RoadVitals

1997 BMW 3 Series

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Nov 26, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest Jul 17, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 BMW 3 Series, most frequently naming the airbags, body & structure and electrical categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 24 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags116.7%
  • Body & structure116.7%
  • Electrical116.7%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Suspension116.7%
  • Visibility116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E064000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Jul 17, 2006
4,029 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
TRADESONICView on NHTSA.gov
06E044000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

May 22, 2006
1,215 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES AT 310-327-4981.
J & A AUTO ACCESSORIESView on NHTSA.gov
06E026000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Mar 23, 2006
61,944 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
PRO-A MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Nov 26, 2015

IT SHOWS SEATBELT SIGN AND AIRBAG SIGN

NHTSA ID
10807082
Incident
Sep 20, 2015
Engine
Filed Aug 14, 2015

WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, MY ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REVVE HIGHER. IT DID NOT TAMPER DOWN UNTIL I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REVVE WHEN I BEGAN TO DRIVE AGAIN UNTIL I CAME TO MY DESTINATION AND PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. IT DROVE FINE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT THAT DAY. BEFORE THE INCIDENT I HAD TURNED ON THE A/C. ON TUESDAY (2 DAYS LATER) IT UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AGAIN AT HIGHER REVOLUTIONS AT THE SAME STOP LIGHT. I REPEATED WHAT I DID BUT THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR DID NOT THROTTLE DOWN. IT WAS AS IF IT WAS IN MANUAL MODE WITH THROTTLE FULLY OPENED. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THEN PARK. MY DESTINATION AT BOTH TIMES WAS 10 MIN AWAY. IT DROVE FINE EVER SINCE. I HAD THE CAR ABOUT A WEEK. I DID TEST DRIVE THE CAR AND IT DID NOT HAVE ANY HISTORY OF THIS.

NHTSA ID
10748626
Incident
Aug 9, 2015
Mileage
199,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Mar 31, 2006

REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE ON E36 BMW.. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS ON EVERY BMW FORUM.. THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS TEAR THE FLOOR SHEET METAL AS THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY REINFORCED. I HAVE OWNED 4 SEPARATE CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND I KNOW COUNTLESS OTHERS. HTTP://WWW.UNOFFICIALBMW.COM/PHPBB/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=10859. *NM

NHTSA ID
10154313
Incident
Jan 1, 2003
Mileage
55,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 13, 2005

SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF IGINITION SWITCH. AFTER ROUTINE DRIVE FROM WORK TO THE GYM, I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION, AND THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP. I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY BUT THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING. THERE WAS NO WAY TO TUN OFF THE ENGINE USING THE KEY. DROVE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID
10125085
Incident
Jun 10, 2005
Mileage
74,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 9, 2005

IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THROUGH CAR CLUBS, PARTS SUPPLIERS AND THE MECHANICS PROVIDING REPAIRS THAT THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT OFTEN FAILS COMPLETELY OR BECOMES INTERMITTENT IN OPERATION. WHEN IT FAILS THERE IS NO CONTROLS OR CHANCE OF CHANGING FUNCTIONS. THIS ALLOWS THE CONDITION TO EXIST THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR CAN NOT SELECT THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FUNCTION AND POSSIBLY IMPAIRING THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO VIEW THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE TWO CARS OF THIS BUILD TYPE AND THEY BOTH HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE MECHANICS REPAIR BILLS OFTEN AMOUNTS TO AN EXCESS OF $400 PER REPAIR. HERE IS A QUOTE FROM A REPUTABLE PARTS SOURCE, WWW.BAVAUTO.COM WEBSITE: THIS IS THE DIGITAL CLIMATE CONTROL COMPUTER. THESE ARE A COMMON FAILURE ITEM ON ALL 1996-1999 3 SERIES. WHEN THESE FAIL, THE LCD SCREEN WILL GO DIM/BLANK (USUALLY IINTERMITTENTLY AND EVENTUALLY PERMANENTLY) AND THE VENTILATION & AIR SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION." PART NUMBER: 64 11 8 379 521 DESCRIPTION: CLIMATE CONTROL COMPUTER MODULE - IN-DASH RICE: 74.95. *AK

NHTSA ID
10112786
Incident
Mar 8, 2005
Mileage
61,200 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

SIB-61-37-12

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BMW: THE HIGH-VOLTAGE (HV) BATTERY CELLS COULD BE DAMAGED IF THE VEHICLE IS PREVENTED FROM ENTERING SLEEP MODE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. UPDATED 03/11/2013 *JS

SIB122512

ENGINE

BMW: VEHICLE DOES NOT START: LOOSE GROUND Z6000 *4B. COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE BMW NEW VEHICLE/SAV LIMITED WARRANTY. *JS

SIB270212

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

BMW: DSC WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE WARNING LAMPS FOR DSC, ABS AND BRAKE WARNING ILLUMINATED. THERE MAY ALSO BE A WARNING IN THE CONTROL DISPLAY FOR CHASSIS CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE. *JS

B63-03-12

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

BMW: THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR LIGHT IN THE SIDE PANEL HAS CONDENSATION CONCERNING VEHICLES PRODUCED UP TO FEBRUARY 27,2012. *JS

SIB-65-75-06

AIR BAGS

BMW SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP (AWL) IS ILLUMINATED, TOGETHER WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP (POL). THE PROBLEM MAY BE INTERMITTENT. MICROCRACKS IN THE OC3 SEAT MAT. *PE UPDATED 9/30/11. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 3 Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023010—
2013210242.2
2012731—
2011130—
2010303045.8
2009532048.8
2008683045.4
20071152046.9
20062024150.9
2005250140.8
2004770342.2
2003730342.5
2002260639.9
2001361241.3
2000881247.3
1999612—
1998340—
1997Viewing540—
1996240—
1995340—
1994130—
1993030—
1992030—
1991000—
1990000—
1989000—
1988000—
1987000—
1986100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.