Model line

BMW E36

Every BMW E36 model year on file, 1991 to 2003. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years214 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years131991 to 2003
Recall campaigns4Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins66Summed across model years
By model year

The 2003 model year drew the most complaints, 13, 62% of the model's total

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

051015199119931995199719992001200313
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Powertrain leads the BMW E36 complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Powertrain
5
Structure
3
Electrical system
3
Visibility and wipers
2
Seat belts
2
Tires
2
Fuel system
1
Suspension
1
Steering
1
Airbags
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each BMW E36 model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

BMW E36 by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2003Coupe1323.1113104
2002Sedan714.327104
2001Not decoded0NoneNone207
2000Not decoded0NoneNone2010
1999Not decoded0NoneNone208
1998Not decoded0NoneNone405
1997Not decoded0NoneNone408
1996Not decoded0NoneNone405
1995Not decoded10.0100405
1994Not decoded0NoneNone403
1993Not decoded0NoneNone402
1992Not decoded0NoneNone403
1991Not decoded0NoneNone102
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the BMW E36

  • 09E-025 May 11, 2009
    These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated…
    Lighting · 43k vehicles
  • 09E-012 Apr 7, 2009
    These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated…
    Lighting · 16k vehicles
  • 06E-060 Jun 29, 2006
    Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles
    Lighting · 88k vehicles
  • 06E-049 May 24, 2006
    Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger…
    Lighting · 27k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.