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2000 BMW 323I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

298 reports with mileage · 103 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 235 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports2 fire reports17 injury reports

What owners actually said

401 reports
111,000 miles · Apr 1, 2009
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

A YEAR AGO, MY GAS GAUGE SENSOR WENT OUT. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT. TODAY, MY 2000 BMW 323I HAS 111,000 MILES ON IT AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT DRIVE IN ANY GEAR WITHOUT A GRINDING SOUND. I ALMOST GOT KILLED BY A CAR BEHIND ME BECAUSE I COULD SUDDENLY NOT ACCELERATE AT A STOP LIGHT AND I HAD TO GET OUT TO PUSH THE …

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A YEAR AGO, MY GAS GAUGE SENSOR WENT OUT. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT. TODAY, MY 2000 BMW 323I HAS 111,000 MILES ON IT AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT DRIVE IN ANY GEAR WITHOUT A GRINDING SOUND. I ALMOST GOT KILLED BY A CAR BEHIND ME BECAUSE I COULD SUDDENLY NOT ACCELERATE AT A STOP LIGHT AND I HAD TO GET OUT TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY. WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE CAR WOULD DRIVE, BUT ONLY WHEN IT WAS WARM. NOW IT IS COMPLETELY INOP. THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED! IT WOULD COST ME OVER $4000 TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I STILL OVER $6000 ON THE CAR. DESPITE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2000 BMW 323I TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BMW REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. I CURRENTLY HAVE NO OPERABLE VEHICLE AND I STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN MY AUTO LOAN PAYMENTS AND FIND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION TO WORK. I HAVE SPENT OVER $3500 IN ADDITIONAL REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE ON BRAKES, NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER SENSORS, TRAILING ARM, BALL BEARINGS, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263920

42,290 miles · Mar 31, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE A BMW 323I THAT I BOUGHT NEW BACK IN 2000. THIS HAS BEEN A SECONDARY CAR THAT I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. RECENTLY, AT 43,000 MILES AS I WAS TRYING TO REVERSE, THE CAR JUST IDLED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. ONCE I PUSHED IT OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE IT WOULD DRIVE FORWARD ONLY. NO WARNING WHATSOEVER ON THE DASH. UPO…

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I HAVE A BMW 323I THAT I BOUGHT NEW BACK IN 2000. THIS HAS BEEN A SECONDARY CAR THAT I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. RECENTLY, AT 43,000 MILES AS I WAS TRYING TO REVERSE, THE CAR JUST IDLED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. ONCE I PUSHED IT OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE IT WOULD DRIVE FORWARD ONLY. NO WARNING WHATSOEVER ON THE DASH. UPON FURTHER REVIEW OF THIS ISSUE I FOUND A WEBSITE CALLED NOREVERSE.ORG. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR THAT BMW DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THE CAR IS BEYOND WARRANTY THEY CAN'T HELP ME. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE COMPLAINT WEBSITE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY AREN'T WILLING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART WITHOUT A DOUBT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263751

167,000 miles · Mar 22, 2009
Power Train

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO MY CARS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE REVERSE FAILED ABRUPTLY AND NOW WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR AROUND THREE YEARS AND IT WAS FINE UNTIL IT HIT AROUND 167,000 MILES. I HAVE NOT HAD THE MONEY TO FIX THE PROBLEM SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX IT. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE ONLY SO…

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THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO MY CARS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE REVERSE FAILED ABRUPTLY AND NOW WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR AROUND THREE YEARS AND IT WAS FINE UNTIL IT HIT AROUND 167,000 MILES. I HAVE NOT HAD THE MONEY TO FIX THE PROBLEM SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX IT. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262723

110,000 miles · Mar 16, 2009
Power Train

HELLO- I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323CI. RECENTLY, THE REVERSE FUNCTION SIMPLY FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WAS NO EVENT THAT LED UP TO THIS FAILURE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS (HUNDREDS) OF ARTICLES/COMMENTS ON THE NET OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCES DIFFICULTIES WITH THE REVERSE FUNCTION OF THIS MODEL CAR - RELATED TO THE ZF5HP19 TRANSMISSIO…

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HELLO- I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323CI. RECENTLY, THE REVERSE FUNCTION SIMPLY FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WAS NO EVENT THAT LED UP TO THIS FAILURE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS (HUNDREDS) OF ARTICLES/COMMENTS ON THE NET OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCES DIFFICULTIES WITH THE REVERSE FUNCTION OF THIS MODEL CAR - RELATED TO THE ZF5HP19 TRANSMISSION BUILD. THERE MUST BE SOME HELP TO BE PROVIDED FOR WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A RECALL-WORTHY MALFUNCTION. PLEASE HELP. *TR ANDR BEARFIELD

NHTSA ODI #10262085

66,151 miles · Mar 12, 2009
Power Train

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2000 BMW 323 WAGON, AFTER HAVING TRAVELED ONLY 66,151 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I PURCHASED THE CAR AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED BMW IN 2002 FROM WINLSOW BMW OF COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND PROFESSIONALLY SERVICED. FOLLOWING THE REVERSE TR…

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THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2000 BMW 323 WAGON, AFTER HAVING TRAVELED ONLY 66,151 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I PURCHASED THE CAR AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED BMW IN 2002 FROM WINLSOW BMW OF COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND PROFESSIONALLY SERVICED. FOLLOWING THE REVERSE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, GAULT BMW OF ENDICOTT NY (NEAREST TO ME NOW) OFFERED THAT THERE WERE NO "OPEN CAMPAIGNS" TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND ESTIMATED (OVER THE PHONE) THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST BETWEEN $4,000-6,000 AT THEIR DEALERSHIP. GAULT BMW'S SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED A SPECIFIC LOCAL INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AS A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE. THE REPAIR COST ME $3,246.18. I WAS WITHOUT THE USE OF THE CAR FROM 13 DEC 08 TO 14 JAN 09. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261637

117,915 miles · Mar 10, 2009
Power Train

I PROCEEDED INTO A PARKING LOT AREA. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN FRONT OF THE OPEN PARKING SPOT AND BEGAN TO BACK INTO POSITION WHEN I DETERMINED THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE IN REVERSE. I PARKED THE VEHICLE, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND IT WOULD STILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE OPERATES NORMA…

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I PROCEEDED INTO A PARKING LOT AREA. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN FRONT OF THE OPEN PARKING SPOT AND BEGAN TO BACK INTO POSITION WHEN I DETERMINED THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE IN REVERSE. I PARKED THE VEHICLE, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND IT WOULD STILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE OPERATES NORMALLY IN FORWARD DRIVE CONDITION. UPON RESEARCH OF THIS MATTER, MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261419

82,500 miles · Mar 4, 2009
Power Train

THE REVERSE GEAR OF MY 2000 BMW 323I WAGON WILL ENGAGE ONLY WITH NO ACCELERATION. OTHER GEARS WORK FINE. TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR JUST REVS THE ENGINE. REPAIR SHOP HAS TOLD ME THAT MY REVERSE DRUM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH WILL REQUIRE OVER 17 HOURS OF TRANSMISSION WORK - ABOUT $2500. I ONLY HAVE 82,000 MI…

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THE REVERSE GEAR OF MY 2000 BMW 323I WAGON WILL ENGAGE ONLY WITH NO ACCELERATION. OTHER GEARS WORK FINE. TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR JUST REVS THE ENGINE. REPAIR SHOP HAS TOLD ME THAT MY REVERSE DRUM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH WILL REQUIRE OVER 17 HOURS OF TRANSMISSION WORK - ABOUT $2500. I ONLY HAVE 82,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260676

132,000 miles · Feb 23, 2009
Power Train

I PURCHASED A 2000 USED BMW 323I WITH THE SPORTS PACKAGE AND STEPTRONIC. THE REVERSE WENT OUT AT 132K MILES LAST NIGHT. I HAVE SEEN A GREAT DEAL OF COMPLAINTS AND WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND A RECALL. HTTP://WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG/COMPLAINTS.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259716

132,000 miles · Feb 22, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323I WITH 132K MILES ON IT. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S REPORTED THIS ISSUE, MY REVERSE GEAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS TRYING TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT. NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER AUDIBLE INDICATORS OF FAILURE. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I TRIED TO GO INTO REVERSE. DRIVE WORKS …

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I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323I WITH 132K MILES ON IT. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S REPORTED THIS ISSUE, MY REVERSE GEAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS TRYING TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT. NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER AUDIBLE INDICATORS OF FAILURE. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I TRIED TO GO INTO REVERSE. DRIVE WORKS JUST FINE, BUT I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259571

35,000 miles · Feb 17, 2009
Power Train

WELL KNOWN, YET UNACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM WITH BMW 3 SERIES' TRANSMISSIONS. THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH A FAILURE TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE. THE SOLUTION IS TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WITH A COST OF OVER $5000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258927

Official recalls

7

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.

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.

14V428000 · Air Bags

Jun 11, 2018

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

02V223000 · Air Bags:side/window

Aug 9, 2002

ON CERTAIN 4-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM COULD DEPLOY IN CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS, SUCH AS WHEN CONTACTING LARGE POTHOLES OR CURBS AT SUBSTANTIAL SPEEDS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE SIDE AIR BAG AND HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM TO DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACTUAL SIDE CRASH OR IMPACT SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAG COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF THE OCCUPANT'S HEAD IS RESTING NEAR THE SIDE AIR BAG.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE CENTRAL AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 25, 2002. 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.

00V048000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 17, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WITH AN IMPROVED SWITCH.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.