1999 BMW 3 Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1999 BMW 3 Series, and owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1999 BMW 3 Series
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Inflator module (air bags)
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…
Remedy: 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.
6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1999 BMW 3 Series have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 104,050 miles. Complaints peaked in 2013 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 18, 2014 · Air bags
“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 ca”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 24, 2013 · Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1999 BMW 3 Series (318ti, 323i, 323i Convertible, 323is, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–20 / 25–30 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Minicompact Cars, Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 1.9/2.5/2.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare BMW 3 Series model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 3 Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 5 |
| 1998 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 6 |
| 2000 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 88 |
| 2001 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 36 |
| 2002 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 26 |
| 2003 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 73 |
| 2004 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 77 |
| 2005 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 25 |
| 2006 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 202 |
| 2007 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 115 |
| 2008 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 68 |
| 2009 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 53 |
| 2010 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 30 |
| 2011 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 1 |
| 2012 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 7 |
| 2013 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 21 |
| 2023 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1999 BMW 3 Series
How do I know if my 1999 BMW 3 Series has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1999 BMW 3 Series; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V401000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
- 335I810 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.