2000 BMW 328I Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jun 24, 2021 · 112 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other 328I years
About as many complaints as other years 10th of 21 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 BMW 328I. That ranks 10th out of 21 328I model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (35 complaints, 31%), typically at around 96,000 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 2 fires, 7 injuries. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2000 BMW 328I problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags35 · ~96,000 mi
Structure31 · ~115,000 mi
Power Train27 · ~128,524 mi
Suspension11 · ~137,500 mi
Electrical System5 · ~90,000 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling5 · ~73,500 mi
Visibility5 · ~56,000 mi
Tires4
Engine3 · ~167,000 mi
Exterior Lighting2 · ~55,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags3531%96,000——
Structure3128%115,000——
Power Train2724%128,524——
Suspension1110%137,500——
Electrical System54%90,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling54%73,500——
Visibility54%56,000——
Tires44%———
Engine33%167,000——
Exterior Lighting22%55,000——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic22%53,100——
Unknown or Other22%———
Vehicle Speed Control22%———
Equipment11%———
Fuel/propulsion System11%———
Fuel System, Gasoline11%———
Latches/locks/linkages11%100,000——
Service Brakes, Air11%53,100——
Wheels11%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2011, with 12 complaints
1999: 119992000: 62001: 220012002: 32003: 320032004: 42005: 520052006: 102007: 520072008: 62009: 920092010: 52011: 122011122012: 42014: 520142015: 102016: 820162017: 32018: 420182020: 52021: 22021

n = 112 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2000 BMW 328I recalls (7)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleMay 27, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V401000 · 4,511 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not driveJan 15, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V018000 · 292,948 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleNov 26, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V852000 · 34,396 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999-2000 323i and 328i and 2000 323Ci and 328Ci vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These inflators do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

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 will mail interim notices informing owners of the safety risk on January 17, 2020. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Dealers will inspect the driver air bag inflators and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. BMW mailed interim notices informing owners of the safety risk on January 17, 2020. The recall began July 27, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleNov 26, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V853000 · 74,185 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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.

Air bagsDo not driveJun 11, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 14V428000 · 574,007 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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].

Air bags:side/windowAug 9, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V223000 · 20,500 vehicles

Problem: On certain 4-door passenger vehicles, the side air bag system could deploy in certain non-crash impacts, such as when contacting large potholes or curbs at substantial speeds.

Risk: This could cause the side air bag and head protection system to deploy without an actual side crash or impact severe enough to cause significant visible damage to the vehicle. Unexpected deployment of the side air bag could cause serious injury if the occupant's head is resting near the side air bag.

Fix: Dealers will recalibrate the central air bag control module to reduce the possibility of such a non-crash deployment. Owner notification began october 25, 2002. 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.

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switchFeb 17, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V048000 · 17,700 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The brake lamps in these vehicles are controlled by a switch activated by the movement of the brake pedal. This switch could fail internally, causing it to remain either in the "brake lamps off" position or in the "brake lamps on" position.

Risk: If this happens, the brake lamps either will not operate or will be continuously illuminated, regardless of brake pedal position.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the existing brake lamp switch with an improved switch.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

May of 2019 my driver door airbag, driver side front to rear pillar airbag bursted open while driving 30mph on a flat smooth road. Took to BMW dealer and they informed me that there was a recall and they'd look into it. Days later picked up my car and they said they went off from aftermarket items…

Air Bags · received Jun 24, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11422080

I was driving the vehicle in the early morning still dark on a state road and raining very hard could not see out the windshield. I believe i hit a pot hole. That's when the side curtain deployed on the right side causing damage to the headliner and a pillar post. Unknown why it went off. I know…

Air Bags · received Mar 17, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11403437

Safety recall on bmw 3-series vehicles (model year 1999-2001) for driver's air bag inflator (nadi) . Since february 18,2020 i've been trying to have bmw agent dealer / car maintenance services in concord ca to perform the remedy concerning this issue with no results ( it's always the same reason…

Air Bags · received Aug 1, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11342683

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V852000 (AIR BAG) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO TULLEY BMW OF NASHUA (147 DANIEL WEBSTER HWY, NASHUA, NH 03060; [redacted])…

Air Bags · received Jun 25, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11330817

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 bmw 328i. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed him that the failure may be linked to a recall. The contact then received notification of nhtsa…

Air Bags · received May 11, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11324137

Other BMW 328I years

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2000 BMW 328I?

Owners most often report air bags, structure, power train problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 35 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2000 BMW 328I?

Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2000 BMW 328I a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 328I model years, the 2000 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.