Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Body & structure reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Mar 25, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 136 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 BMW 323I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming body or structure
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Body & structureEngine
Filed Mar 25, 2015
Fire reported
MY 1999 323I CAUGHT FIRE IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH ONCE PARKED.THERE WAS A LOUD "SNAP", FOLLOWED BY LARGE FLAMES COMING FROM AROUND THE HOOD AND FRONT WHEEL WELLS. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WITHIN 5-7 MINUTES (FORTUNATELY THEY ARE BOTH LOCATED LESS THAN 1 MILE AWAY). ONCE THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, MY CAR'S FRONT 1/2 WAS MELTED INTO MY PARKING SPACE. IT WAS A COMPLETE LOSS AND I AM EXPECTING THAT MY AUTO INSURANCE WILL PAY VERY LITTLE; REGARDLESS THAT THE CAR WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10701731
Incident
Mar 21, 2015
Mileage
148,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 11, 2014
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
NHTSA ID
10597598
Incident
Jun 9, 2014
Mileage
160,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 16, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE AREA AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 229,000.
NHTSA ID
10548081
Incident
Oct 15, 2013
Mileage
229,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Dec 13, 2012
AFTER 6 MONTHS OF SQUEAKING & RATTLING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE, I WAS DRIVING ON CA ROUTE 10 WHEN I NOTICED THE SOUNDS WERE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT, AS THE CAR'S HANDLING BEGAN TO FEEL LOOSE. I REDUCED SPEED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP, FEARING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND UPON ARRIVING HOME HAD MY VEHICLE INSPECTED BY BEVERLY HILLS BMW, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME WAS DAMAGED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CAR WAS "NOT ROAD WORTHY" ([XXX]) AND I WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED OUT OF THE SHOP. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT [XXX], WHO INFORMED ME THAT BMW HAD A PROGRAM (THAT I BELIEVE IS PART OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT), IN WHICH THEY RECOGNIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE EARLY E46 BMW MODELS' SUB-FRAMES AND OFFERED TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED & IN SOME CASES WOULD PAY FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. BMW CHOSE TO DENY ME REPAIR, CITING THAT THEY HAD MAILED ME A LETTER ABOUT THE PROGRAM PREVIOUSLY (THAT I HAD NEVER RECEIVED) & THAT THE PROGRAM HAD NOW ENDED. AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT PARTY, I CONTACTED[XXX]TO SEE IF BMW WOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR SOME OF MY COSTS OF REPAIR AND CAR RENTAL, SEEING AS HOW THEY WERE A FRACTION OF THE QUOTE FROM BMW. SHE TOLD ME TO FORWARD MY INVOICES ($2207.70 IN TOTAL) TO HER EMAIL, WHICH I DID. DESPITE 3 FOLLOW-UP EMAILS, 3 VOICE MAILS, AND ONE CERTIFIED LETTER, I HAVE RECEIVED NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM BMW. THE MECHANICAL / STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF A VEHICLE'S FRAME, OR SUB-FRAME, SHOULD NEVER BE COMPROMISED BY REGULAR USE. HAVING A DEFECTIVE SUB-FRAME IN A CAR MANUFACTURED IN THE LAST 80 YEARS IS WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE AND CONSTITUTES A NEED FOR INVESTIGATION CONCERNING A POTENTIAL RECALL, RATHER THAN SOME MANUFACTURER-CONTROLLED PROGRAM WITH TIME LIMITS THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
10488722
Incident
Apr 6, 2012
Mileage
123,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Feb 25, 2012
REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10449344
Incident
May 13, 2011
Mileage
198,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Dec 14, 2011
THE SUBFRAME HAS RIPPED AWAY FROM THE FLOORPAN. THROUGH INVESTIGATION THIS HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A VERY COMMON FAILURE ON E46 BMW 3 SERIES. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL BY BMW TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE SUBFRAME SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF ANY CAR. *TR
NHTSA ID
10439853
Incident
Dec 13, 2011
Mileage
180,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 12, 2011
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUB FRAME MOUNT TEAR/RIPPED FROM THE BODY. NOW IT SQUEAKS VERY LOUD, VIBRATES AND MOVES. *TR
NHTSA ID
10439677
Incident
Nov 11, 2011
Mileage
160,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 20, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD INSTALL A FRAME. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE SUB FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED TO PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN UPDATED 10/03/11
NHTSA ID
10407595
Incident
Jun 20, 2010
Mileage
196,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 3, 2007
REAR SUB-FRAME HAS CRACKED. OUR 1999 323I MODEL HAS 103,000 MILES AND APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. CALLED BMW USA N.A. TO HAVE AN INSPECTOR CHECK THE CAR ON 3/21/07 AND WAS TOLD TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID WE HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, AND TO DATE, DESPITE NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS, WE STILL DO NOT HAVE AN APPOINTMENT. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999-2005 323I MODELS. THE CAR HAS BEEN MODIFIED BY THICKENING THE METAL ON NEWER MODELS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10189653
Incident
Jan 2, 2006
Mileage
90,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 6, 2006
I'M REPORTING THE MANUFACTURER PROBLEM WITH BMW ON THE SUBFRAMES OF THE 1999 E46 323I. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS ON THIS MATTER. *NM
NHTSA ID
10161690
Incident
Apr 1, 2006
Mileage
11,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 8, 2004
CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT A SQUEAKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHO INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND A CRACKED SUB FRAME. *AK
NHTSA ID
10091605
Incident
Sep 7, 2004
Mileage
104,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureEngine
Filed Sep 8, 2004
CRACKED SUB-FRAME AT 104,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY POT HOLES, I DO NOT DRIVE OVER POTHOLES AND TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLE VERY MUCH SO. I AM NOT WRECKLESS, AND I HAVE EVERY MAINTENANCE RECORD AVAILABLE AS WELL AS OTHER WARRANTIES. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH AT 75,000 MILES, ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND LIGHT INDICATORS TURNING ON FOR NO REASON, AIRBAG LIGHTS LIGHT UP AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, AND FINALLY A CRACKED SUB FRAME. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT COST AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT. *AK
NHTSA ID
10090624
Incident
Sep 7, 2004
Mileage
104,000 mi
Body & structureEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Feb 24, 2004
NUMEROUS BALL JOINT REPLACEMENTS. *PH THE CLOCK BULB, THERMOSTAT, CONVERTIBLE TOP TENSIONER AND POWER STEERING INTAKE WERE REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ID
10059672
Incident
May 21, 2002
Mileage
30,560 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 1, 2000
2 injuries reported1 death reported
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE IT WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE IMPACT RESULTED IN VEHICLE BEING CUT INTO TWO PIECES, (POSSIBLE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS), THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN 2 INJURIES AND ONE DEATH. *SLC
NHTSA ID
557295
Incident
Sep 16, 2000
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own