1996 BMW 3 SERIES — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
3
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
5
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 BMW 3 SERIES
The 1996 BMW 3 SERIES has received a total of 3 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. 5 technical service bulletins have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (1 complaint), Equipmentelectrical (1 complaint), and Unknown Or Other (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1996 BMW 3 SERIES
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 1996 BMW 3 SERIES, potentially affecting up to 359,188 vehicles.
Recall 06E044000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 1,215 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. 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.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES AT 310-327-4981.
View full details →Recall 06E023000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 292,000 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
View full details →Recall 06E026000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 61,944 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS 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.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
View full details →Recall 06E064000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 4,029 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 BMW 3 SERIES
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 BMW 3 SERIES. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentelectrical | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR
CAR SITTING IN DRIVE AT A FENCE ENCLOSURE AND IT SURGED AHEAD ON ITS OWN, DRIVING INTO THE FENCE. NO ACTION POSSIBLE TO STOP THE CAR FROM GOING FORWARD INTO THE ELECTRONIC FENCE. SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT GRILL AND DRIVER DOOR PANELS. SECOND TIME THE CAR HAD DONE THIS. DEALERSHIP STATED THE BRAKES HAD SEIZED ALSO, AND WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED THE CAR ANYWAYS.
CAR SITTING IN DRIVE AT A FENCE ENCLOSURE AND IT SURGED AHEAD ON ITS OWN, DRIVING INTO THE FENCE. NO ACTION POSSIBLE TO STOP THE CAR FROM GOING FORWARD INTO THE ELECTRONIC FENCE. SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT GRILL AND DRIVER DOOR PANELS. SECOND TIME THE CAR HAD DONE THIS. DEALERSHIP STATED THE BRAKES HAD SEIZED ALSO, AND WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED THE CAR ANYWAYS.
Safety Rating for the 1996 BMW 3 SERIES
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 BMW 3 SERIES in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 BMW 3 SERIES
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 5 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1996 BMW 3 SERIES. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SIB-72-05-07 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW: A SOFTWARE PROBLEM IS CAUSING ONE OR BOTH OF THE SEAT BELT ASSISTANTS TO NOT EXTEND FULLY OR MAY NOT EXTEND AT ALL. THE POSITION AT WHICH THE ASSISTANT COMES TO REST VARIES. E92. *RM
SIB-41-02-09 — SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
BMW VEHICLES: REAR AXLE CARRIER (SUB FRAME) SUPPORT PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, A FRACTURE IN THE STEEL BODY STRUCTURE COULD FORM IN THE AREA AROUND ONE OF THE REAR AXLE CARRIER MOUNTING POINTS. AS A RESULT, A DISTINCT CLICKING NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE AREA OF...
SIB-41-02-09 — STRUCTURE
BMW VEHICLES: REAR AXLE CARRIER (SUB FRAME) SUPPORT PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, A FRACTURE IN THE STEEL BODY STRUCTURE COULD FORM IN THE AREA AROUND ONE OF THE REAR AXLE CARRIER MOUNTING POINTS. AS A RESULT, A DISTINCT CLICKING NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE AREA OF...
SIB-12-12-08 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BMW: SERVICE ENGINE LAMP IS ILLUMINATED. DME FC 2A15 MINOR LEAK AND 2A16 SUPERFINE LEAK IN EVAPORATION SYSTEM. TANK VENTILATION CORRUGATED HOSE MAY CONTACT THE LOW SIDE AIR CONDITIONING PRESSURE LINE ALUMINUM FERREL. THIS CONTACT MAY CAUSE A SMALL LEAK. *PE
SIB-16-01-06 — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
BMW: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIR PROCEDURE. THE CASE WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 BMW 3 SERIES
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW 3 SERIES
- 1992 BMW 3 SERIES — 0 complaints
- 1993 BMW 3 SERIES — 0 complaints
- 1994 BMW 3 SERIES — 1 complaint
- 1995 BMW 3 SERIES — 3 complaints
- 1996 BMW 3 SERIES (current)
- 1997 BMW 3 SERIES — 6 complaints
- 1998 BMW 3 SERIES — 4 complaints
- 1999 BMW 3 SERIES — 6 complaints
- 2000 BMW 3 SERIES — 111 complaints
- 2001 BMW 3 SERIES — 49 complaints