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1998 Bmw M3 Recalls & Complaints

1

open safety recall on record

Serious

18 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.44 · 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.

Complaint volume

18 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

2Crashes
0Fires
1Injuries
0Deaths

Across 18 complaints. Severity Index 0.44.

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

Power Train · Manual Tran…2 · 11%Suspension · Rear2 · 11%Visibility · Rearview Mir…1 · 6%Air Bags · Frontal1 · 6%Electrical System · 12v/2…1 · 6%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…1 · 6%Structure · Body1 · 6%Electrical System · Horn1 · 6%
  1. Power Train:Manual Transmission — 2 reports
  2. Suspension:Rear — 2 reports
  3. Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Interior — 1 reports
  4. Air Bags:Frontal — 1 reports
  5. Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery — 1 reports
  6. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc — 1 reports
  7. Structure:Body — 1 reports
  8. Electrical System:Horn — 1 reports
  9. Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages — 1 reports
  10. Air Bags — 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 (2) · 1998 · 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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