1999 BMW 323I problems
Owners have filed 175 complaints about the 1999 BMW 323I with NHTSA. Air bags account for 30.3% of them — the clear leader, ahead of power train at 18.9%.
Complaints175
Crashes13
Fires8
Injuries15
Deaths5
What owners report breaking
Air bags 30.3% · 53
Power train 18.9% · 33
Structure 8.0% · 14
Electrical system 7.4% · 13
Tires 5.7% · 10
Suspension 5.1% · 9
Latches/locks/linkages 4.6% · 8
Visibility 4.0% · 7
Severity
Of those complaints, 13 describe a crash, 8 describe a fire, 15 report an injury and 5 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Filings are rising — 15 in the last three years against 9 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 104,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 1999 BMW 323I. While driving at various speeds, the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. Updated 11/09/15*lj Air bags · reported at 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 1999 BMW 323I. While driving, the drivers side (door panel and curtain) air bags deployed without any warning. The dealer was not notified and the manufacturer made the contact aware of the nhtsa campaign id number: 02v223000 (air bags:side/window) recall, but the vin was not a part of the recall. The failure mileage was 140,970 and the current mileage was 141,000. Air bags · reported at 140,970 miles
The contact owns a 1999 BMW 323I. The contact received a recall notification in the mail for nhtsa campaign number: 19v851000 (air bags). The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was informed that they did not know when the part would be available. The contact was instructed to not drive the vehicle. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. Air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…