Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports5 fire reports2 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

1 reports

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Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2001

Fuel System, GasolineFuel System, OtherFire

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A BMWXI SPORTS WAGON WITH ONE MONTH SERVICE DEVELOPED A FUEL OVERFLOW ONTO THE CEMENT FLOOR OF A GARAGE ATTACHED TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. THE FUEL GAUGE READ ZERO WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON.EVEN THOUGH THE TANK HAD JUST BEEN FILLED. THE WIRES FROM THE FUEL TANK (SENDER) TO THE GAUGE IN THE PASSANGER COMPARTMENT WERE SEVERED ABOVE THE TANK BY RODENTS WHO HAD LEFT THEIR NEST ON THE TOP OF THE TANK. THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE GIVING MICE OR RATS ACCESS THROUGH THE UNDERCARRIAGE. A FIRE DANGER EXISTED IN THE GARAGE AS A DRIVER HAD ATTEMPED TO FILL TWICE TO EXTINGUISH THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE FUEL GAUGE. RESULTING IN THE VOLITAL EXPANSION AND OVERFLOW OF GAS. TOWING SERVICE REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO INSPECT .AND ALLOW TRANSPORT. THUS THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS 1) THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENTIRE CAR NEEDS REPLACING (SOLDER AND TAPE ARE NOT ADEQUATE. 2) THE PORTAL OF ENTRY TO THE WIRING THAT WAS CUT MUST BE CLOSED TO RODENTS. THIS IS SERIOUS, SOLDERED WIRES MAY DEVELOPE COLD NON CONDUCTING JOINTS IN THE TEMPERATURE CYCLE, THUS CAUSING ANOTHER SPILLAGE OF GAS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AT HOME AND EVEN DESTRUCTION OF A HOUSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #752738

Official recalls

19V698000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Oct 2, 2019

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 325i and 325xi Sedan, and 323Ci, 325Ci, and 330Ci Convertible vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles that may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. The frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and 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: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion of previous recalls, numbers 17V-047 and 19V-015.

17V047000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 20, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. 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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.