2001 BMW 330CI Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 330CI years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW 330CI. That is the most of any 330CI model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is air bags (17 complaints, 21%), typically at around 83,000 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 82owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 BMW 330CI problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 17 | 21% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 11 | 13% | 107,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 11% | 117,233 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 10% | 116,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 10% | 166,181 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 | 10% | 115,974 | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 9% | 112,342 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 6% | 73,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 5% | 170,903 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 4% | 117,494 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 4% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 2% | 123,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 2% | 162,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 184,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 64,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 BMW 330CI recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
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 drive
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 module
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.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan
Problem: 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.
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.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan
Problem: 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.
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.
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.
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 330CI. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH at night, the front headlights were flickering on and off. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The…
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 330 Ci. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a head-on crash. The contact stated he was not aware of any warning lights. The contact stated that the front end was crumpled past the wheel wells and almost to the firewall. The…
Gas tank strap that holds up the gas tank tore off on the part that is supposed to be welded on the car. One end is bolted on, the other has a welded bracket. That bracket broke off and my gas tank and bracket were dragging until I pulled off of the road. Luckily the entire gas tank didnât fall…
Tire exploded and completely blew off the wheel while driving at 45 MPH. Yes, there are two exact Luckily the position of the vehicle, time of day, and other vehicles all aligned to prevent further destruction/collision. Yes, it was inspected today, 5.26.2021.
The welds on the front strap that holds the gas tank in place broke while driving,resulting in gas tank dropping half way during driving. There is no other device holding the gas tank making the vehicle unsafe and inoperable.
Other BMW 330CI years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 330CI | 34 | 2 |
| 2005 330CI | 33 | 2 |
| 2004 330CI | 77 | 2 |
| 2003 330CI | 18 | 3 |
| 2002 330CI | 46 | 3 |
| 2001 | 82 | 5 |
| 2000 330CI | 1 | 3 |
See all BMW 330CI problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW 330CI?
Owners most often report air bags, power train, exterior lighting problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 17 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 BMW 330CI?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 BMW 330CI a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 330CI model years, the 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.