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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

Other model years Selected 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

What owners actually said

88 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2007
Unknown Or OtherVisibility

THE MECHANISM IN POWER WINDOWS ( MECHANICAL MECHANISM IN THE DOORS WHICH RAISE AND LOWER THE WINDOWS ) APPEAR TO BE FAULTY. AFTER NORMAL USAGE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ( 3 WEEKS TO A MAXIMUM OF 6 MONTHS ) , THERE ARE REPEATED FAILURES OF THE MECHANICAL MECHANISM AND POWER WINDOWS ONCE AGAIN FAIL TO FUNCTION. ALTHOUGH THE ISS…

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THE MECHANISM IN POWER WINDOWS ( MECHANICAL MECHANISM IN THE DOORS WHICH RAISE AND LOWER THE WINDOWS ) APPEAR TO BE FAULTY. AFTER NORMAL USAGE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ( 3 WEEKS TO A MAXIMUM OF 6 MONTHS ) , THERE ARE REPEATED FAILURES OF THE MECHANICAL MECHANISM AND POWER WINDOWS ONCE AGAIN FAIL TO FUNCTION. ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE AT HAND HAS BEEN FIXED BY BMW NUMEROUS TIMES ( SOME UNDER WARRANTY AND SOME AT OWNERS COST) , IT IS A REPEATING PROBLEM AND BMW SERVICE PROVIDER DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE A SOLUTION WHICH WOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. SINCE THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND MOSTLY DRIVEN BY ONE DRIVER ( ME ), A GREATER USE OF AC IS MADE IN ORDER NOT TO USE THE POWER WINDOWS IN CASE THEY WILL BREAK ONCE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10188504

94,000 miles · Mar 6, 2007
Structure

THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK. AFTER TAKING THE WHEEL OFF TO INVESTIGATE I SAW WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTS TO THE FRAME IT HAD PULLED THROUGH. I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AND WILL E CONTACTING BMW ABOUT THIS SHORTLY. AN INTERNET SEARCH WILL FIND THAT THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE AND I BELIEVE BMW …

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THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK. AFTER TAKING THE WHEEL OFF TO INVESTIGATE I SAW WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTS TO THE FRAME IT HAD PULLED THROUGH. I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AND WILL E CONTACTING BMW ABOUT THIS SHORTLY. AN INTERNET SEARCH WILL FIND THAT THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE AND I BELIEVE BMW SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184378

75,800 miles · Feb 26, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

DURING HWY OPERATION OF MY VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK RUPTURED WITH A 7 INCH LONG GAP. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10183506

99,000 miles · Jan 28, 2007
Power TrainStructure

SUB FRAME TORE FROM CAR REAR CHASSIS ON A 2000 BMW 323CI, VERY DANGEROUS AND MAY CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10180911

99,500 miles · Jan 17, 2007
Structure

REAR SUBFRAME OF CAR TEARING OUT OF BODY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10178909

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2007
Structure

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR USED. THEN TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR THOROUGH INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE TUNE UP. FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS AND STRUTS ALONG WITH SPRINGS REPLACED WITH OEM PARTS. HE AND I LOCATED THE SUBFRAME ON THE REAR DRIVER WAS TORN. CAR IS MECHANICALLY SOUND AND THE ONLY ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WHEN DRIVING,…

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR USED. THEN TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR THOROUGH INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE TUNE UP. FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS AND STRUTS ALONG WITH SPRINGS REPLACED WITH OEM PARTS. HE AND I LOCATED THE SUBFRAME ON THE REAR DRIVER WAS TORN. CAR IS MECHANICALLY SOUND AND THE ONLY ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WHEN DRIVING, I CAN HEAR THE METAL ON METAL CLUNKING NOISE. AFRAID THAT IF IT DOES NOT GET REPAIRED, IT WILL LEAD TO MORE STRUCTURE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. I'M SCARE TO DRIVE THE CAR FEARING THAT AN ACCIDENT IS WAITING TO HAPPEN. PLEASE HELP WITH INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE DEFECT ON BMW 3 SERIES. I KNOW THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED WITH WASSERMAN, COMDEN & CASSELMAN, L.L.P REGARDING MANUFACTURING AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT THAT SEVERELY COMPROMISES THE SAFETY, DURABILITY, AND PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. WHICH ALLEGES THAT THE MANUFACTURING AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT INCLUDES A WEAK OR INSUFFICIENT FLOOR PANEL IN THE UNIBODY OF THE VEHICLE THAT CAUSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CRACKING IN THE FLOOR PAN AND MISALIGNMENT, CRACKING OR THE COMPLETE OR PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10177999

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2006
Structure

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR NORMALLY AND STARTED TO REALIZE A SQUEAKING NOISE. SOON THE NOISE GOT REALLY LOUD AND CONSTANT SO I JACK UP THE CAR AND REALIZED MY REAR SUBFRAME WAS DETACHING FROM THE BODY. BMW SAYS THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10174669

108,000 miles · Aug 30, 2006
Structure

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN MID APRIL, 2006. A MONTH AFTER MY PURCHASE I BEGAN TO NOTICE CREAKING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION, PRIMARILY IN 1ST GEAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THE REAR SUBFRAME TO BE TEARING FROM THE UNIBODY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND MUST BE AD…

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I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN MID APRIL, 2006. A MONTH AFTER MY PURCHASE I BEGAN TO NOTICE CREAKING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION, PRIMARILY IN 1ST GEAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THE REAR SUBFRAME TO BE TEARING FROM THE UNIBODY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. TOO MANY PEOPLE IGNORE TELL TALE SIGNS COMING FROM THEIR VEHICLES, IF BMW IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE REPAIR, THE LEAST THEY COULD DO IS SEND A NOTICE TO RECOMMEND AN INSPECTION TO ANY 3-SERIES OWNER. REPAIRING THIS COSTS MONEY, NOT LIFE AND LIMB. PLEASE BMW AND THE NHTSA, LETS KEEP IT THAT WAY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10167099

60,000 miles · Jul 10, 2006
Electrical SystemParking BrakeStructure

I EXPERIENCED A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 BMW 323CI , AS THE SUBFRAME BEGAN TO TEAR AFTER ONLY 57000 MILES OF USE. AFTER SOME COMPLAINING, I WAS ABLE TO GET BMW TO "GOODWILL" THE REPAIRS. BUT AS SOON AS I PICKED UP THE CAR AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PARKING LIGHT BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. IT WOULD COM…

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I EXPERIENCED A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 BMW 323CI , AS THE SUBFRAME BEGAN TO TEAR AFTER ONLY 57000 MILES OF USE. AFTER SOME COMPLAINING, I WAS ABLE TO GET BMW TO "GOODWILL" THE REPAIRS. BUT AS SOON AS I PICKED UP THE CAR AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PARKING LIGHT BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. IT WOULD COME ON WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED ETC. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO DO THE SAME THING. I DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH OF IT, BUT NOW ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST ALL THE POWER STOPPED WORKING, THE HEADLIGHTS BLINKED, A/C AND WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING, POWER LOCKS NO LONGER WORKED. THEN IT SOMEHOW FIXED ITSELF. BUT A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER, SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED AND NOW I CANNOT EVEN START MY CAR. AGAIN, IT APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF POWER PROBLEM, PERHAPS SOMETHING DRAINING THE BATTERY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10162038

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2006
Structure

TORN SUBFRAME WHERE REAR END IS SECURE TO CHASSIS SUBFRAME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160270

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.