1998 BMW 323I Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 13%of 16 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 123,200miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 1998 BMW 323I, 13% of the 16 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 123,200 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Control display that the electric circuit, license plate light, brake circuit, has failed. On my dashboard the following lights are on: airbag, check engine, brake pad wear, ABS, and the asc+t lights are illuminated at all times. Nothing happened to my car, no wreck, no quick stops, I am an extremely cautious driver. All these things start to occur out of no where,”
NHTSA complaint #10872301, filed 2016-06, 151,000 miles“The brake light switch fails which prevents the brake light to illuminate when the car is brake. Subsequently, cruise control cannot be disengaged by the brake anymore because of this problem. Instead when in cruise control with the brake the depressed the car speeds up compensating for the lost speed. This greatly increases the chance for a high speed crash because of the inability to disengage cruise control.”
NHTSA complaint #10477433, filed 2012-09, 95,400 milesExterior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 1998 BMW 323I
9 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsTires
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 BMW 323I
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology