1999 BMW M3 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
13
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
1
Service Bulletin
1
Investigation
Overview of the 1999 BMW M3
The 1999 BMW M3 has received a total of 13 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (5 complaints), Engine And Engine Cooling (1 complaint), and Power Trainmanual Transmission (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1999 BMW M3
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 1999 BMW M3, potentially affecting up to 16,749 vehicles.
Recall 99V063001 — AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
| 16,749 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE CENTRAL COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE THAT REGULATES THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL OF THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEMS.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1999 BMW M3
13 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 BMW M3. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainmanual Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tirestreadbelt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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
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 ON THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT'S FIXED... *TR
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 ON THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT'S FIXED... *TR
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.
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.
Safety Rating for the 1999 BMW M3
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1999 BMW M3 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1999 BMW M3
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1999 BMW M3. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SI-B11-07-09 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
BMW: THERMOSTAT HOUSING INSPECTION. THE RETAINING SPRINGS OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING QUICK RELEASE COUPLINGS FOR THE COOLANT HOSES MAY NOT BE LOCKED CORRECTLY. THIS SITUATION MAY RESULT IN A COOLANT LEAK. MODELS AFFECTED ARE M3 SEDAN (E90), COUPE (92), AND CONVERTIBLE (393). NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE
NHTSA Investigations for the 1999 BMW M3
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 1999 BMW M3.
Other Model Years of the BMW M3
- 1994 BMW M3 — 0 complaints
- 1995 BMW M3 — 16 complaints
- 1996 BMW M3 — 1 complaint
- 1997 BMW M3 — 28 complaints
- 1998 BMW M3 — 18 complaints
- 1999 BMW M3 (current)
- 2000 BMW M3 — 0 complaints
- 2001 BMW M3 — 20 complaints
- 2002 BMW M3 — 48 complaints
- 2003 BMW M3 — 68 complaints
- 2004 BMW M3 — 36 complaints