1999 BMW 3 Series
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › BMW › 3 Series › 1999
These records cover every 1999 BMW 3 Series. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1999 BMW 3 Series. Newest first.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously…
Risk and remedy
Risk
The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Owner complaints
6 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Air bags
I was driving home at 10:15 pm and the passenger side door mounted and passenger side head protection air bags deployed. I called BMW the following morning to report it and see what I should do. I was told I would get a return call within 1-3 business days. I have left 2 messages and BMW still has not called me back. *tr
- Fuel/propulsion system
The BMW 323I ( BMW E46 ) fuel tank strap, which holds the fuel tank in place, detached from the car body. This IS a strap holding the fuel tank in place. the 4 spot welds that hold the strap to the car body failed. note, the fuel tank IS held in place by this strap. *tr
- Air bags
I brought the vehicle into brecht dealership in escondido to address seatbelt safety/airbag sensor light warning. The vehicle has been in for repair a total of eight (8) times for the same issue. Today the seatbelt airbag warning devise came on with the loaner provided bydealer with a screen…
I brought the vehicle into brecht dealership in escondido to address seatbelt safety/airbag sensor light warning. The vehicle has been in for repair a total of eight (8) times for the same issue. Today the seatbelt airbag warning devise came on with the loaner provided bydealer with a screen statement: warning danger keep your seatbelt on and return to shop for repair. This IS a 20014 vehicle. I believe this entire issue of seatbelt airbag safety IS a manufacturer defect and warrants full investigation before a grandchild seated in the passenger seat IS killed from an airbag improperly ejecting or even worse nothing no airbag or seat belt protection in an accident. *tr
- Electrical system
All doors lock on their own and the windows and sunroof close leaving you locked inside the car. *Tr
- Air bags › Side/window
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 BMW 3 series. while driving, the air bag warning light illuminated. the dealer stated that a faulty seat belt clip caused the failure and they made the replacement. approximately one year later, the air bag warning light illuminated again. the dealer replaced the seat…
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 BMW 3 series. while driving, the air bag warning light illuminated. the dealer stated that a faulty seat belt clip caused the failure and they made the replacement. approximately one year later, the air bag warning light illuminated again. the dealer replaced the seat belt clip once more. one year later, the failure recurred. the dealer stated that the wiring harness was defective. the dealer replaced the cable connector and strap, a shrink tube, and the lower belt. four months later, the air bag warning illuminated for the fourth time. the dealer stated that the driver side door air bag had failed. they recommended that the driver side door air bag wiring harness be replaced. the replacement has not been made. the current mileage IS 100,000 and failure mileage was 3,916 updated 0310/08. *lj the consumer had a recall notice which addresses an air bag issue.
- Structure › Frame and members
(1) in everyday driving, I heard a creaking noise in the rear end of my 1999 BMW 328I. (2) I found that the left rear subframe has started to shear away from the chassis making the car only drivable for only short distances, if at all. (3) I brought it to the dealer to see if they would cover…
(1) in everyday driving, I heard a creaking noise in the rear end of my 1999 BMW 328I. (2) I found that the left rear subframe has started to shear away from the chassis making the car only drivable for only short distances, if at all. (3) I brought it to the dealer to see if they would cover the cost of repair as a goodwill gesture and they said no. I then appealed to BMW north america and they sent out a body technician who also denied the repair. the car was approx. One year and 10000 miles over warranty. no parts were replaced nor any repairs made. this IS a defect in the workmanship of the car and it IS documented on the web forum www.bimmer.roadfly.org. *nm
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Inadvertent side-impact air bag deployme
The subject vehicle's air bag electronic control module contains programmable logic for deploying the side-impact air bags.bmw revised the module several times over the span of the model years 1999 through 2002 (identified as mrs2.ca, mrs2.bb, MRS3, MRS3+ and mrs4).although model year 1999.5 vehicles with version…
The subject vehicle's air bag electronic control module contains programmable logic for deploying the side-impact air bags.bmw revised the module several times over the span of the model years 1999 through 2002 (identified as mrs2.ca, mrs2.bb, MRS3, MRS3+ and mrs4).although model year 1999.5 vehicles with version mrs2.bb had 6.5% of the subject population, it accounted for 29% of the total reports received.the mrs2.bb exposure adjusted report rate was almost 4 times higher than other 3 series air bag module versions.in august 2002, BMW initiated a recall campaign for 20,500 model 323I and 328I vehicles with version mrs2.bb (nhtsa recall # 02v223000).in addition to experiencing a lower rate of non-crash deployments, most of the non-recalled vehicles also showed evidence of significant pothole/curb impact with some having additional undercarriage contact/scrape or suspension damage.see additional information
- Inadvertent side air bag deployments
Alleged that the driver's or front passenger's side air bags may deploy without a vehicle crash
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10249437The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- 10051519BMW: the high-voltage (hv) battery cells could be damaged if the vehicle IS prevented from entering sleep mode for an extended period of time. Updated 03/11/2013
- 10051459BMW: dsc warning light IS on. The warning lamps for dsc, ABS and brake warning illuminated. There may also be a warning in the control display for chassis control system failure.
- 10051359BMW: vehicle does not start: loose ground z6000 *4B. Covered under the terms of the BMW new vehicle/sav limited warranty.
- 10044032BMW: the left or right rear light in the side panel has condensation concerning vehicles produced up to february 27,2012.
- 10040050BMW: the end of the seatbelt assistant breaks/falls off when retracting. The retaining tab IS not robust enough. E92.
- 10040049BMW: a software problem IS causing one or both of the seat belt assistants to not extend fully or may not extend at all. The position at which the assistant comes to rest varies. E92.
- 10037078BMW: the airbag warning lamp IS illuminated due to a software error.
- 10035247BMW vehicle: front safety belt does not retract smoothly or jams. The upper part of the driver's or passenger's front safety belt does not roll up fully or rolls up slowly. The adjustment of the inertia reel IS incorrect at the fastening point. The belt IS touching the guide funnel. Models E90, E91 and E92. No model years listed.
- 10035224BMW vehicle: rear bulb failure. The bulb out warning shows in the instrument cluster. Diagnosis shows a fault for the rear lamp. The bulb out can be displayed for 2 possible causes: poor fit between the bulb and bulb holder; bulb failure caused by vibration.
- 10033135BMW vehicles: rear axle carrier (sub frame) support proposed class action settlement. Under certain circumstances, a fracture in the steel body structure could form in the area around one of the rear axle carrier mounting points. As a result, a distinct clicking noise can be heard from the area of the rear axle carrier during certain driving conditions. Model E46 (3series). No model years listed.
- 10033131BMW vehicles: engine cranks but does not start; fuel level gauge displays a sufficient amount of fuel, although the fuel tank IS empty; fault code 2A1C (fuel level plausibility) IS stored in msv80. Right side fuel sending unit IS dislodged from its bracket due to incorrect assembly. No model years listed. Updated 4/29/11.
- 10032989BMW: fuel level sensor repair procedure. The case where it IS necessary to replace the right side fuel level sensor due to a failure, the entire pump and housing does not need to be replaced. No model years listed.
- 10032815BMW vehicle: noise from front axle/right side. A grinding or scraping noise may be heard while cornering at vehicle speeds up to 30 mph. The noise IS more pronounced while the vehicle IS in the warm up phase and may change intensity during left and right turns. The right side engine support IS making contact with the right side engine mount.
- 10030844BMW vehicles: teileclearing for dynamic stability control (dsc). A part replacement authorization must be obtained by submitting a tc case in puma before any of the following dsc components are replaced under warranty for the vehicles listed in the model section of this bulletin: dsc control module, dsc hydro unit, and yaw rate sensor. No model years listed.
- 10030626BMW vehicles: doors will not unlock using the key fob or central locking button. Updated1/4/10. Updated 5/24/10.
- 10029605BMW service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. The airbag warning lamp (awl) IS illuminated, together with the passenger airbag status lamp (pol). The problem may be intermittent. Microcracks in the OC3 seat mat. Updated 9/30/11.
- 10028525BMW: service engine lamp IS illuminated. Dme fc 2A15 minor leak and 2A16 superfine leak in evaporation system. Tank ventilation corrugated hose may contact the low side air conditioning pressure line aluminum ferrel. This contact may cause a small leak.
- 10025848BMW: seat frame design changed for 392 (3 series coupe) produced up to may 2007. On early production E92S, the socket which secures the seat backrest release cable to the release mechanism could pull free from the release mechanism.
- 10025585Rear bulb failure. Model E92 (3 series coupe) vehicles produced up to january 21, 2008 are affected. The bulb out warning shows in the instrument cluster.
- 10025584N54 rattle noise from turbocharger area. Models E90, E92 and E93 (3 series) 335I and 335xi; E60 and E61 (5 series) 535I and 535xi, all with N54 engine from the start of production to january 17, 2008 production.
- 10025573N52 edk throttle jamming faults 2D09, 2CED and 2CEC. Model E90 and E91 (3 series) and E60 and E61 (5 series), all models up to 11/2005 with N52 engine.
- 10015410Check engine lamp illuminated and/or vehicle overheats. BMW E90 (3 series) all E90 (3 series) and E60 (5 series) models equipped with N52 engine.
- 611025Subject on the BMW synthetic engine oil. *Mjs BMW engine oils.
- 608246This service information bulletin mentions that the BMW monochrome accessory navigation system IS finally in stock.
- 602623Subject regarding high performance synthetic oil. (E46)
- 602622Subject regarding high performance synthetic oil.
Every BMW 3 Series model year
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