED ME THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE CAR UNTIL MONDAY. I WILL KEEP ALL PAPERWORK. *JB
TIRE FAILURE--TOTAL DISINTEGRATION OF TOYO PROXES T1-R 97Y ZR 23545R17 PURCHASED ON 2/11/06. *NM
I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON H1 FREEWAY WESTBOUND BETWEEN KAONOHI & PEARL CITY EXIT WHERE THE H1 WIDENING CONSTRUCTION IS ON PROGRESS JUST BEFORE 10:00 AM ON 2/2/06. THERE ARE SEVERAL LARGE SIZE GRAVELS ON THE FAR LEFT LANE I WAS DRIVING. BY THE TIME I SPOTTED, IT WAS TOO LATE TO CHANGE THE LANE FAST ENOUGH DUE TO THE VEHICLE NEXT TO ME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. MY LEFT FRONT TIRE & RIM GOT HIT BY ONE OF GRAVELS & EXPLODED I HAD AAA TO CHANGE MY SPARE & NEEDED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER RIM & TIRE COST ME $450
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330I. AFTER THE CPNTACT HAD THE RIMS CHROMED THEY WOULD CONTINUOUSLY AND SLOWLY DEFLATE. THE TIRES HAD TO BE INSPECTED AND REINFLATED AFTER EVERY TRIP. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER THE RIMS WERE CHROMED. THE RIMS WOULD NOT HOLD AIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
TEMPERATURE SENSOR IS LOCATED IN FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WELL WITHOUT PROTECTION FROM ROAD -- I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT THREE TIMES IN THREE YEARS. *TR
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FILE A COMPLAINT BUT NOW IT IS WORSE. ONE OF THE TIRES FROM COOPER THAT I FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT BLEW OUT FORCING MY CAR UP ON TWO WHEELS. I MANAGE TO CONTROL THE CAR WITHOUT FLIPPING. DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I AM KILLED OR SOMEONE IS HURT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. *JB
I WAS TOLD THAT MY TIRE HAD A DEFECT BUT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ONE PERSON TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A TIRE DEFECT BUT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SAY ANYTHING SINCE HE WORKED FOR THE COMPANY. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD A BULGE CAUSED BY A POT HOLE BUT IT WAS NOT DANGEROUS. WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND LITERALLY LIFTED THE CAR UP ON TWO WHEELS. I WAS SO SCARED AND UPSET AFTER I REGAINED CONTROL THAT I CALLED THE COMPANY AND THEY SAID OH WELL. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TIRES SINCE THEY WERE PUT ON LAST SUMMER. THEY BOUNCE CONSTANTLY BUT YET COOPER DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR SO CALLED HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES. *JB
I PURCHASED COOPER TIRES LAST SUMMER AND DO NOT HAVE 10,000 MILES ON THEM AND THEY ARE STARTING TO FALL APART. I HAD TO REPLACE ONE BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS DAMAGE BECAUSE OF A POT HOLE. NOW I HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS A KNOT IN IT AND I AM TOLD THAT IT IS DUE TO A STRESS FRACTURE IN THE TIRE CAUSE BY A POTHOLE.. IT SEEMS LIKE I AM BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN AND BLONDE. TWO YEARS AGO MY DAUGHTER HAD TO HAVE ALL 4 OF HER TIRES REPLACED THAT WERE COOPER BECAUSE SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIAL HAD FLAT SIDES. *JB
ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE EXPERIENCED TIRE BLOW OUTS ON A TOTAL OF 4 TIRES ON MY 2003 BMW 330XI. ALL WERE CAUSED BY DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND STRIKING EITHER A POTHOLE OR A RAISED MANHOLE COVER. MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE ALSO CRACKED THE ALLOY WHEEL WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. BMW SAYS THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED AND THE "WHEELS ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR HITTING POTHOLES". SINCE WHEN ARE CARS ONLY DESIGNED FOR OPERATING UNDER PERFECT CONDITIONS? TOTAL REPAIR EXPENSE HAS BEEN NEARLY $2000. THIS RESULTS FROM WHAT I BELIEVE IS A DESIGN FLAW WHEREBY VERY LOW ASPECT RATIO TIRES ARE STANDARD ON CAR AND DO NOT OFFER SUFFICIENT IMPACT RESISTANCE LEADING TO EXPLOSIVE FAILURE OF TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY FLAW AND SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL AND CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT. OWNERS CANNOT VOLUNTARILY SIMPLY FIT DIFFERENT SAFER TIRES OFFERING MORE PROTECTION AS THE CARS TRANSMISSION, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED, PER BMW. *JB
I PURCHASED A 2003 BMW 325I LAST YEAR . FROM SAN DIEGO BMW AND I HAD 3 OR MORE TIRE BLOW OUT EVER SINCE , AND IS ALL FROM THE SAME SIDE OF THE CAR (LEFT REAR) . I GOT BRAND NEW TIRES , ROTATION ALIGNMENT , ANYTHING I CAN THINK OF. FROM THE SAME DEALER I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM . MY LAST TIRE BLOW OUT WAS ON NOV. 20,2004 FROM THE TIRE I HAD REPAIR ON AT THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT.)AND IT HAPPENED TWO DAYS AFTER I HAD MY CAR SERVICE, AND TIRE REPAIR . (I CALL THE SERVICE DEPT. ALL THEY CAN TELL ME WAS TO GET NEW TIRES. ) *JB
COMPLAINT REGARDING DEFECTIVE GOODYEAR TIRES. *MR THERE WAS A BUBBLE ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. *SC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *JB
PROBLEMS WITH MICHELIN TIRES ON 2003 BMW 330 CI.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD A DAMAGED MICHELIN TIRE REPLACED BUT ONLY FOUR MONTHS LATER THE NEW TIRE IS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE OLD TIRE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE TIRES BECAME TOO HOT THEREFORE CREATING 3-4 INCH BUBBLES AROUND THE WALL WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR. *NM
REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE RIPPED COMPLETELY APART WHILE TRAVELING 20-25 MPH. *PH *MR
LEFT/REAR AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES HAD DEVELOPED A LARGE "BUBBLE" IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRES HAD LESS THAN 2000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. BRIDGESTONE TURANZA, ER30 225/45ZR17, DOT NO. K9701ER3OU2, ORIGINAL TIRES. *AK *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026