1997 BMW M3 Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
DT: WHEN PULLING INTO A STOP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL SLOW DOWN IN THE SPEED THAT THEY WORK. THEY WILL SLOW DOWN TO THE DELAY, INTERMEDIATE SETTING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2004. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTU...
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A RIGHT FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK
REAR SHOCK MOUNT TOWER TORE FROM BODY OF CAR, BOLTS AND ALL. NO MODIFICATION DONE TO SUSPENSION, NORMAL DRIVING, NO ADVANCE NOTICE. NO TRACK DRIVING. BMW MAKES A REPLACEMENT KIT TO REMEDY THIS WEAK BODY AREA. BMW MESSAGE BOARDS HAVE MANY SIMILAR M3'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. AT HIGH SPEED WOULD PROVE...
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN TRAVELING 10MPH CONSUMERS HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR. UPON INSPECTION OF VEHICLE CONSUMER FOUND TIRE WAS BENT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND FOUND THAT WHEEL MOUNT TORE AWAY FROM FRAME. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE DUE TO THE FACT THAT WAS NOT COVERED ...
AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH LIT, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS AND HAD TO RESET 3 TIMES.*AK
LATENT DEFECT IN BODY CAUSING WHEEL MOUNTS TO TEAR AWAY FROM CAR. *AK
FUEL HOSE CLAMPS FITTINGS AND COMPONENTS FAILING - MANUFACTURER ISSUED A 95-97 MODEL RECALL IN JAPAN BUT NOT IN THE US. *AK
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND 3 TIMES, THIS BLOWOUT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND FRONT BUMPER, THIS TIRE WAS 5 HOURS OLD, THE SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHI...
THE BRAKES GRIND AND SQUEAL WHEN THE CONSUMER IS ATTEMPTING TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY INSTEAD IT SLIDES A FEW FEET BEFORE COMING TO A FULL STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPLAINT WAS RESOLVED AND THAT THERE ...
THE SERPENTINE BELTS ARE CRACKED. NLM
THE POWER STEERING HOSES TO THE PUMP AND RACK FAILED. NLM
THE BRAKE FLUID WAS DIRTY. NLM
THE SHIFTING GEAR CRACKED. NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. NLM
THE FLOOR PANEL CRACKED. NLM
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NLM
THE SPEAKERS FAILED. NLM
CONSUMERS PURCHASED A NEW SET OF BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES (25540R17, DOT EJ0XJEA030), SEVERAL HOURS LATER ONE OF THE NEW TIRES EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT DUE TO A TORN BEAD WHICH CAUSED THE THE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL, SPIN THREE TIMES AND SLIDE OFF INTO THE MEDIAN, NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED, DEAL...
WHILE DRIVING IN DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC WENT AROUND VEHICLE, AND AT THAT POINT THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN . VEHICLE LUNCHED OUT OF CONTROL. PUT IT INTO PARK, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, RESTARTED AND STILL THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN. CONTACTED THE DEALER, FOUND THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE PART. *...
WHILE DRIVIN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE AND GRAY SMOKE TO ENTER INTO VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS FOGGING UP THE WINDOWS WHICH MAY AFFECT VISIBILITY, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. HAPPENED 6 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED HOSES/SEALS A...
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES RESULTING IN A BURNING SMELL, A MIST COMING FROM THE A/C VENTS AND A LOUD NOISE. NLM
CRANKCASE REVOLUTION SENSOR FAILED. MJS
TIRE BLEWOUT PREMATURELY. (DOTF38AA17117, MANUFACTURER- MICHELIN, TIRE NAME- MXX3, TIRE SIZE- 225/45ZR17)
TIRES FAILED TWICE. IN BOTH CASES THE TIRES WERE WORN THROUGH TO THE METAL BEFORE STOPPING. ANOTHER CASE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, FELT SOFTNESS IN STEERING AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. WITHIN 5 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED.
TIRES FAILED TWICE. IN BOTH CASES THE TIRES WERE WORN THROUGH TO THE METAL BEFORE STOPPING. ANOTHER CASE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, FELT SOFTNESS IN STEERING AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. WITHIN 5 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED.
LOSS OF FAN AND UNIT CONTROL SETTINGS WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF THEN RESTARTED. SETTING WILL NOT REMAIN IN OFF POSITION WHEN VEHICLE IS RESTARTED.
REAR WINDOW: DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND THE REAR WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED. CAUSE UNKNOWN , HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK