KnownCarProblems2001 BMW 330i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW 330i, most often about the air bags (30% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about 330i model year since 2000 and has 7 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2001 BMW 330i problems
Air bags
35 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal.
I was driving my BMW 2001 330i on dover chester rd crossing the intersection of morris tpke in randolph, nj when I hit a pot hole and patch work on the road. The passenger side door and window airbags deployed cutting the power to the engine and turning on the emergency hazard lights. I immediately pulled off the road…
I hit a pothole in my 2001 BMW 330i at about 40 MPH and my tire ruptured. My passenger side head restraint airbag deployed along with the drivers side seat belt tensioners.
Transmission
23 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 114,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
Design flaw in transmission, specifically the torque converter, on 2000-2002 e46. Requiring rebuilding and or replacing torque converter. BMW is aware of problems and is widespread.
I have a BMW 2001 3330i. The car has 120,000 miles on it. I have had the car for one year, purchased used with 106,000 miles. I was backing out of my driveway when suddenly and without warning, the reverse gear disengaged. The reverse gear has not worked since, approximately two weeks. The other gears work fine. The…
Electrical
15 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles.
My doors will lock but not unlock. I cannot unlock them with my key fob, center console, or with the door handles. Right now the only two doors that will open are my drivers and drivers rear door. I can only unlock the drivers rear by the inside door handles. Passengers have to climb in the drivers side or window.
I've replaced the window regulators in my car several times due to the material being cheap. The gears wear out and/or break apart. Each time it's between $150 and $300 to repair. The window stops half-way down and can't be moved. This presents issues with safety during inclement weather and makes it very easy to get…
Wheels and tires
10 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: rim, sidewall, tread/belt, pressure monitoring and regulating systems.
On saturday 03/01/2014 at around 10:30pm I had just passed the tappan zee bridge going to connecticut so I was on the 287 west or north highway (not sure because at some point 287 changes from west to north). It was about 1-2 miles after when I hit a huge pothole that made air bag or side curtain fell off. The entire…
I was driving my BMW 2001 330i on dover chester rd crossing the intersection of morris tpke in randolph, nj when I hit a pot hole and patch work on the road. The passenger side door and window airbags deployed cutting the power to the engine and turning on the emergency hazard lights. I immediately pulled off the road…
Engine
10 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, exhaust system.
I drive a 2001 BMW 330i. It stalled on me a few times already. One time, I was slowing down to make a turn and it stalled on me while the car was slowing down. Also, sometimes the accelerator hesitates on me, and it happened twice when I was crossing an intersection and almost got into an accident because of it.
Engine stalls on a few occasions when vehicle was turning left at low speed, causing temporary loss of power steering. Was able to quickly re-start the engine every time but could have caused crash otherwise. This occurred more frequently after 2008 (and after 60k miles), both at low speed on local roads and at 45 ~…
Visibility and wipers
10 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 82,500 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, rearview mirrors/devices.
Passenger front window came off track. Back window does not go up or down. It is obvious that other two windows will do the same very soon. This has happened throughout the life of the car... Too many times, too much and too often. My car is a 2001 BMW 330i, I've had a problem with my radiator resorvior, the water…
I've replaced the window regulators in my car several times due to the material being cheap. The gears wear out and/or break apart. Each time it's between $150 and $300 to repair. The window stops half-way down and can't be moved. This presents issues with safety during inclement weather and makes it very easy to get…
Fuel system
8 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 151,500 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
I was driving on the highway at 70mph when I heard a pop sound followed by a grinding of some sort. I pulled off the next exit and could hear the continuous scraping noise. I parked my car and could see that the gasoline tank strap had separated from the frame and it was just hanging from the back. The gas tank was 4…
While driving on the freeway I suddenly heard a thump or pop followed by a grinding noise. I pulled over at the next exit and discovered that the bracket holding the strap that holds the fuel tank on the passenger side had torn off the body and the fuel talk was left hanging a few inches above the ground. The shop…
Body and structure
7 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 106,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 330i. The contact stated that while stationary, all of the doors locked from the inside and the contact and his family could not exit the vehicle. As a result, the contact and his family required to exit the vehicle from the driver's side door. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
When stopped after driving, I attempted to exit the vehicle from the driver side door. The door would not open. The door was unlocked. I crawled out the passenger side. I tried to open the door from the outside. Same result. The driver side door now does not open by any means. Diver side door will not open utilizing…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 BMW 330i recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result 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.
Fix: Bmw notified owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began november 10, 2020. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 1999-2001 323i, 325i, 328i and 330i and 2000-2001 323ci, 325ci, 328ci, 330ci, 323it, and 325it vehicles equipped with non-azide driver air bag inflators (nadi) manufactured by takata. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver air bag as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement nadi inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Air bags
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.
Fix: 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].
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: fan
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: fan
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Wheels and tires: rim
Risk: This could lead to a sudden loss of air from the tire affecting handling and vehicle control.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the five wheels for possible damage. If damage from the mounting machine is found on any wheel, all five wheels will be replaced.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The machine used to mount and inflate the tires on the wheels at the assembly plant may have damaged the inner rim flange of the wheels.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2001 BMW 330i
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW 330i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (35 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); transmission (23 complaints, typically around 114,000 miles); electrical (15 complaints, typically around 85,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 BMW 330i have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 27, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the BMW 330i?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about 330i model year since 2000, with 116 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.