Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 BMW 328i owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owned a 1999 BMW 328i. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, went through a red light and stroke a truck. The front end of the vehicle got severely damaged. None of the frontal air bags deployed the police was present, but no report was issued. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic. The contact also stated receiving a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 19V852000 (air bags) on January 21 2020 after the accident took place. . The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000. VIN tool confirmed parts not available.
On June 11, 2020 my car was delivered to classic BMW in plano, texas for 1999 BMW safety recall 19v-851 for the Takata non-azide driver inflator. They were only supposed to change the igniter, but when I received the car the next day I noticed they replaced the entire airbag assembly. A couple of days later I tried the horn and it did not work and made an appointment to bring the car back for repair. I got the car back on June 25.2020 and was told that a connector was not completely attached. However, the paperwork they gave me stated - "first visit a dual stage airbag was received from parts. Vehicle has a one stage igniter. The harness was different causing horn to be inop." the car was returned with the original airbag (or one that looks just like it) and the horn now works. …
The same vintage BMW 3 series are being recalled for drivers side air bags now in late May 2015 . My vehicle is not being recalled now, but I have asked BMW north America who made my airbag to determine if my family is also at risk from the same manufacturer (Takata ). After asking multiple times I have not been given an answer. I have also asked my dealer if they knew, and they said that the airbags have BMW logo and branding on them, but they do not know who actually made it. I would like BMW north America to tell me who made the airbags in my vehicle so I know the manufacturer.
Tl* the contact owned a 1999 BMW 328i. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle hit a curb causing a crash. The side air bags deployed causing injuries to the contact's arm that did not require medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
1999 BMW 328i. Vehicle is registered and is a daily driver in massachusetts. While driving the vehicle on 05/01/2021 in the boston area on a smooth road at night, the driver side door & side curtain airbags deployed. No accident, no potholes, nothing out of the ordinary, just driving and then an explosion from airbags and the vehicle was also immobilized at the battery.
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 line are experiencing this issue BMW issued a technical bulletin about electrical connectors that get oxidized and fail over time. They provide a solution in the bulletin but it is temporary fix since it requires me go back every six to eight months right. I submitted this complaint because. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V851000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken to beverly hills BMW (5070 wilshire blvd, los angeles, ca 90036) to be inspected prior to the recall repair being performed. The contact was informed that, by law, the vehicle would remain in custody of the dealer due to the recall parts not being available. The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and it was unknown when the parts would arrive. The contact was referred to the manufacturer where an offer for a buyback was made. The contact was informed that the buyback was based on the kelly blue book value of the vehicle plus $1,500 in incentives to purchase another similar vehicle. The contact was given three weeks to make a decision. The contact requested a loaner vehicle, which was denied by the manufacturer. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 1999 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V852000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time of the recall repair. The dealer crevier BMW (1500 auto mall dr, santa ana, ca 92705) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and were not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure but was upset that a loaner vehicle was not offered and the manufacturer declined to disengage the air bags. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
At 0735hrs I was driving north bound on I-215 in utah's salt lake city at 70 MPH when the divers side, side impact airbags deployed with no impact to the side of car nor anywhere else to the car. The airbag in the door shoved me against the center console causing an abrupt steer. No loss of control to the car. Resulting in damage to the interior of the car, ie. Headliner, windshield pillar, side pillar and the battery cable disconnect renders the positive cable useless. I believe this to be an unsafe condition the could cause subsequent loss of control of the vehicle, resulting in possible injury or death to the operator or others on the highway.
The same vintage BMW 3 series are being recalled for air bags from 2001 and forward. My vehicle is not being recalled now, but I have asked BMW north America who made my airbags to determine if my family is also at risk from the same manufacturer (Takata ). After asking multiple times I have not been given an answer. I have also asked my dealer if they knew, and they said that the airbags have BMW logo and branding on them, but they do not know who actually made it. I would like BMW north America to tell me who made the airbags in my vehicle so I know the manufacturer.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999 323i and 328i vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata at one specific inflator production facility. These inflators do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver air bag inflators and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999-2001 323i, 325i, 328i and 330i and 2000-2001 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, 323iT, and 325iT vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver air bag as part of a vehicle repair.
Remedy: BMW notified owners, and Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999-2000 323i and 328i and 2000 323Ci and 328Ci vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These inflators do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.
Remedy: BMW will mail interim notices informing owners of the safety risk on January 17, 2020. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available.
Show 2 more recalls
Air bags › Side/window
On certain 4-door passenger vehicles, the side air bag system could deploy in certain non-crash impacts, such as when contacting large potholes or curbs at substantial speeds.
Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the central air bag control module to reduce the possibility of such a non-crash deployment. Owner notification began October 25, 2002.
Air bags › Side/window
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 head protection system (hps) for front occupants, a central electronic sensor and diagnostic system, left and right satellite impact sensors, and associated…
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the central computer control module that regulates the performance of all of the vehicle's occupant protection systems.
Airbag complaints in other 328i years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 BMW 328i?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 BMW 328i, 38% of the model year's 98 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 BMW 328i airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-401 (inflator module, May 27, 2021); NHTSA recall 19V-851 (inflator module, Nov 26, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-853 (inflator module, Nov 26, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 BMW 328i airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 122,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.