The 1996 BMW E46 has 1 safety recall and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (1 complaint).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints1filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 06E040000 · May 15, 2006 · 1,648 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: CERTAIN E SPEED RACING COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: E SPEED RACING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT E SPEED RACING 909-923-3636.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Fuel system, gasoline
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
May 21, 2004 · 39,000 milesFuel system, gasoline TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW E46. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GAS IS LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN ON A DAILY BASIS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 41,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.