# NHTSA recall 99V063001

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 99V063001
- Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
- Reported: 1999\-11\-15
- Owners notified: 2000\-02\-07
- Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
- Units potentially affected: 16749

## What is wrong

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.


## What can happen

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.


## The 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 \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1997 BMW M3](/makes/bmw/m3/1997/recalls.md). Built 1997\-03\-01 to 1999\-08\-31.
- [1998 BMW M3](/makes/bmw/m3/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-03\-01 to 1999\-08\-31.
- [1999 BMW M3](/makes/bmw/m3/1999/recalls.md). Built 1997\-03\-01 to 1999\-08\-31.

## Investigated as RQ99018

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- RQ99018: Recall query, opened 1999\-09\-03. INADVERTANT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V063001/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V063001/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [72 04 98](/bulletins/602917.md), 1999-01-21, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V063001](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V063001)

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