Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
130–25K
2525–50K
5950–75K
8175–100K
86100–150K
34150K+
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
65,000 miles · Nov 19, 2008
Power Train
THE REVERSE GEAR ON MY 2000 323I BMW STOPPED WORKING. IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL INSTEAD. ALL THE OTHER GEARS WORK EXCEPT REVERSE. I ONLY HAVE 65,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND HAVE BEEN TOLD I MAY NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. A NEW TRANSMISSION AT 65,000 MILES IS RIDICULOUS. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND MY DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY THEY HAV…
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THE REVERSE GEAR ON MY 2000 323I BMW STOPPED WORKING. IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL INSTEAD. ALL THE OTHER GEARS WORK EXCEPT REVERSE. I ONLY HAVE 65,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND HAVE BEEN TOLD I MAY NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. A NEW TRANSMISSION AT 65,000 MILES IS RIDICULOUS. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND MY DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS, YET IF YOU DO A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH ON BMW REVERSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, IT IS A VERY COMMON ONE. I DO NOT THINK IT'S FAIR TO PAY FOR A "LEMON" TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249313
79,000 miles · Nov 17, 2008
Power Train
REVERSE STOPPED WORKING IN CAR. KNOWN ISSUE IN THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. BMW DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT TO. CHECK OUT WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG - EVERYONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249055
81,000 miles · Nov 17, 2008
Power Train
MY CAR SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING HAS NO REVERSE. AS I LOOKED ONLINE I NOTICED THOUSANDS OF OTHER BMW OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. NOREVERSE.ORG HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR ME TO IDENTIFY MANY OWNERS ACROSS THE STATES WITH THE NO REVERSE ISSUE. I CAN ONLY HOPE THE NHTSA WILL HELP US HOLD BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR SUCH POORLY PRODUCED CR…
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MY CAR SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING HAS NO REVERSE. AS I LOOKED ONLINE I NOTICED THOUSANDS OF OTHER BMW OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. NOREVERSE.ORG HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR ME TO IDENTIFY MANY OWNERS ACROSS THE STATES WITH THE NO REVERSE ISSUE. I CAN ONLY HOPE THE NHTSA WILL HELP US HOLD BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR SUCH POORLY PRODUCED CRAFTMENSHIP IN THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249013
51,000 miles · Nov 5, 2008
Power Train
BMW 2000 YEAR 323 DOES NOT GO IN REVERSE. GLOBAL IMPORTS BMW IN ATLANTA SAYS THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST $5800. THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT BY BMW BUT THEY WILL NOT RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE CAR OR REPAIR THIS TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10247732
106,000 miles · Oct 30, 2008
Power Train
I DROVE TO WORK THIS MORNING AND UPON LEAVING WORK MY CAR JUST WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. I THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE MY CAR TO BMW TOMORROW AND HAVE THEM CHECK IT. AFTER GETTING HOME I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THAT BMW HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT WILL COST AS MUCH AS …
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I DROVE TO WORK THIS MORNING AND UPON LEAVING WORK MY CAR JUST WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. I THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE MY CAR TO BMW TOMORROW AND HAVE THEM CHECK IT. AFTER GETTING HOME I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THAT BMW HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT WILL COST AS MUCH AS THE CAR WORTH TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I LOST MY FULL-TIME JOB RECENTLY BECAUSE OF THE BAD ECONOMY AND THERE IS NO WAY I CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AT THIS MOMENT. I DEMAND FROM BMW TO PUT A RECALL ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SHOULD BE THEIR UTMOST PRIORITY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10247225
107,000 miles · Oct 14, 2008
Power Train
I OWN A 2000 BMW 323I AND IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 100K MILES. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. I HAVE READ REVIEWS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY BECAUSE BMW PRODUCED THEIR 3 SERIOUS CAR WITH A GM TRANSMISSION AND DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT LASTING MATERIAL…
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I OWN A 2000 BMW 323I AND IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 100K MILES. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. I HAVE READ REVIEWS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY BECAUSE BMW PRODUCED THEIR 3 SERIOUS CAR WITH A GM TRANSMISSION AND DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT LASTING MATERIALS. THIS SHOULD BE FRAUD AND BMW SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10245481
121,000 miles · Oct 10, 2008
Power TrainCrashInjury
LAST WEEK OCT 1 PARK MY CAR AT WORK, AFTER WORK I TRIED TO BACK UP THE CAR AND NO REVERSE. FORWARD GEARS ALL WORK. HAD TO ASK TWO OF THE COWORKS TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE STALL. SINCE THAT INCIDENT I LOST THE REVERSE GEAR ON THREE OCCASIONS ON A TOTAL OF 6 SHORT DRIVING TRIPS. ONE TIME OF THE THREE OCCASIONS I HIT ANOTHER C…
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LAST WEEK OCT 1 PARK MY CAR AT WORK, AFTER WORK I TRIED TO BACK UP THE CAR AND NO REVERSE. FORWARD GEARS ALL WORK. HAD TO ASK TWO OF THE COWORKS TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE STALL. SINCE THAT INCIDENT I LOST THE REVERSE GEAR ON THREE OCCASIONS ON A TOTAL OF 6 SHORT DRIVING TRIPS. ONE TIME OF THE THREE OCCASIONS I HIT ANOTHER CAR WHEN I SHIFTED TO REVERSE BUT IT DIDN'T ENGAGE AND ROLLED DOWN THE HILL HITTING THE CAR THAT'S 20 FEET BEHIND ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10245031
52,000 miles · Oct 3, 2008
Power Train
REVERSE WENT OUT IN MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 323I YESTERDAY, HAD IT DIAGNOSED AT A REPAIR SHOP AND SAID THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, I ONLY HAVE 52,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER READING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT BMW DENIES. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10244333
85,000 miles · Oct 1, 2008
Power Train
BMW 323 CI REVERSE STOPPED WORKING. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD STOP DRIVING IT BEFORE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION BLOWS. I HAVEN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE COST OF REPAIR IS MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD SO I HAVE IT GARAGED FOR THE TIME BEING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10244092
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2008
Power Train
PLEASE SITE NOREVERSE.ORG FOR A FULL LIST OF COMPLAINTS. RIGHT BEFORE MY CAR HIT THE 100,000 MILE MARK MY REVERSE WENT OUT. IT WILL STILL GO INTO REVERSE HOWEVER THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. *TR
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2000 BMW 323I Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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