Known Recalls

Model year record

1998 BMW M3

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 18 owner complaints on file.

BMW M3, 1995–1999 generation
Pictured: the 1995–1999 generation. OWS Photography, CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V063001

Air bags: side/window

Component
Air bags: side/window
Manufacturer
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Vehicles affected
16,749
Reported to NHTSA
1999-11-15
Owners notified
2000-02-07

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 risk

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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train: manual transmission27,200 mi
Suspension: rear266,590 mi
Air bags1—
Air bags: frontal1—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1—
Electrical system: horn1—
Engine and engine cooling: engine1—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline1—
Exterior lighting: brake lights1—
Power train: automatic transmission1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1—
Structure: body1—
Tires182,943 mi
Vehicle speed control: linkages1—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system170,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: interior1—

The 1997 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 1999 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Other BMW M3 model years

20252023202220212018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991199019891988

All BMW M3 recalls by year

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.