1999 BMW 3 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 3 Series years
- Not enough data 14th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 BMW 3 Series. That ranks 14th out of 20 3 Series model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (3 complaints, 50%), typically at around 28,000 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 6owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 BMW 3 Series problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 | 50% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 17% | 155,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 17% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 17% | 60,660 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 BMW 3 Series recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V-851, 19V852, or 19V-853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Risk: The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Inadvertent side-impact air bag deployme (EA02012) — opened Jul 15, 2002, closed Jun 24, 2003, led to recall 02V223000.
- Inadvertent side air bag deployments (PE99017) — opened Mar 2, 1999, closed May 11, 1999, led to recall 99V063000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I was driving home at 10:15 pm and the passenger side door mounted and passenger side head protection air bags deployed. I called bmw the following morning to report it and see what i should do. I was told i would get a return call within 1-3 business days. I have left 2 messages and bmw still has…
The bmw 323i ( bmw e46 ) fuel tank strap, which holds the fuel tank in place, detached from the car body. This is a strap holding the fuel tank in place. The 4 spot welds that hold the strap to the car body failed. Note, the fuel tank is held in place by this strap. *tr
I brought the vehicle into brecht dealership in escondido to address seatbelt safety/airbag sensor light warning. The vehicle has been in for repair a total of eight (8) times for the same issue. Today the seatbelt airbag warning devise came on with the loaner provided bydealer with a screen…
All doors lock on their own and the windows and sunroof close leaving you locked inside the car. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 bmw 3 series. While driving, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer stated that a faulty seat belt clip caused the failure and they made the replacement. Approximately one year later, the air bag warning light illuminated again. The dealer replaced the seat…
Other BMW 3 Series years
← 1998 3 Series · 2000 3 Series →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 3 Series | 21 | 0 |
| 2012 3 Series | 7 | 3 |
| 2011 3 Series | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 3 Series | 30 | 2 |
| 2009 3 Series | 53 | 1 |
| 2008 3 Series | 68 | 2 |
| 2007 3 Series | 115 | 1 |
| 2006 3 Series | 202 | 3 |
| 2005 3 Series | 25 | 0 |
| 2004 3 Series | 77 | 0 |
| 2003 3 Series | 73 | 0 |
| 2002 3 Series | 26 | 0 |
| 2001 3 Series | 36 | 1 |
| 2000 3 Series | 88 | 1 |
| 1999 | 6 | 1 |
| 1998 3 Series | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 3 Series | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 3 Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 3 Series | 3 | 0 |
See all BMW 3 Series problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 BMW 3 Series?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 BMW 3 Series?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 BMW 3 Series a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 3 Series model years, the 1999 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.