The 1999 BMW M3 has 1 safety recall and 11 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (5 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints11filed by owners
Crashes · fires3 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Air bags › Side/window
NHTSA recall 99V063001 · Nov 15, 1999 · 16,749 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: 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.
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE CENTRAL COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE THAT REGULATES THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL OF THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEMS.
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.
Fuel economy
M3 Convertible
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
M3
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
M3 Convertible
18mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Air bags
5
1
0
2
95,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
2
2
0
0
—
Tires Tread/belt
2
0
0
0
—
Power train Manual transmission
1
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling
1
0
0
0
—
Structure
1
1
0
0
—
Steering
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
Feb 3, 2015 · 100,000 milesAir bags 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
Oct 24, 2014 · 95,000 milesSteering 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 SLEEVE FROM MY SHIRT ARE IMPRINTED ON THE STEERING WHEEL...MY LONG HAIR HAS BEEN STUCK ON IT. I'M AFRAID TO TOUCH THE WHEEL- IT NEARLY DRIPS. WHAT IS THIS MATERIAL? WHAT'S GOING ON? NOTHING WAS PUT ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO CAUSE THIS. THIS CAR IS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THIS IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN ANY CAR, AT ANY TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MATERIAL BMW USED…
Mar 1, 2002 · 40,000 miles · crashService brakes, hydraulic 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.
Jan 26, 2007Tires TL * - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW M3. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON JANUARY 21, 2007, WITH 2 BALD REAR TIRES. THE DEALER HAS NOT AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. BRIDGESTONE, POTENZA , DOT # EMH8CKA. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE SIZE WAS 18. THE CONTACT HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, HE RECEIVED A CITATION FOR HAVING BALD TIRES, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW TO SELL A VEHICLE WITH BALD TIRES FOR SAFETY REASONS. *AK
Jan 23, 2006 · 13,000 milesEngine and engine cooling DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE OIL. THE OIL WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED AN OIL PAN NUT FELL OFF INTO THE OIL PAN CAUSING AN OIL PUMP FAILURE WHICH BURN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING AN OIL CHANGE. UPDATED 02/21/06. *JB
Apr 11, 2004 · 73,600 milesAir bags 1999 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE. AIRBAG LIGHT COME UP WITH NO REASON; POTENTIALLY, AIRBIG WON'T DEPLOY IF ANY ACCIDENT HAPPEN. VIN [XXX]. UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Jan 14, 2004 · 50,000 milesPower train › Manual transmission THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON MY BMW M3 HAS A DEFECT. IT INVOLVES THE TRANSMISSION STICKING IN 5TH GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, BECAUSE IT COMPROMISES CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN SHIFTING, LEAVING THE OPERATOR WTIHOUT FULL CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT IN 1999 M3S AND MANY CUSTOMERS ARE EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THIS. BMWS FIX IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE. *AK
Feb 13, 2002Tires › Tread/belt WHILE DRIVING 70MPH THE VEHICLE'S LEFT REAR TIRE STARTED TO DEFLATE DUE TO A PUNCTURE AND THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. NLM. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED DUE TO THE TREAD SEPARATION FROM THE SIDE WALL. TIRE SIZE 245/40ZR17, CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TIRE WAS REMOVED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A PUNCTURE. *YH
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
RQ99018 · opened Sep 3, 1999 · open · led to recall 99V063001INADVERTANT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ON MARCH 26, 1999, BMW OF NORTH AMERICAN, INC. RECALLED 32,500 1999 323I AND 328I MANUFACTURED UP TO APRIL 1999, FOR INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS SUCH AS CONTACTING LARGE POT HOLES OR CURBS AT SUBSTANTIAL SPEED.AS A REMEDY, BMW WILL RECODE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH UPDATED SOFTWARE.THE RECALL WAS A RESULT OF AN ODI SAFETY DEFECT INVESTIGATION. ODI RECEIVED 1 CONSUMER COMPLAINT OF A 1999 MODEL YEAR M3 ALLEGING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT SIDE IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE CAUSING ONE INJURY.THE COMPLAINANT'S M3 USES THE SAMECHASSIS AS THE 3-SERIES AND WAS BUILT IN MARCH 1999. THE PURPOSE OF THIS RQ IS TO DETERMINE THE ADEQUACY OF THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL.CLOSING NOTE: BMW HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN UNDER SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 99V-063.001.