Vehicle Data Hub

2009 BMW M3 transmission problems

Owners reported transmission problems in 21 complaints for the 2009 BMW M3, 39% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
21 39% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
2,000 miles 21 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 0
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When transmission problems show up

Transmission complaints by mileage, 2009 BMW M3 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 2,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 21 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 0 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 0 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 0 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 0 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 2,000 miles
Based on 21 complaints that include mileage. 100% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles21
20k to 40k miles0
40k to 60k miles0
60k to 80k miles0
80k to 100k miles0
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 21 transmission complaints that report mileage, the median is about 2,000 miles, and 100% were reported before 60,000 miles.

None of the transmission complaints mention a crash, fire, injury or death.

What owners wrote

My 09 BMW m3 with dct is exhibiting gear shifting slowness and power lagging problems after hard braking. The most recent incident was a near rear end collision today that required me to brake hard from 70MPH, to 40, switch lanes and accelerate to avoid being hit by approaching traffic from behind. When I attempted to accelerate, the car did not respond for what seemed like a couple seconds. The lag was long enough that the car behind me was forced to leave the road to avoid hitting me.

Reported at 1,800 miles, February 2009

The problem occurs when you slow down- like for a turn, but do not come to a complete stop. The dct transmission seems to have trouble figuring out what gear to select because when you step on the gas to accelerate, there is a very significant delay in the onset of power- up to 2-3 seconds. By this time, the driver is usually really digging into the throttle. The transmission finally picks a gear, which results in the car suddenly lurching forward, sometimes invoking the anti-skid control. The occurs frequently.

Reported at 200 miles, July 2009

Transmission problems in other years

  • 2027
  • 2026
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000
  • 1999
  • 1998
  • 1997
  • 1996
  • 1995
  • 1994
  • 1993
  • 1992
  • 1991
  • 1990

Transmission problems across all BMW models