IllustrationDEALER REFUSES TO FIX DEFECT IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER IS WEATHERFORD BMW IN BERKELEY CALIFORNIA, 735 ASHBY AVE, BERKELEY, CA 94710. *TR
2001 BMW 3 Series
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 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
Compare all 3 Series years →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
30–25K
025–50K
150–75K
575–100K
10100–150K
7150K+
26 reports with mileage · 10 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
36 reportsBMW 330XI 2001 55,000 MILES LATEST PROBLEM OCTOBER 2014 LATELY WHEN I START THE CAR, PRESS ON THE BRAKE AND PUT IT IN DRIVE THE ENGINE REVS ALL THE WAY UP AND THE CAR GETS AWAY FROM ME. I HAVE TO STOMP ON THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET AND POP THE GEAR TO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR... CLEARLY YOU CAN HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING AT A…
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BMW 330XI 2001 55,000 MILES LATEST PROBLEM OCTOBER 2014 LATELY WHEN I START THE CAR, PRESS ON THE BRAKE AND PUT IT IN DRIVE THE ENGINE REVS ALL THE WAY UP AND THE CAR GETS AWAY FROM ME. I HAVE TO STOMP ON THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET AND POP THE GEAR TO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR... CLEARLY YOU CAN HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING AT A VERY HIGH RATE GETTING TRACTION WHILE PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. IN THE PAST I THOUGHT IT WAS STUPID ME PRESSING THE GAS AND BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME INADVERTENTLY ... OR MAYBE THE FLOOR MAT GOT IN THE WAY AND ACCELERATING WHEN PUSHING ON THE BRAKE - BUT NEITHER OF THOSE ARE TRUE. I HAVE MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE FAR LEFT SIDE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TOTALLY AVOIDING HE GAS PEDAL IN ANTICIPATION OF IT HAPPENS AND IT HAPPENS ANYWAY. UNFORTUNATELY IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT CAN'T BE DUPLICATED TO SHOW THE MECHANIC... ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED... I POSTED THIS ON BIMMERFEST WHO SUGGESTED I POST A COMPLAINT. *TR
I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER AUG-SEP 2014. THE LETTER STATED THAT I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE AIR-BAG REPLACEMENT WOULD BE AVAILABLE. IT IS OCTOBER 24TH. I CALLED THE BMW INFORMATION NUMBER 1-800-525-7417 TODAY. A RECORDING REPEATED THE INFORMATION IN THE LETTER: THAT I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAG WO…
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I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER AUG-SEP 2014. THE LETTER STATED THAT I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE AIR-BAG REPLACEMENT WOULD BE AVAILABLE. IT IS OCTOBER 24TH. I CALLED THE BMW INFORMATION NUMBER 1-800-525-7417 TODAY. A RECORDING REPEATED THE INFORMATION IN THE LETTER: THAT I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAG WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I HAVE ONLY ONE CAR, THE BMW. MY DAUGHTER AND I LIVE TOGETHER - I AM THE USUAL DRIVER. YESTERDAY A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US AND I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION. LUCKILY, THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT TRIGGERED. BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY, SHOULDN'T BMW PROVIDE US WITH A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE UNTIL THE AIR BAG CAN BE REPLACED? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE? *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE PASSENGER-SIDE FUEL TANK RETAINING STRAP BRACKET BROKE FROM THE FLOOR PAN OF THE CAR. IT WAS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR TO ME IF IT WAS STRUCK BY SOMETHING ON THE ROAD OR IF THE WELDS JUST FAILED, HOWEVER I DO KNOW THAT I DIDN'T HIT A POTHOLE OR OTHER ROAD IRREGULARITY. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND F…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE PASSENGER-SIDE FUEL TANK RETAINING STRAP BRACKET BROKE FROM THE FLOOR PAN OF THE CAR. IT WAS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR TO ME IF IT WAS STRUCK BY SOMETHING ON THE ROAD OR IF THE WELDS JUST FAILED, HOWEVER I DO KNOW THAT I DIDN'T HIT A POTHOLE OR OTHER ROAD IRREGULARITY. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM ON ~2001 BMW 3-SERIES COUPES AND IT APPEARS THAT IT IS FAILING WELDS. *TR
VEHICLE OPERATED WITHOUT ISSUE AND THEN THE REVERSE GEAR CEASED FUNCTIONING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM A PARKING SPOT AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED AS THE REVERSE GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION NO LONGER ENGAGED. REPEATED ATTEMPTS WITH THE VEHICLE AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND WHEN ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN YIELDED THE SAME RESULT. …
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VEHICLE OPERATED WITHOUT ISSUE AND THEN THE REVERSE GEAR CEASED FUNCTIONING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM A PARKING SPOT AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED AS THE REVERSE GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION NO LONGER ENGAGED. REPEATED ATTEMPTS WITH THE VEHICLE AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND WHEN ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN YIELDED THE SAME RESULT. NOTHING LED ME THE FEEL THIS WOULD OCCUR AND COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF THE SITUATION HAD BEEN DIRE IF AN OUTCOME AS SUCH RESTED ON THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE REVERSE GEAR. *TR
MY BMW IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES THAT THE 2002 BMW 3 SERIES HAS A RECALL ON. THE REAR TAILLIGHTS ARE BURNING THE NEUTRAL WIRE AND CONNECTOR OFF IN THE LAMP ASSEMBLIES. CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BECOME IN OPERABLE. *JS
2001 BMW 330I. NO REVERSE. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. IT WAS A ONE OWNER CAR WITH METICULOUS MAINTENANCE RECORDS. DESPITE THE HIGH MILES, THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE REVERSE GEAR FAILING. *TR
ELECTRICAL GROUND CONTACT RESISTANCE IN REAR TAIL LAMP HAS RENDERED TAIL LAMP NON FUNCTIONAL AND CAUSED WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE IDENTICAL TO CAMPAIGN 11V438000. *TR
THE WELDS ON THE FRONT (PASSENGER SIDE) FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP FITTING (WELDED TO THE UNDER SIDE OF THE BODY) BROKE AWAY ALLOWING THE SUPPORT STRAP TO FALL, CONTACT, BEND BACKWARD AND SCRAPE ALONG THE ROAD SURFACE CAUSING SPARKS. THE TANK WAS FULL OF FUEL, AND THE WEIGHT OF THE TANK CAUSED IT TO SAG DOWNWARD TOWARD THE ROAD SUR…
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THE WELDS ON THE FRONT (PASSENGER SIDE) FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP FITTING (WELDED TO THE UNDER SIDE OF THE BODY) BROKE AWAY ALLOWING THE SUPPORT STRAP TO FALL, CONTACT, BEND BACKWARD AND SCRAPE ALONG THE ROAD SURFACE CAUSING SPARKS. THE TANK WAS FULL OF FUEL, AND THE WEIGHT OF THE TANK CAUSED IT TO SAG DOWNWARD TOWARD THE ROAD SURFACE. FORTUNATELY IT DID NOT BREAK OR CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SEEK ASSISTANCE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF NOT CORRECTED. I AM REPORTING IT BECAUSE AFTER THIS EVENT I LEARNED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE IN THIS MODEL BMW. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, I HIT A POTHOLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED: THE SIDE, AND CURTAIN. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE ON THE OUTSIDE. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. *TR
Official recalls
121V401000 · 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
2EA02012 · 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.