Total Complaints
13 filings
BMW M3 · model year
1999 BMW M3
13 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999BMWM3 carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 M3 is air bags with 5 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1) and tires:tread/belt (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 1999 M3. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
13
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20150203AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DIAGNOSIS: PASSENGER AIR BAG ELECTRONICS ARE FAULTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $500 PER DEALER. BMW SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS BUT THEY DO NOT SHOW THIS WITH MY VIN. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. *TR
Mileage: 100,000
20141028STEERING
THE MATERIAL USED ON THE BMW STEERING WHEEL MELTS AT THE TOUCH OF SUNLIGHT- DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A HOT TEMPERATURE. THE MELTING OF THE STEERING WHEEL RESTRICTS ME FROM USING THE HORN AND COULD VERY WELL HAVE AFFECTED THE AIRBAG AND/OR DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. ALSO, IT'S STICKY, MY FINGERPRINTS AND SLEEVE FROM MY SHIRT ARE IMPRINTED ON THE STEERING WHEEL...MY LONG HAIR HAS BEEN STUCK ON IT. I'M AFRAID TO TOUCH THE WHEEL- IT NEARLY DRIPS. WHAT IS THIS MATERIAL? WHAT'S GOING ON? NOTHING WAS PUT ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO CAUSE THIS. THIS CAR IS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THIS IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN ANY CAR, AT ANY TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MATERIAL BMW USED ON THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT'S FIXED... *TR
Mileage: 95,000
20141028AIR BAGS
THE MATERIAL USED ON THE BMW STEERING WHEEL MELTS AT THE TOUCH OF SUNLIGHT- DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A HOT TEMPERATURE. THE MELTING OF THE STEERING WHEEL RESTRICTS ME FROM USING THE HORN AND COULD VERY WELL HAVE AFFECTED THE AIRBAG AND/OR DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. ALSO, IT'S STICKY, MY FINGERPRINTS AND SLEEVE FROM MY SHIRT ARE IMPRINTED ON THE STEERING WHEEL...MY LONG HAIR HAS BEEN STUCK ON IT. I'M AFRAID TO TOUCH THE WHEEL- IT NEARLY DRIPS. WHAT IS THIS MATERIAL? WHAT'S GOING ON? NOTHING WAS PUT ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO CAUSE THIS. THIS CAR IS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THIS IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN ANY CAR, AT ANY TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MATERIAL BMW USED ON THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT'S FIXED... *TR
Mileage: 95,000
20100326CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE AND POSES A DANGER WHEN MOVING FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE BRAKE. YOUR FOOT CAN BECOME ENTANGLED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Mileage: 40,000
20100326CrashSTRUCTURE
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE AND POSES A DANGER WHEN MOVING FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE BRAKE. YOUR FOOT CAN BECOME ENTANGLED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Mileage: 40,000
20070201TIRES
TL * - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW M3. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON JANUARY 21, 2007, WITH 2 BALD REAR TIRES. THE DEALER HAS NOT AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. BRIDGESTONE, POTENZA , DOT # EMH8CKA. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE SIZE WAS 18. THE CONTACT HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, HE RECEIVED A CITATION FOR HAVING BALD TIRES, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW TO SELL A VEHICLE WITH BALD TIRES FOR SAFETY REASONS. *AK
20060123ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE OIL. THE OIL WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED AN OIL PAN NUT FELL OFF INTO THE OIL PAN CAUSING AN OIL PUMP FAILURE WHICH BURN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING AN OIL CHANGE. UPDATED 02/21/06. *JB
Mileage: 13,000
20040412AIR BAGS
1999 BMW M3 CONVERTIBLE. AIRBAG LIGHT COME UP WITH NO REASON; POTENTIALLY, AIRBIG WON'T DEPLOY IF ANY ACCIDENT HAPPEN. VIN [XXX]. UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Mileage: 73,600
20040114POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON MY BMW M3 HAS A DEFECT. IT INVOLVES THE TRANSMISSION STICKING IN 5TH GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, BECAUSE IT COMPROMISES CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN SHIFTING, LEAVING THE OPERATOR WTIHOUT FULL CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT IN 1999 M3S AND MANY CUSTOMERS ARE EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THIS. BMWS FIX IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE. *AK
Mileage: 50,000
20020213TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING 70MPH THE VEHICLE'S LEFT REAR TIRE STARTED TO DEFLATE DUE TO A PUNCTURE AND THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. NLM. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED DUE TO THE TREAD SEPARATION FROM THE SIDE WALL. TIRE SIZE 245/40ZR17, CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TIRE WAS REMOVED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A PUNCTURE. *YH
20010827CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SEPT 00 ABS DASH LIGHT ON, TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, PARTS ORDERED, CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH LIGHT ON, REPAIRED OCT 00, ABS DASH LIGHT AGAIN ON, TOOK TO DEALER, TOLD THE ABS WAS REPAIRED-ABS LIGHT ON DUE TO GAS CAP, MAY 2001 CAR OUT OF CONTROL AS IF WHEELS LOCKED, NARROWLY MISSED GOING IN CANAL AND HITTING ONCOMING VEHICLES, SERVICE SHOP DIAGNOSED ABS FAILURE
19990819CrashAIR BAGS
IMPACT WAS ON THE FRONT DRIVERSIDE TIRE. THE TIRE SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE AND NO OTHER DAMAGE TO BODY
19990818AIR BAGS
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE AND THE SIDE AIR BAG WENT OFF AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROLL OF THE VEHICLE
Compare 1999BMWM3 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1999 BMW M3 have?▼
The 1999 BMW M3 has 13 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 BMW M3?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 BMW M3 is AIR BAGS with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1999 BMW M3 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.