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BMW 3 SeriesModel year report

1999 BMW 3 Series Problems

Complaints
6filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
105,330miles, 6 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 BMW 3 Series (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 1999 BMW 3 Series. The part named most often is air bags, with 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electrical system (1) and fuel system (1). 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 105,330 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 23 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the inflator module, 2 NHTSA investigations and 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “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 not called me back.”

NHTSA complaint #10583545, filed 2014-04, 226,722 miles

Fuel system: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10557179, filed 2013-12, 150,000 miles

Body and structure: “(1) in everyday driving, I heard a creaking noise in the rear end of my 1999 Bmw 328i. (2) I found that the left rear subframe has started to shear away from the chassis making the car only drivable for only short distances, if at all. (3) I brought it to the dealer to see if they would cover the cost of repair as a goodwill gesture and they said no. I then appealed to Bmw north america and they sent out a body technician who also denied the repair. The car was approx. One year and 10000 miles over warranty. No parts were replaced nor any repairs made. …”

NHTSA complaint #10095640, filed 2004-10, 60,660 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

33% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 28,000 and 155,000 miles.

17%0–100%10–2517%25–5017%50–750%75–1000%100–15050%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (6 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 105,330 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

200420072012201322014
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1999 BMW 3 Series → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 23 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 23 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 3 Series

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2013213,7500———Stable
2012738,6343———Not enough data
20103059,2562——31 · FewerStable
20095368,0001——54 · TypicalStable
20086855,0002——50 · TypicalStable
200711560,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200620266,0503——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20052570,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20047780,4500——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20037377,2170——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20022692,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200136117,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20008895,5001——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19996105,3301———Not enough data
1997567,6000———Not enough data

All BMW 3 Series model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1999 BMW 3 Series have?

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 1999 BMW 3 Series as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1999 BMW 3 Series is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electrical system with 1.

Has the 1999 BMW 3 Series been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 1999 BMW 3 Series reported?

Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 105,330 miles and the middle half falls between 28,000 and 155,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.