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2000 BMW 3 Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 BMW 3 Series do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

74 reports with mileage · 14 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

Power Train complaints

35 reports
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91,000 miles · Oct 3, 2014
Power Train

WELL DOCUMENTED NO REVERSE ISSUE FOR BMW GM TRANSMISSION D-CLUTCH FRACTURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641065

142,780 miles · Sep 3, 2013
Power Train

I WAS PREPARING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN "NEUTRAL" AND DID NOT MAKE ANY NOISE OR MOTION. THE REVERSE NEVER SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR ON A LIMITED BASIS OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS. A SHORT TIME PRIOR TO THIS, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE CAR…

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I WAS PREPARING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN "NEUTRAL" AND DID NOT MAKE ANY NOISE OR MOTION. THE REVERSE NEVER SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR ON A LIMITED BASIS OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS. A SHORT TIME PRIOR TO THIS, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE CAR WHILE ACCELERATING BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 25 MPH AND 30 MPH DRIVING FORWARD. IT WAS SUBTLE AND ACTUALLY BEGAN TO GO AWAY. I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY UNUSUAL STRESS, NOISE, OR DIFFICULTIES WHILE GOING INTO REVERSE PRIOR TO FINDING IT COMPLETELY GONE TODAY. I FEEL EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND DID NOT INVOLVE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I FEAR THAT IT COULD HAVE PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN GREAT BODILY HARM, HAD I NOT BEEN SO LUCKY. I FEAR FOR WHAT THIS MAY COST TO REPAIR OR EVEN EVALUATE, SINCE MANY ONLINE HAVE EXPRESSED A SIMILAR SITUATION RESULTING IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10538646

254,000 miles · Apr 29, 2013
Power Train

CAR JUST STOPPED GOING INTO REVERSE. THIS IS A ISSUE THAT IS COMMON IN MANY OTHER 2000 3 SERIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509968

78,000 miles · Feb 10, 2013
Power Train

GREAT CAR UNTIL PARKED AT GROCERY STORE AND CAR WOULD NOT BACK UP WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. ONLY 75000 MILES. BMW DEALER WANTED $6000 TO REPLACE WITH FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION. CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN REPAIR. OFFERED TO CONTACT DEALER AND ASK FOR 10% REDUCTION. NEVER HEARD BACK. LAST BMW F…

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GREAT CAR UNTIL PARKED AT GROCERY STORE AND CAR WOULD NOT BACK UP WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. ONLY 75000 MILES. BMW DEALER WANTED $6000 TO REPLACE WITH FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION. CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN REPAIR. OFFERED TO CONTACT DEALER AND ASK FOR 10% REDUCTION. NEVER HEARD BACK. LAST BMW FOR ME. VERY FREQUENT FAILURE PER THE INTERNET AND THIS SITE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10497676

103,200 miles · Sep 17, 2012
Power Train

THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED GOING INTO REVERSE. WORKS IN DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475709

90,000 miles · Jan 26, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE REVERSE GEAR STOP WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10445482

125,000 miles · Jan 21, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE CAR TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. THE ISSUE HAPPENS SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING, AND ACTS EXACTLY AS IF YOU WERE IN NEUTRAL GEAR. THERE IS A DEDICATED SITE CALLED HTTP://WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG THAT DOCUMENTS THOUSANDS OF CASES FROM BMW OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ITS TRANSMISS…

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THE CAR TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. THE ISSUE HAPPENS SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING, AND ACTS EXACTLY AS IF YOU WERE IN NEUTRAL GEAR. THERE IS A DEDICATED SITE CALLED HTTP://WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG THAT DOCUMENTS THOUSANDS OF CASES FROM BMW OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ITS TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES 1999-2003 HAVE THIS ISSUE, BUT FAILS TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE ON THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IN NOVEMBER, I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY NORMALLY TO DRIVE TO WORK. WHEN I ARRIVE AT WORK AND ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE INTO THE SPACE, THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACT THIS WAY. ALL OTHER GEARS WORK NORMAL (MEANING IT DRIVES FINE FORWARD), IT IS JUST THAT YOU CANNOT ENGAGE REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10444721

139,000 miles · Dec 28, 2011
Power Train

THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED GOING INTO REVERSE. I HAD TO PUSH IT TO GET OUR OF THE PARKING SPOT AND WENT STRAIGHT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING, THE REVERSE GEAR DECIDED TO WORK SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT FOR TEST DRIVE AGAIN AND IT FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE AGAIN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BMW OWNERS THAT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM…

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THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED GOING INTO REVERSE. I HAD TO PUSH IT TO GET OUR OF THE PARKING SPOT AND WENT STRAIGHT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING, THE REVERSE GEAR DECIDED TO WORK SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT FOR TEST DRIVE AGAIN AND IT FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE AGAIN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BMW OWNERS THAT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REVERSE GEAR. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FROM BMW TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441425

128,000 miles · Nov 26, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE CAR WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437354

79,000 miles · Oct 12, 2011
Power Train

THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE REVERSE ON THESE VEHICLES. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A UNIQUE PROBLEM BUT IT IS A OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I FOUND 359 COMPLAINTS ON OUR YR/MAKE/MODEL ON THIS WEBSITE ALONE. ALSO NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON A WEBSITE CALLED NO REVERSE.ORG. OUR BMW WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I HAVE LEARN…

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THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE REVERSE ON THESE VEHICLES. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A UNIQUE PROBLEM BUT IT IS A OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I FOUND 359 COMPLAINTS ON OUR YR/MAKE/MODEL ON THIS WEBSITE ALONE. ALSO NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON A WEBSITE CALLED NO REVERSE.ORG. OUR BMW WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I HAVE LEARNED TO PARK ON AN INCLINE SO I CAN ROLL BACKWARDS OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. BMW NEEDS TO DO A RECALL. THEY ARE LOOSING FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS BY NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, I WANT TO BE A PART OF IT. BMW REPS AT CUSTOMER SERVICE DECLINE TO HELP SO FAR. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10429943

Official recalls

1

21V401000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

May 27, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA02012 · Inadvertent SIDE-IMPACT Air Bag Deployme

Opened Jul 15, 2002 · Closed Jun 24, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CONTAINS PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC FOR DEPLOYING THE SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAGS.BMW REVISED THE MODULE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE SPAN OF THE MODEL YEARS 1999 THROUGH 2002 (IDENTIFIED AS MRS2.CA, MRS2.BB, MRS3, MRS3+ AND MRS4).ALTHOUGH MODEL YEAR 1999.5 VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB HAD 6.5% OF THE SUBJECT POPULATION, IT ACCOUNTED FOR 29% OF THE TOTAL REPORTS RECEIVED.THE MRS2.BB EXPOSURE ADJUSTED REPORT RATE WAS ALMOST 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN OTHER 3 SERIES AIR BAG MODULE VERSIONS.IN AUGUST 2002, BMW INITIATED A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 20,500 MODEL 323I AND 328I VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB (NHTSA RECALL # 02V223000).IN ADDITION TO EXPERIENCING A LOWER RATE OF NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENTS, MOST OF THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES ALSO SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT POTHOLE/CURB IMPACT WITH SOME HAVING ADDITIONAL UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT/SCRAPE OR SUSPENSION DAMAGE.SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PE02011 · Inadvertent SIDE-IMPACT Air Bag

Opened Jan 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 15, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

No summary supplied.