Vehicle recall 99V063001 · November 15, 1999

1997-1999 BMW M3

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles.

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles are built with a side air bag system consisting of door-mounted thorax air bags (rear door air bags are optional), a central electronic sensor and diagnostic system, left and right satellite impact sensors, and associated wiring. This system is unduly sensitive to certain non-crash impacts, such as contacting large potholes or curbs at substantial speed.
Consequence: This could cause the side air bag to deploy without an actual side crash. In addition, the battery safety terminal (bst) could also activate, disconnecting the starter cable from the battery. In this case, the vehicle's electrical system could continue to operate and the engine would continue to run, but after stopping, could not be restarted.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the central computer control module that regulates the performance of all of the vehicle's occupant protection systems.
Notes: Owner notification began February 7, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Recall details

NHTSA campaign: 99V063001
Reported to NHTSA: November 15, 1999
Filed by: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Owner notification: February 7, 2000
Vehicles potentially affected: 16,749
Initiated by: NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
Components: Air bags › Side/window

Recall 99V063001 on nhtsa.gov, with the manufacturer’s documents

Vehicles covered

As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.

BMW M3 (1997-1999): 1999, 1998, 1997

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