NHTSA vehicle safety data
1999 BMW M3 Recalls & Complaints
The 1999 BMW M3 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 11 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 M3. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
1999 BMW M3 owner complaints
Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 BMW M3, describing incidents dated July 27, 1999 to February 3, 2015.
Most-cited components
- Air Bags 5 complaints
- Service Brakes 2 complaints
- Tires 2 complaints
- Engine 1 complaint
- Power Train 1 complaint
- Steering 1 complaint
Of the 11 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 11 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #10680819 · Filed
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DIAGNOSIS: PASSENGER AIR BAG ELECTRONICS ARE FAULTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $500 PER DEALER. BMW SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS BUT THEY DO NOT SHOW THIS WITH MY VIN. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. *TR
ODI #10650645 · Filed
THE MATERIAL USED ON THE BMW STEERING WHEEL MELTS AT THE TOUCH OF SUNLIGHT- DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A HOT TEMPERATURE. THE MELTING OF THE STEERING WHEEL RESTRICTS ME FROM USING THE HORN AND COULD VERY WELL HAVE AFFECTED THE AIRBAG AND/OR DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. ALSO, IT'S STICKY, MY FINGERPRINTS AND…
ODI #10322398 · Filed
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE AND POSES A DANGER WHEN MOVING FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE BRAKE. YOUR FOOT CAN BECOME ENTANGLED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL.
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1999 BMW M3 in 1 investigation. 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.
- Recall Query RQ99-018: INADVERTANT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
Opened September 3, 1999; no closing date on file
BMW/SIDE DOOR AIR BAGS
NHTSA #99V063001 · Air Bags — Side/Window · NHTSA notice
Reported November 15, 1999 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Potentially affected: 16,749 vehicles
Owners notified February 7, 2000 · Vehicles built March 1, 1997 – August 31, 1999 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES ARE BUILT WITH A SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM CONSISTING OF DOOR-MOUNTED THORAX AIR BAGS (REAR DOOR AIR BAGS ARE OPTIONAL), A CENTRAL ELECTRONIC SENSOR AND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, LEFT AND RIGHT SATELLITE IMPACT SENSORS, AND ASSOCIATED WIRING. THIS SYSTEM IS UNDULY SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS, SUCH AS CONTACTING LARGE POTHOLES OR CURBS AT SUBSTANTIAL SPEED.
Safety consequence
THIS COULD CAUSE THE SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACTUAL SIDE CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL (BST) COULD ALSO ACTIVATE, DISCONNECTING THE STARTER CABLE FROM THE BATTERY. IN THIS CASE, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND THE ENGINE WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN, BUT AFTER STOPPING, COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE CENTRAL COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE THAT REGULATES THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL OF THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEMS.
Notes
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 7, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Other BMW M3 model years
Check your 1999 BMW M3 VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW M3 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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