RoadVitals

1997 BMW E46

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.
4
Latest May 28, 2007
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.
1
Latest May 15, 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
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 BMW E46, most frequently naming the airbags, body & structure and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 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

  • Airbags125.0%
  • Body & structure125.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Interior & seats125.0%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

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
06E040000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

May 15, 2006
1,648 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN E SPEED RACING COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT 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: E SPEED RACING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT E SPEED RACING 909-923-3636.
E SPEED RACINGView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Interior & seats
Filed May 28, 2007

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS SLIDE (DO NOT LOCK IN POSITION). THIS IS IRRITATING AND UNSAFE IN MY OPINION. I ALSO BELIEVE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10191866
Incident
May 28, 2007
Engine
Filed Feb 21, 2007

ON 1/31/07 I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE NC INSPECTION DONE. I WAS GIVEN AT THAT TIME A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I WAS TOLD TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND GIVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER TO VERIFY. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS ON MY VIN NUMBER ON 2/2/0. ON 2/16/07 MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. I CALLED MY REPAIR SHOP AND DROPPED THE CAR OFF ON MONDAY. I WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT IT WAS NOT THE O2 SENSOR, BUT POSSIBLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO COST ALOT OF MONEY. I LOVE MY CAR, BUT IF THIS WAS A RECALL I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10183178
Incident
Feb 21, 2007
Body & structure
Filed Jan 3, 2007

I OWN A 2000 BMW 323I AND ABOUT A MONTH AGO I HAD STARTED TO NOTICE A FAINT SQUEAKING SOUND FROM THE REAR WHEN MY CAR WAS MOVING, THE SQUEAKING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND WORSE UNTIL THE SOUND WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT COULD BE HEARD EVEN WITH ALL THE WINDOWS UP. I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC WHO IDENTIFIED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS INDEED THAT SUB FRAME SEPARATING FROM THE BODY. AS I FURTHER INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE, I FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE STERLING BMW NEWPORT BEACH COLLISION CENTER WHERE THEY TOLD THAT MY FRAME WAS SEPARATED FROM THE SUB FRAME AND THAT BMW SHOULD AND MOST LIKELY WOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THEY ALSO TOOK ME UNDER THE LIFT TO VISUALLY LOOK AT THE DAMAGE FOR MYSELF AND IT APPEARED THAT THE SHEET METAL THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS BOLTED TO HAD TORN, SIMILAR TO HOW PAPER WOULD TEAR. HE ADVISED ME THAT WAS CAR WAS UNSAFE AND WROTE A STATEMENT OF WHAT HE HAD SEEN SO THAT I COULD FORWARD IT TO MY ATTORNEY AND APPROPRIATE PARTIES, ??STERLING COLLISION PUT VEHICLE ON THE LIFT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FLOOR IS CRACKED ON THE LEFT SIDE WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBERS MEET, THE FLOOR INFORMED THE CUSTOMER THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT, THEY TRIED TO BLAME THE POOR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING ON HOW THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AND THE AGE OF VEHICLE. I FOUND A FELLOW BMW OWNER (STEVE CLEMONS), WELL PAST OWNER NOW, WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2000 BMW 323CI, AND HE REFERRED ME TO YOUR ORGANIZATION, ADDITIONALLY HE WAS ABLE TO GET HIS CAR REPAIRED BY BMW COST FREE WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS ATTORNEY, AS I PLAN TO DO MYSELF. HE TOLD THAT BMW DENIED THIS DEFECT UNTIL LEGAL ACTION WAS THREATENED IN WHICH THEY THEN ASSUMED FULL RESPONSIBILITY. HOWEVER THIS IS INDEED SERIOUS PROBLEM AND EVEN MORE A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD NOT BE PRESENT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10177629
Incident
Jan 2, 2007
Mileage
124,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 22, 2006
1 injury reported

ON WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2006 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70-75 MPH WHEN MY SIDE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. I HAVE A 1997 BMW 528I WITH APPROXIMATELY 230K MILES. I DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING. I DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. I COULD NOT HEAR WELL FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND MY LEFT ARM HAS A LARGE BRUISE ON IT. I TOOK IT BY THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG OR WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN THE AIRBAG WENT OFF, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING. IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS THE FRONT AIR BAG. *NM

NHTSA ID
10168956
Incident
Sep 20, 2006
Mileage
73 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

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 E46 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005012—
2004412—
2003112—
2002223—
2001040—
2000184041.5
1999140—
1998020—
1997Viewing410—
1996110—
1995610—
1994310—
1993310—
1992010—
1991010—
1990210—

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.