BMW 3 Series Safety Ratings
NHTSA gives the 2022 BMW 3 Series an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with 5 stars in the frontal crash test and 5 stars for rollover resistance.
Latest model year (2026):
NHTSA rates the BMW 3 Series at 5 ★ overall, 5 ★ frontal crash, 5 ★ side crash and 5 ★ rollover.
BMW 3 Series Safety — All Years
| Year | Variant | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022Config 1 of 2 | 2022 BMW 3 Series 4 DR AWD | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 3 | 8 |
| 2022Config 2 of 2 | 2022 BMW 3 Series 4 DR RWD | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 3 | 8 |
| 2021Config 1 of 2 | 2021 BMW 3 Series 4 DR AWD | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 9 | 32 |
| 2021Config 2 of 2 | 2021 BMW 3 Series 4 DR RWD | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 9 | 32 |
| 2019 | 2019 BMW 3 Series SW AWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 9 | 40 |
| 2018Config 1 of 3 | 2018 BMW 3 Series SW AWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 | 58 |
| 2018Config 2 of 3 | 2018 BMW 3 Series 4 DR AWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 | 58 |
| 2018Config 3 of 3 | 2018 BMW 3 Series 4 DR RWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 | 58 |
| 2017Config 1 of 3 | 2017 BMW 3 Series SW AWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 3 | 71 |
| 2017Config 2 of 3 | 2017 BMW 3 Series 4 DR AWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 3 | 71 |
| 2017Config 3 of 3 | 2017 BMW 3 Series 4 DR RWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 3 | 71 |
| 2016Config 1 of 3 | 2016 BMW 3 Series SW AWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 | 93 |
| 2016Config 2 of 3 | 2016 BMW 3 Series 4 DR AWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 | 93 |
| 2016Config 3 of 3 | 2016 BMW 3 Series 4 DR RWD | 5 ★ | 4 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 ★ | 5 | 93 |
Crash-test star ratings sourced from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Ratings apply to the tested body style and can differ between trims and drivetrain layouts.
BMW 3 Series data analysis
How BMW 3 Series NHTSA rollover risk varies
Across 14 configurations recorded for the 2016 through 2022 BMW 3 Series, NHTSA rollover risk runs from 0.1% to 0.1%. The strongest figure belongs to the 2022 BMW 3 Series (2022 BMW 3 Series 4 DR AWD) at 0.1%, and the weakest to the 2016 car (2016 BMW 3 Series 4 DR RWD) at 0.1% — a spread of 3%. The narrow spread means any year of the BMW 3 Series in this table behaves much like the others, so you can shop on price, condition and mileage rather than chasing a particular model year.
What changed for 2022
Average NHTSA rollover risk for the 2022 BMW 3 Series is 0.1%, against 0.1% for the 2021 car — it held flat. A carry-over year like this usually means no powertrain or structural change, so an older example is the cheaper way into the same specification.
How to read this BMW 3 Series data
This page lists every 2016 through 2022 BMW 3 Series record we hold for this measurement — 14 rows in total, one per configuration and model year rather than a single headline figure. Figures are published as the source agency records them: we do not round, average or interpolate missing years, and a year that is absent from the table is a year with no published measurement rather than a zero. Where a manufacturer offered several drivetrains or body styles in the same year, each appears on its own row, because those variants rarely share the same numbers.
Configurations behind these BMW 3 Series numbers
The 2016 through 2022 BMW 3 Series entries here cover variants including 2022 BMW 3 Series 4 DR AWD, 2022 BMW 3 Series 4 DR RWD, 2021 BMW 3 Series 4 DR AWD, 2021 BMW 3 Series 4 DR RWD, 2019 BMW 3 Series SW AWD, 2018 BMW 3 Series SW AWD, 2018 BMW 3 Series 4 DR AWD and 2018 BMW 3 Series 4 DR RWD. 2018 is the busiest model year in the record with 3 separate measured configurations, which is why a single quoted NHTSA rollover risk figure for that year is rarely the one that matches the car in front of you. Match the row to the exact drivetrain, body style and engine on the window sticker or VIN before relying on the number, and use the comparison links below to see how those same configurations line up against rival models.
Where these BMW 3 Series figures come from
Every value on this page is loaded from federal open data — EPA fuel economy submissions, NHTSA vehicle and crash-test records, and manufacturer specification filings — rather than dealer listings or copied editorial content. The BMW 3 Series record refreshes as the agencies publish, which typically means new model-year rows appear in the autumn and crash-test results follow through the model year as vehicles are tested. Because certification data is filed per configuration, treat any single headline number for this vehicle with caution: the figure that applies to a specific car depends on its engine, drivetrain, body style and model year, all of which are listed separately above. If a number here disagrees with a brochure, the brochure is usually quoting the best available configuration rather than the one being sold.
How the 2022 BMW 3 Series scored
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program rates the 2022 BMW 3 Series at 5 stars overall, 5 stars in the frontal barrier test, 5 stars for side impact, 5 stars for rollover resistance. Its calculated rollover risk is 0.1% — the probability the agency's model assigns to a rollover in a single-vehicle crash. Stars are awarded against the test protocol in force for that model year and are not comparable across a protocol change, so read a year's rating against other vehicles of the same year rather than against an older or newer version of the same car.
Recalls and owner complaints
The 2022 BMW 3 Series carries 3 open or completed safety recalls, 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 1 agency investigation. Recall counts are not a quality score on their own — a manufacturer that reports and fixes a defect early generates a recall, while one that does not may simply accumulate complaints instead. Check any specific car's VIN against the recall database before purchase: recalls are repaired free of charge regardless of ownership history, but only if the work has actually been carried out.
Driver-assistance equipment and how to read this record
NHTSA records the 2022 BMW 3 Series as offering electronic stability control. Availability means the system was fitted or offered on the model year, not that every individual car has it — options and trim levels vary. This page covers 14 tested configurations across 2016–2022, one row per body style and model year the agency has published. Where a field is blank the vehicle was not tested for that measure rather than scoring zero, and configurations are never merged, because a front-wheel-drive and an all-wheel-drive version of the same nameplate are separate tests.
Frequently Asked Questions About 3 Series Safety
Is the BMW 3 Series a safe car?
NHTSA gives the BMW 3 Series an overall crash rating of 5 out of 5 stars, including 5 stars in the frontal crash test and 5 stars in the side crash test. Ratings are per body style and model year — check the table above for yours.
What is the rollover rating of the BMW 3 Series?
The BMW 3 Series scores 5 out of 5 stars for rollover resistance, with a calculated rollover risk of about 9.2%. Taller vehicles typically score lower here than sedans.
Does the BMW 3 Series have driver assistance features?
NHTSA records the tested BMW 3 Series as having electronic stability control, without forward collision warning and without lane departure warning. Availability varies by trim and package.
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