1997 BMW M3 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1997 BMW M3, and owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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2 safety recalls for the 1997 BMW M3
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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Air bags: side/window
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…
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the central computer control module that regulates the performance of all of the vehicle's occupant protection systems.
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Vehicle speed control
The cruise control and throttle cables are attached to the same throttle valve actuating lever at the throttle housing. It is possible that the plastic bushing on either cable could break due to environmental influences coupled with vibration. If the bushing breaks, the outer cable housing can separate from the bushing. In this case,…
Remedy: Dealers will install a spring steel clip on the outer tube of each cable in the area of the adjusting screw and plastic bushing. The clip is designed to prevent the outer tube from dislodging from the bushing.
19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 BMW M3 have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 8 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Dt: when pulling into a stop the windshield wipers will slow down in the speed that they work. They will slow down to the delay, intermediate setting when the vehicle is stopped. The problem has been”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 12, 2005 · Visibility
“No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 9, 2002 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 BMW M (M3). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–18 / 26 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare BMW M3 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW M3 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 BMW M3 | 1 | 2 |
| 1989 BMW M3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 BMW M3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 BMW M3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 BMW M3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 BMW M3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 BMW M3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 BMW M3 | 4 | 12 |
| 1996 BMW M3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 BMW M3 | 2 | 19 |
| 1998 BMW M3 | 1 | 14 |
| 1999 BMW M3 | 1 | 11 |
| 2000 BMW M3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 BMW M3 | 4 | 14 |
| 2002 BMW M3 | 5 | 40 |
| 2003 BMW M3 | 5 | 54 |
| 2004 BMW M3 | 3 | 31 |
| 2005 BMW M3 | 3 | 12 |
| 2006 BMW M3 | 5 | 14 |
| 2007 BMW M3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 BMW M3 | 5 | 82 |
| 2009 BMW M3 | 5 | 45 |
| 2010 BMW M3 | 4 | 15 |
| 2011 BMW M3 | 4 | 31 |
| 2012 BMW M3 | 3 | 6 |
| 2013 BMW M3 | 2 | 13 |
| 2014 BMW M3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 BMW M3 | 3 | 4 |
| 2016 BMW M3 | 3 | 5 |
| 2017 BMW M3 | 2 | 3 |
| 2018 BMW M3 | 0 | 9 |
| 2021 BMW M3 | 3 | 3 |
| 2022 BMW M3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 BMW M3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 BMW M3 | 0 | 2 |
Checking a specific 1997 BMW M3
How do I know if my 1997 BMW M3 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 1997 BMW M3; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
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 97V131000).
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
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 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.