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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
36Owner complaints

Model-year median: 23

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2001 BMW 3 Series

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 36 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Air Bags: 8 reports
  • Exterior Lighting: 8 reports
  • Electrical System: 6 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 4 reports
  • Power Train: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
19986
199988
200036
200126
200251
200377
2004
Compare all 3 Series years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
8Exterior Lighting
8Electrical System
6Fuel System, Gasoline
4Power Train
3
All reported categories
Suspension
3Wheels
3Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Service Brakes
2Structure
2Tires
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Steering
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Power Train complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
147,500 miles · May 24, 2014
Power Train

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. …

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10593919

216,000 miles · Apr 9, 2014
Power Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10578530

173,851 miles · Nov 15, 2011
Power Train

I WAS TRYING TO PARK AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THE CAR DID NOT MOVE BACKWARDS. MY CAR ROLLED FORWARD AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3 SERIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435660

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect 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.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.