Owners filed 11 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › cooling system. It has been recalled 5 times.
Do not drive
NHTSA attached 2 advisories to recalls on this vehicle. Advisories apply to specific production runs — check your VIN with the manufacturer or at nhtsa.gov/recalls before driving it.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Exterior Lighting
2
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
2
0
0
0
Air Bags
2
1
0
2
Wheels › Rim
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
Structure › Frame and Members
1
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
0
0
0
Engine
1
0
1
0
5 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module21V401000
Filed May 27, 20214,511 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc
Defect. 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. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V-851, 19V852, or 19V-853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Risk. The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
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 › Passenger Side › Inflator Module20V018000Do not drive
Filed Jan 15, 2020292,948 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air Bags14V428000Do not drive
Filed Jun 11, 2018574,007 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan02V138000
Filed May 16, 20021,550 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke
Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.
Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A RECALL THAT BEGAN DURING SEPTEMBER 2001 (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V206). 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.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan01V206000
Filed Jun 21, 200176,469 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.
Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. 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.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Aug 14, 2015187,000 milesMA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 330 XI. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR LIGHT WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LAMP CONNECTOR WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CONNECTOR NUMBER THREE MELTED ON BOTH ENDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air Bags
Filed Feb 5, 2015CO
WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 6MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED. THE DEALER HAS A WAITING LIST OF OVER 300 CARS, AND HAS NOT EVEN STARTED DOING THE WORK REQUIRED FOR THIS RECALL. I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE DEALER AS BMW USA HAS NOT STARTED SHIPPING THE PARTS. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED?? *TR
EngineFire
Filed Jan 29, 2014135,000 milesWA
CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN ALL DAY UNTIL EVENING WHEN I DROVE CAR 4-5 MILES TO ONE RESIDENCE, CONTINUED WITH PASSENGER FOR ANOTHER FEW MILES TO ANOTHER RESIDENCE, PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. REMAINED IN CAR BRIEFLY WHILE FINISHING A CONVERSATION WHEN NOTICED GRAY/WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, CALLED FOR HELP FROM RESIDENT. WHEN USE OF 2 PERSONAL EXTINGUISHERS DIDN'T HELP, CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO RESPONDED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT NOTES ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS FULLY INVOLVED WHEN THEY ARRIVED AND APPEARS FIRE STARTED IN RIGHT FRONT CORNER, BUT UNABLE TO MAKE FIRE CAUSE DETERMINATION DUE TO HEAVY FIRE INVOLVEMENT. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 2, 2013162,000 milesCA
THE BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE PARTIALLY FAILED. ONE SET OF BRAKE LIGHT BULBS, THE DUAL FILAMENT BULBS NO LONGER LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ARE IN WORKING ORDER SO IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE WIRING OR THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR
Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Aug 27, 201288,000 milesID
VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER DRIVER RUNNING A RED LIGHT. THE OTHER DRIVER CENTERED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL BUT DAMAGED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER'S DOOR AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. WE COULD SEE HIT HANGING FROM THE REAR PILLAR TO THE FRONT PILLAR BUT IT WAS STILL TUBULAR SHAPED AND DID NOT PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM HITTING HER HEAD ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE FRONT PANEL WAS COMPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jul 6, 2011169,000 milesPA
THE SECONDARY COOLING FAN FAILED CAUSING THE EXPANSION TANK ON OUR 2001 BMW 330XI SPLIT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. WE REPLACED THE EXPANSION TANK AND MANY RELATED PARTS INCLUDING THERMOSTAT. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. WE BELIEVE THIS FAILURE IS CLOSE TO, BUT NOT THE SAME AS, THE FAN FAILURE THAT YOU REPORTED ON MAY 16, 2002. (02V138000 , 01V206000 ). *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Mar 21, 201048,000 milesPA
THE EXPANSION TANK ON OUR 2001 BMW 330XI SPLIT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 48,000 MILES OF USE. WE REPLACED THE ENGINE AND MANY RELATED PARTS INCLUDING THE EXPANSION TANK AND RADIATOR. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON UNTIL AFTER THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE CAR WAS IN THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP. WE BELIEVE THIS FAILURE IS CLOSE TO, BUT NOT THE SAME AS, THE FAN FAILURE THAT YOU REPORTED ON MAY 16, 2002. *TR
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jan 27, 200650,000 milesMA
2001 - 330XI - 50000 MILES, REAR SUBFRAME TORN OUT ON LEFT SIDE, RIGHT SIDE CRACKED! *AK
Wheels › Rim
Filed Dec 7, 200422,115 milesNJ
ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING ON NEW JERSEY ROADS (TWO TIMES ON MAJOR ROADS) MY VEHICLE STRUCK A POT HOLE AND THE INSIDE PORTION OF THE RIM BENT. I HAVE REPLACED THE RIMS WITH AFTERMARKET ALUMINUM ALLOY RIMS. ACCORDING TO WHEEL COLLISION EXPERTS OF ALLENTOWN PA. BMW RIMS ARE THERE BIGGEST CUSTOMER. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IN N.J. FOR 31 YEARS AND THESE ARE MY FIRST RIM FAILURES. I STILL HAVE THREE RIMS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THESE FAILURES OCCURED WITH ONLY 22,000 MILES ON THE CAR.*AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Feb 19, 200443,000 milesCT
IN SNOWY CONDITIONS THE ANTI-LOCKBRAKES FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID. *AK THE TIRES HAD 1/2 TREAD LIFE. THE DEALER BLAMED THE TIRES. (TIRE, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND OR AWD WAS THE PROBLEM) *SC
Tires
Filed Jul 7, 2001IL
I HAD 2 TIRES GO SUDDENLY FLAT ON THE SAME DAY. CAR HAD ONLY 4500 MILES AT THE TIME. NO OBVIOUS PUNTURE OR DAMAGE. REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AT LOCAL TIRE DEALER BECAUSE BMW DEALER DID NOT HAVE IN STOCK. 1 WEEK LATER, I READ ABOUT NHTSA RECALL #00V383 AND CONTACTED BOTH DEALER AND BMW USA AFTER DEALER REPLIED THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF RECALL. AFTER HAVING HIM RESEARCH FURTHER, I WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT MY BMW 330XI, MANUFACTURED DURING THE QUESTIONED TIMEFRAME WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. I GOT THE SAME FROM BMW USA. I QUESTION HOW 2 VIRTUALLY BRAND NEW TIRES WOULD BOTH GO FLAT ON THE SAME DAY AT THE SAME TIME? I CONTACTED CONTINENTAL TIRES WHO WERE ALSO UNAWARE OF THE RECALL AND AFTER EXPLAINING THEM THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY READILY AGREED TO REIMBURSE ME $100 AS A GOOD FAITH GESTURE. I PAID OVER $400 FOR THE TIRES, PLUS BALANCING, PLUS HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK SINCE BMW AND LOCAL TIRE CENTER DID NOT HAVE IN STOCK. I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT BMW HAS FAITHFULLY RESOLVED THIS ISSUE WITH ME, SINCE THEY DID NOT EVEN INSPECT THE WHEELS AFTER MY NEW TIRES WERE MOUNTED. I DON'T THINK THEY COULD TELL WHETHER OF NOT THE FIRST SET WERE MOUNTED PROPERLY OR NOT AND HAVE SIMPLY DISMISSED ME WITHOUT ANY ASSURANCE OR VERIFICATION THAT MY BMW WASN'T POSSIBLY AFFECTED BY THIS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN PROVIDE OR FOLLOW UP ON TO TRULY SEE WHETHER I AM OWED NEW WHEELS, REIMBURSEMENT, ETC. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE, [XXX]. *AK (TIRESIZE: 17) INFORMATION RE
NHTSA has issued a do-not-drive warning for a recall on this vehicle.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: May 27, 2021. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.