IllustrationTHE SUBFRAME IS SEPARATING FROM THE MAIN FRAME OF THE CAR. THIS IS COMPLETELY DANGEROUS AND NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE. SINCE THIS IS AN ENGINEERING FAULT (THERE ARE MANY OTHER CASES IN THE SAME TYPE OF CAR) IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER BMW. *TR
2000 BMW 323CI
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 323CI years →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
00–25K
025–50K
350–75K
375–100K
8100–150K
8150K+
22 reports with mileage · 9 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 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
31 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 328CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A LOUD NOISED EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT RESUMED WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS SEVERE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 328CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A LOUD NOISED EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT RESUMED WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS SEVERELY CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,500.
CAR WONT LOCK OR UNLOCK DOORS. KEY FOB WONT WORK DOORS WONT OPEN CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM WONT WORK ALARM WONT WORK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
AFTER STOPPING AT A STORE FOR GROCERIES I RETURNED TO MY CAR AND THE REVERSE GEAR HAD FAILED. AFTER A WEB SEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR FAILURES AND NO ACTION TO DATE THAT I CAN FIND. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ALL OF US. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN ENGAGED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPUTER BOARD SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN ENGAGED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPUTER BOARD SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,546.
WELL I HAD STOPPED TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT AFTER WORK . AS I WAS LEAVING TO GET IN MY CAR,I TURNED ON MY ENGINE AN PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND I GOT NO RESPONSE..I HERE THIS IS AN ONGOING ALMOST INEVITABLE PROBLEM WITH ALL 3 SERIES BMW. I STRONGLY FEEL A RECALL IS NEEDED...
OVER THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINS FROM MANY OWNERS. WEBSITE IS CREATED SO THAT OWNERS CAN SHARE THEIR DISAPPOINTMENTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE VISIT HTTP://NOREVERSE.ORG/ . *TR
THE REAR SUSPENSION IS SEPARATING AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE BODY. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY BMW. THERE HAS BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BUT IT HAS EXPIRED AND BMW IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THE REPAIRS. THIS HAS POSED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE THE CAR SUSPENSION CAN ACTUALLY BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE BODY. *TR
2000 BMW 323CI. CONSUMER STATES REVERSE DID NOT ENGAGE AND WOULD NOT WORK *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A DUAL TRANSMISSION (STEP TRONIC). *JB
Official recalls
421V401000 · 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.
20V018000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 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 & remedy
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.
19V852000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Nov 26, 2019
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.
Consequence & remedy
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 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.
19V853000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Nov 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 & remedy
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.