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1997 Bmw M3 Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Serious

28 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.57 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious99V063001

Air Bags:Side/Window

THIS COULD CAUSE THE SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACTUAL SIDE CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE CENTRAL COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE THAT REGULATES THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL OF THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEMS.

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 IMPACTS, SUCH AS CONTACTING LARGE POTHOLES OR CURBS AT SUBSTANTIAL SPEED.

Serious97V131000

Vehicle Speed Control

THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN.

Remedy & full details

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.

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, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.

Complaint volume

28 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

4Crashes
0Fires
2Injuries
0Deaths

Across 28 complaints. Severity Index 0.57.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Tires3 · 11%Equipment · Appliance · A…2 · 7%Air Bags2 · 7%Visibility · Glass, Side/…1 · 4%Visibility · Defroster/De…1 · 4%Steering1 · 4%Engine And Engine Cooling…1 · 4%Vehicle Speed Control · A…1 · 4%
  1. Tires — 3 reports
  2. Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner — 2 reports
  3. Air Bags — 2 reports
  4. Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear — 1 reports
  5. Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element — 1 reports
  6. Steering — 1 reports
  7. Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System — 1 reports
  8. Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal — 1 reports
  9. Tires:Bead — 1 reports
  10. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (4) · 1996 (1) · 1997 · 1998 (1) · 1999 (1) · 2001 (4) · 2002 (5) · 2003 (5) · 2004 (3) · 2005 (3) · 2006 (5) · 2008 (5) · 2009 (5) · 2010 (4) · 2011 (4) · 2012 (3) · 2013 (2) · 2015 (3) · 2016 (3) · 2017 (2) · 2018 · 2021 (3) · 2023 (1)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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