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
105,000 miles · Jul 13, 2008
Power Train
AFTER 105,000 MILES, THE MY 2000 BMW 323I SPORTS WAGON ALL OF A SUDDEN - AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING - "LOST" ITS REVERSE GEAR. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN CAREFULLY AND WELL-MAINTAINED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I QUICKLY LEARNED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OR OTHER CONSUMERS WITH YEAR 2000 3-SERIES BMW EXPERIENCING THE SA…
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AFTER 105,000 MILES, THE MY 2000 BMW 323I SPORTS WAGON ALL OF A SUDDEN - AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING - "LOST" ITS REVERSE GEAR. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN CAREFULLY AND WELL-MAINTAINED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I QUICKLY LEARNED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OR OTHER CONSUMERS WITH YEAR 2000 3-SERIES BMW EXPERIENCING THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY A BMW DEALERSHIP COSTS MORE THAN $6,000. APPARENTLY, A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE ZF TRANSMISSION (5HP19) IS TO BLAME FOR THE LOSS OF THE REAR GEAR, BUT BMW DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF A WIDESPREAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, NOR DO THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED - UNDER WHATEVER KIND OF WARRANTY. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED 2.5 YEARS AGO, I HAVE NO CHANCE TO HOLD BMW OR MY DEALERSHIP RESPONSIBLE, OR -AT LEAST- NEGOTIATE A MORE ACCEPTABLE RESOLUTION OF THE ZF 5HP19 TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234101
65,000 miles · Jul 10, 2008
Power Train
FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10233816
49,100 miles · Jul 7, 2008
Power Train
FAILURE TO GO IN REVERSE. NO WARNING. 49,000 MILES. FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10233376
65,138 miles · Jul 3, 2008
Power Train
I WAS FINISH FILL UP GAS TANK, THE GUY INFRONT OF ME STILL PUMPING, SO I ENGAGE THE REVERSE GEAR TO MOVE BACK, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST SIT THERE LIKE IT IS ON NEUTRAL; IT LOST ITS REVERSE GEAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, THEN I FOUND WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG EXCLUSIVE DEALING WITH 2000 323I THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REVERSE…
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I WAS FINISH FILL UP GAS TANK, THE GUY INFRONT OF ME STILL PUMPING, SO I ENGAGE THE REVERSE GEAR TO MOVE BACK, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST SIT THERE LIKE IT IS ON NEUTRAL; IT LOST ITS REVERSE GEAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, THEN I FOUND WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG EXCLUSIVE DEALING WITH 2000 323I THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REVERSE GEAR IS LOSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10233173
77,000 miles · Jun 29, 2008
Power Train
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. IT IS A 2000 BMW 323I WITH ONLY 77,000 MILES ON IT. I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, THE TRANSMISSION JUST GOING OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, BUT BMW DOESN…
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WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. IT IS A 2000 BMW 323I WITH ONLY 77,000 MILES ON IT. I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, THE TRANSMISSION JUST GOING OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, BUT BMW DOESN'T AGREE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND THEY NEED TO A DO A RECALL, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10232643
89,000 miles · Jun 18, 2008
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,500. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,000. UPDATED 07/15/08 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10231477
112,000 miles · Jun 17, 2008
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CAR SIMPLY WILL NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT BMW KNOWS ABOUT BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10231336
135,000 miles · Jun 10, 2008
Power Train
I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323I AUTOMATIC. THE REVERSE GEAR JUST STOPPED WORKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT SEEN ON MANY PLACES BY MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET. CHECK HTTP://WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG I HAD GONE TO WORK AND WHEN I REACHED THERE, I HAD TO REVERSE THE CAR INTO THE PARKING AT THIS IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT MY REVERSE NO LON…
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I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323I AUTOMATIC. THE REVERSE GEAR JUST STOPPED WORKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT SEEN ON MANY PLACES BY MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET. CHECK HTTP://WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG I HAD GONE TO WORK AND WHEN I REACHED THERE, I HAD TO REVERSE THE CAR INTO THE PARKING AT THIS IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT MY REVERSE NO LONGER WORKS. NHTSA: PLEASE ASK BMW TO DO A RECALL AS THIS IS AFFECTING HUNDREDS OF CONSUMERS WHO PURCHASED BMW BETWEEN 1999 AND 2002. BMW KNEW ABOUT THESE ISSUE AND CHOSE TO CONTINUE SELLING THESE VEHICLES WITHOUT CORRECTING THE KNOWN ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS FLAW AND AN UNETHICAL CONDUCT BY BMW NA.
NHTSA ODI #10230517
109,985 miles · Jun 3, 2008
EquipmentPower Train
I HAVE A BMW 323 CI AND I WAS MAKING A RUN TO THE STORE AND I COME BACK OUT AND TRY TO REVERSE AND MY CAR DIDN'T MOVE ANYWHERE BUT THE RPM'S WERE GOING, SO I LOST MY REVERSE GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10229792
90,450 miles · May 19, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. HE PLACED THE GEAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD. HE PLACED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE AGAIN AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHIC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. HE PLACED THE GEAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD. HE PLACED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE AGAIN AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND PUSHED IT INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SNAP RING FAILED OUT OF THE CLUTCH DRUM, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME DEFECT. HE BELIEVES THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,450. UPDATED 6/9/08 *CN
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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