NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 BMW 3 Series Recalls & Complaints

The 1999 BMW 3 Series has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 6 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1999 BMW 3 Series. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1999 BMW 3 Series owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 BMW 3 Series, describing incidents dated October 1, 2000 to April 14, 2014.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 3 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10583545 · Filed April 18, 2014
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…
ODI #10557179 · Filed December 24, 2013
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
ODI #10534078 · Filed August 7, 2013
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…

Read all 6 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1999 BMW 3 Series in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA02-012: INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYME
Closed June 24, 2003
- Recall 02V-223
Preliminary Evaluation PE99-017: INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS
Closed May 11, 1999
- Recall 99V-063

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bag Inflator May Explode or Underinflate Bag

NHTSA #21V401000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported May 27, 2021 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 4,511 vehicles

Repair completion: 50.83% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified July 12, 2021

Defect description

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 inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V-851, 19V852, or 19V-853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1999 BMW 3 Series. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 BMW 3 Series.

Air Bags

ODI #10583545

Incident: April 14, 2014 · Filed: April 18, 2014

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

ODI #10557179

Incident: December 23, 2013 · Filed: December 24, 2013

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

ODI #10534078

Incident: July 1, 2002 · Filed: August 7, 2013

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

ODI #10465325

Incident: July 2, 2012 · Filed: July 11, 2012

ALL DOORS LOCK ON THEIR OWN AND THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF CLOSE LEAVING YOU LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10196059

Incident: October 1, 2000 · Filed: July 11, 2007

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

ODI #10095640

Incident: October 12, 2004 · Filed: October 12, 2004

(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

Other BMW 3 Series model years

Check your 1999 BMW 3 Series VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 3 Series at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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