2001 Bmw 330CI: complaints, problems and recalls

RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM CAME LOOSE ON MY 2001 BMW 330CI. HAD COMPLAINED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS TO DEALER (VOB BMW - ROCKVILLE, MD) CONCERNING ABNORMAL JERK OF CAR WHEN COMING TO STOP. DEALER INSISTED THAT CAR WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. FINALLY TOOK CAR TO INDEPENDENT BMW GARAGE (BMW EXCLUSERVICE - ROCKVILLE, MD), AND INFORMED THAT RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS LOOSE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS POSSIBILITY RIGHT FRONT TIRE COULD COME OFF. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED CONTROL ARMS WITH REDESIGNED 2004 MODEL YEAR CONTROL ARM. B…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054806 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT A 2001 BMW 330CIC [XXX] IN OCT. OF 2003 FROM A PRIVATE PERSON. BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I PAID ~$200 TO A BMW DEALER AND GOT IT CHECKED FOR MAJOR PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE CAR HAD ~ 53K MILES ON IT AND THEY SAID NO PROBLEMS. HENCE I WENT AND BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THIS PRIVATE OWNER. JUST AFTER 2 MONTHS I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT CONTROL BUSHINGS THAT COST ME ABOUT ~$500 AND AFTER ANOTHER 2 MONTHS THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT BAD. I PAID ABOUT $800 FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND PARTS. NOW JUST A FEW DAYS AGO THE CAR STOPPED DRIVING IN REVERSE. I HAV…

Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086860 at NHTSA ↗

SUBFRAME FAILURE IN 2001 E46 330CI, REAR SUBFRAME TEARING NEAR SPARE TIRE STORAGE AND MOUNTS. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND I WAS BASICLLY TOLD TO GO SCREW MYSELF BY BMWNA.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096075 at NHTSA ↗

1. NORMAL DRIVING. 2. SUB-FRAME FAILURE CAUSING MAJOR CLANKING IN AND LARGE UNDUE STRESS ON DRIVE TRAIN. THE DRIVETRAIN IS LIKELY TO FAIL. DEALERSHIP NOT HELPING. PERVASIVE PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. WELL DOCUMENTED IN BMW FORUMS. 3. THE DEALER DOES NOT ADMIT THE PROBLEM. MAY COST MANY OWNERS THOUSANDS TO REPAIR. THERE WAS A EUROPEAN RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114194 at NHTSA ↗

DT THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS HAPPENED AROUND MAY 31, 2005. VEHICLE ENDED UP OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT HIT CONSUMER IN THE HEAD. HAD HEADACHES FOR A FEW DAYS AFTERWARD. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128936 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2001 BMW 330CI THAT I BOUGHT NEW. RECENTLY THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THEY WOULD FAIL, YOU WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO USE THE KEY TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. HOWEVER, IF YOU WERE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, YOU WOULD BE TRAPPED BECAUSE THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID FROM INSIDE THE CAR. YOU COULD POWER DOWN THE WINDOW AND GIVE YOUR KEY TO SOMEONE TO USE IT TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER DOOR LOCK CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD COS…

Owner-reported narrative. 64,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143622 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS MAKING A LANE CHANGE IN ORDER TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY TRAFFIC. WITHOUT HITTING ANY OBJECTS, UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT SIDE AIRBAG (DRIVER SIDE) OCCURRED. MY HEAD WAS HIT BY SOME FLYING OBJECTS FROM THE DEPLOYMENT. VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND COULDN'T BE STARTED AFTER THAT FOR ALMOST 15 MINS. FINALLY CHP SHOWED UP AND HELPED ME TO START MY CAR SO THAT I COULD DRIVE IT TO LOCAL DEALER. AFTER FEW DAYS OF "INVESTIGATION", THE DEALER DECIDED IT WAS NOT THE FAULT OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. INSTEAD, THEY BLAMED MY REAR TIRE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10159322 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER ONLY 39,000 MILES OF VERY GENTLE DRIVING, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE SCRAP ON MY 2001 BMW 330CI. SYMPTOM SHOW UP AS A JERK ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES ARE QUICKLY APPLIED. FRONT WHEELS CAN ALSO BE OBSERVED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BY AN ONLOOKER MOVING WITHIN THE WHEEL WELL WHEN VEHICLE GETS ROLLING AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND THEN RELEASED. APPARENTLY THIS IS A WELL KNOWN HIGH WEAR AREA. INTEND TO CLAIM FROM BMW EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160346 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-06-21 (June 21, 2001)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2002-05-16 (May 16, 2002)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2019-11-26 (November 26, 2019)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2020-01-15 (January 15, 2020)

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.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2021-05-27 (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: 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.