RoadVitals

1998 BMW E36 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.
1
Latest Dec 20, 2010
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.
0
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 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1998 BMW E36 Series, most frequently naming the body & structure and electrical categories. 4 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

  • Body & structure150.0%
  • Electrical150.0%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structureElectrical
Filed Dec 20, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW E36. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER IT RAINS THE WATER LEAKED INTO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO MALFUNCTION. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER AND REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND OUT HOW THE WATER WAS GETTING INTO THE COMPUTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155000.

NHTSA ID
10371816
Incident
Nov 6, 2009
Mileage
145,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

B000706

EQUIPMENT

When using the Key Reader to retrieve information from the customer’s key, the data is not updated or current.

B630516

EQUIPMENT; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES

Moisture is visible on the inside of one or both headlights

000599

SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED SCHEMATICS WHICH HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR THE 1998 MODEL YEAR SEDAN, COUPE, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 9/97. *TT

611398

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

SUBJECT REGARDING RECALL TO TIGHTEN THE BATTERY B+ CABLE CLAMP NUT. *TT

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.