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U.S. public vehicle records

1999 Bmw 328I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

91 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

106,400 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 48 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 91 complaints (27.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1213.2%
Electrical and battery issues55.5%
Transmission and shifting44.4%
Steering behavior33.3%
Fuel system concerns11.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
25
Structure:Frame And Members
8
Air Bags:Frontal
7
Electrical System
6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
6
Suspension:Rear
4
Air Bags:Side/Window
3
Latches/Locks/Linkages
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags25
Structure:Frame And Members8
Air Bags:Frontal7
Electrical System6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission6
Suspension:Rear4
Air Bags:Side/Window3
Latches/Locks/Linkages3

Air Bags: 25; Structure:Frame And Members: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Electrical System: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Suspension:Rear: 4; Air Bags:Side/Window: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
6
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
15
150,000 and above
12
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,9996
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,99915
150,000 and above12

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 12

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 43 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
7
2001
3
2002
7
2003
8
2004
13
2005
4
2006
2
2007
1
2009
3
2010
4
2011
8
2012
3
2013
3
2014
2
2015
1
2016
2
2017
4
2020
14
2021
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20007
20013
20027
20038
200413
20054
20062
20071
20093
20104
20118
20123
20133
20142
20151
20162
20174
202014
20211
20221

2000: 7; 2001: 3; 2002: 7; 2003: 8; 2004: 13; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2011: 8; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2020: 14; 2021: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10036889 · 2003-08-30 (August 30, 2003)

THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES PULSATE WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED BY THE DRIVER. THIS OCCURS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS (ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK) AND STOPS WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. WHEN THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (E.G. AT SPEEDS OF 55MPH) THE RIGHT REAR DISC WILL GLOW RED HOT UPON EXAMINATION AFTER GENTLY STOPPING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. ONLY THE RIGHT REAR DISC GLOWS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036889 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10049506 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR, THE CAR DID NOT STOP. IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND AGAIN HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT STOP AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT THE GARAGE WALL, CAUSING OVER $3000.00 DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049506 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10061834 · 2004-03-10 (March 10, 2004)

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER ON A BMW 99 E46 328I AND I M VERY DILIGENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CARE OF MY CAR. I HAVE MADE SURE THAT EVERY RECALL HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND ANY SERVICE REQUIREMENT MET. BUT MY CAR WAS SERVICED THREE TIMES FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON THE FIRST TWO TIMES THE DEALER TOOK CARE OF IT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY THE THIRD TIME I HAD TO PAY AND NOW EIGHT MONTHS LATER THE AIRBAG LIGHTS IS ON AGAIN AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM ALL THE BMW MODEL…

Owner-reported narrative. 54,340 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061834 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10480690 · 2012-10-16 (October 16, 2012)

CAR PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVER 24HRS IGNITED AND RESULTED INTO FIRE. NO KNOWN ISSUE BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCUR, FROM THE LOOKS OF THE CAR THE FIRE STARTED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL. NO AFTER MARKET INSTALLED EQUIPMENT, NO EQUIPMENT LEFT INSIDE THE CAR THAT HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. ALMOST BURNED DOWN MY HOUSE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480690 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10175738 · 2006-12-10 (December 10, 2006)

MY BMW 1999 328I/AUTO TRANSMISSION HAS 98K ON IT AND 90% OF THE TIME, IT CAN'T REVERSE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175738 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10355072 · 2010-09-12 (September 12, 2010)

I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE AND MY 1999 BMW 328I WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE SHIFT LEVER SEEMED TO BE WORKING. THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH SAID "R". BUT THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. I PUSHED IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DROVE TO MY AUTO MECHANIC. WHEN I GOT THERE, IT WAS WORKING PERFECTLY. I DROVE IT AROUND FOR ABOUT A WEEK, AND THEN IT DID IT AGAIN. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 10 MINUTES I CHECKED AGAIN AND IT WAS WORKING. I CALLED TWO BMW DEALERS AND ALL THEY WOULD SAY IS "YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST 5 GRAND". *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 156,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355072 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10074770 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)

WHILE BRAKING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES HARD WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER STATES:RUBBER LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH UPDATED POLY URETHANE ONES. COST:$448.00. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074770 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10074771 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)

WHILE BRAKING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES HARD WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. EALER STATES:RUBBER LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH UPDATED POLY URETHANE ONES. COST:$448.00. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074771 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10954990 · 2017-02-16 (February 16, 2017)

THE WELDS SECURING THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL STRAP BRACKET TO THE BODY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AROUND 45MPH ON A SMOOTH ROAD. I NOTICED A METAL SCRAPING NOISE AND PULLED OVER. THE BRACKET WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE STRAP AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND UNTIL I TOOK IT OFF. THE FAILURE HAPPENED DURING COMPLETELY SAFE CONDITIONS, WITH NO WARNING SIGNS OF FAILURE. INSPECTION OF THE BRACKET AND AREA OF THE FRAME SUGGESTS THAT THE TACK WELDS WERE DEFECTIVE. IF THE FAILURE HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR ON A ROUGH SURFACE, IT COULD WELL HAVE CAUS…

Owner-reported narrative. 203,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10954990 at NHTSA ↗