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1998 BMW 323I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
16Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
16
1998136
1999401
20003
2001
Compare all 323I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
9Engine
2Exterior Lighting
2Fuel System, Other
2Structure
2
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Service Brakes
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 16 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

16 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

POLICE REPORT STATES THAT VEHICLE RAN INTO AN EXPEDITION. MOST OF THE REPORT WAS UNCLEAR. DRIVER HAD SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK ON THE WAY TO HOSPITAL, AND COULD NOT REMEMBER ANY OTHER DETAILS AT THIS TIME. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #872083

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Fuel System, OtherUnknown Or Other

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM--LOW COOLANT AND GAS MEASURE LEVEL.

NHTSA ODI #609817

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Fuel System, OtherStructure

ELECTRIC LOCKS SHORT CIRCUIT. FUEL TANK CAP SENSOR SHORT CIRCUIT.

NHTSA ODI #609699

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Structure

NOTHING

NHTSA ODI #609492

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS T-BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844979

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH ENGINE BLEW OUT. HAD NO WARNING. COASTED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT ENGINE COULD BE REPAIRED. WAS NOT INFORMED WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #840528

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.