1998 BMW M3 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1998 BMW M3, and owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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1 safety recall for the 1998 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.
14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 BMW M3 have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 68,289 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“On october 13th at approximately 1800hrs the left rear tire of my 1998 BMW m3 "rapidly deflated" resulting in a rollover crash. Approximately 1/4 of the inner sidewall was left shredded. Weather was s”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 10, 2008 · Tires
“1) normal vehicle operation 2) left rear strut-tower failure resulting in penetration of strut and spring and failure of rear suspension. Could have resulted in loss of control and accident. 3) repair”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 11, 2006 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 BMW M (M Roadster, M3, M3 Convertible). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–18 / 23–26 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Minicompact Cars, Subcompact Cars, Two Seaters |
| 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 1998 BMW M3
How do I know if my 1998 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1998 BMW M3; 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 99V063001).
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.