2004 BMW 330Xi

Do not drive

Owners filed 13 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags8
103
Exterior Lighting2
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Power Train1
000
Electrical System1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
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].

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module15V318000Do not drive
Filed May 28, 2015419,235 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal11V438000
Filed Aug 26, 2011241,000 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 325I, 325XI, 330I, AND 330XI VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2001, THROUGH MARCH 1, 2005. OVER TIME, RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY CAUSE ONE OR MORE REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS (TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND/OR TURN-SIGNAL), WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S BODY PANEL, TO STOP WORKING.

Risk. INTERMITTENT LIGHT OPERATION REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Aug 5, 2021265,000 milesNE

I was driving about 35mph and hit a pot hole in the road. that caused my passenger front, passenger side door, and passenger aide door top to deploy.

Power Train
Filed Feb 5, 202141,000 milesCA

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TAKES A LONG TIME TO ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE BUT ONCE IT GETS GOING, IT SHIFTS SMOOTHLY. I SPOKE TO A TECHNICIAN AND THERE IS NO KNOWN FIX FOR IT.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 29, 2018VA

SUBFRAME

Air Bags
Filed Jan 25, 2018PA

AIR BAG TROUBLE COD LIGHT ON THE DASH DRIVING CAR ON STREET AND HIGHWAY

Air Bags
Filed Aug 15, 2016NY

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 14, 2016AR

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR NEARLY ONE YEAR FOR THE RECALLED DRIVER'S AIRBAG TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE NEWS HAS REPORTED THAT 70% OF OTHER MANUFACTURER'S VEHICLES WITH THE SAME RECALL HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. HOW MUCH LONGER AM I REQUIRED TO WAIT?

Air Bags
Filed Mar 28, 2016CA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 28, 2016MI

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air BagsCrash3 injured
Filed Jun 18, 2015196,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW 330XI. WHILE AT DRIVING AT 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO VEER TO THE LEFT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, HEAD, AND BACK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE UPPER BODY, HEAD, BACK, NECK, SHOULDERS, AND BOTH HIPS. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, BACK, AND LEFT HAND. ALL THREE PASSENGERS REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND BELIEVED THE RECALL WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 8, 2015MA

2004 BMW 330XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL REPLACEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL LETTER SHE RECEIVED STATED THE WORK WOULD BE PERFORMED FOR FREE. HOWEVER, SHE WAS CHARGED $99.50 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR BAG. *JB

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jun 10, 2013108,500 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE, TAIL AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN ACTIVATED AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNALS BUT THE REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTS) AND CALLED A DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,500.

Exterior Lighting
Filed May 3, 201361,000 milesCO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED ERRONEOUSLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REFLECTORS HAD DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 10, 2012102,000 milesNY

SECURITY LOCK SYSTEM FAILED TO ALLOW PASSENGERS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND THE PASSENGERS HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE WINDOWS TO EXIT. IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY (E.G. CAR DROVE INTO DEEP WATER) THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT FUNCTION AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO EXIT THE CAR. SEEM LIKE A SERIOUS FAILURE. *TR

13 of 13 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20110300Routine
20100300Routine
20090300Routine
20080300Routine
20070300Routine
2006104650Routine
200512400Do not drive
2004 — this page13400Do not drive
200333520Do not drive
200220531Do not drive
200111510Do not drive
20000200Do not drive
19990100Routine

Compare every 330Xi year →

Reading this record

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: Jan 15, 2020. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.