I PARKED THE CAR AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN TO DRIVE AWAY, I COULDN'T BACK UP AFTER PUTTING IT IN REVERSE. ENGINED REVVED BUT WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO PUSH CAR OUT OF PARKING SPACE. DEALER WANTS $ 5000.00 TO FIX, WHAT THEY SAY IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2000 BMW 328I'S.
2000 BMW 328I
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 BMW 328I do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 98.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 328I 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
76 reports with mileage · 36 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 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. 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.
Power Train complaints
27 reportsREAR DRIVER'S SIDE SUBFRAME MOUNT POINT FAILURE. THE CAR HAS GONE THROUGH CLASS ACTION SUIT IN 2009, AND WAS INSPECTED BY BMW IN 2010--WAS TOLD EVERYTHING IS OK AND IT WILL NOT FAIL SINCE ONLY ONES WITH VISIBLE DEFECT WILL FAIL. BUT MINE FAILED ANYWAY 5 YEARS LATER. THIS SHOWS EVEN IF THE DAMAGE/DEFECT IS NOT VISIBLE IT CAN MANI…
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REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SUBFRAME MOUNT POINT FAILURE. THE CAR HAS GONE THROUGH CLASS ACTION SUIT IN 2009, AND WAS INSPECTED BY BMW IN 2010--WAS TOLD EVERYTHING IS OK AND IT WILL NOT FAIL SINCE ONLY ONES WITH VISIBLE DEFECT WILL FAIL. BUT MINE FAILED ANYWAY 5 YEARS LATER. THIS SHOWS EVEN IF THE DAMAGE/DEFECT IS NOT VISIBLE IT CAN MANIFEST ITSELF AT ANY TIME. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH ON CITY STREETS GOING STRAIGHT, ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, SHIFTING GEARS FROM 2ND TO 3RD WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSIVE BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR WITH AN ALARMING JOLT THAT TRIGGERED AN INTERIAL LOCK ON SEATBELTS, MADE ALL OCCUPANTS SCREAM IN SHOCK AND CHILDREN CRYING. INSPECTION OF UNDERCARRIAGE REVEALED THAT THE FLOOR PAN WHERE THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUBFRAME ATTACHES TO HAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED, LEAVING DRIVER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME, DIFFERENTIAL, AND REAR AXLE FLOATING WITH CHUNKS OF SHEETMETAL FROM MOUNT POINT MISSING. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAILURE AND I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING THE CAR, AND THE ONLY REASON OF FAILURE IS DEFECT IN THE CAR. MECHANICS BELIEVE THIS FAILURE POSES SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD SAYING IT CAN EASILY SEPARATE THE REAR AXLE AND IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, THE SEPARATED REAR AXLE WILL PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE AND LOCK IT UP, IMMEDIATELY STOPPING THE CAR. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A FREEWAY IT CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC COLLISION INCIDENT, ENDANGERING LIVES. THEY WERE SHOCKED THE CAR WAS NEVER FORMALLY RECALLED FOR SAFETY. HUNDREDS OF CARS ARE AFFECTED AND THIS IS JUST ONE GLIMPSE OF THE EXTENT OF THE FAILURES: HTTP://FORUM.E46FANATICS.COM/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=16850066&POSTCOUNT=1473 IT IS APPALLING THAT SUCH DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT IS SO WELL-KNOWN AND PREVALENT IN 1999-2000 BMW 3 SERIES HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED TO MAKE BMW ACCOUNTABLE. REPAIR ESTIMATE MIN. $5000
MY CAR YEAR 2000, 328I YESTERDAY REVERSE WENT OUT LIKE ALL THE OTHERS, I DROVE IT FOR A WHILE AND TRIED IT, WORKED FOR THE WHOLE DAY, THIS MORNING TURNED IT ON REVERSE DID NOT WORK AGAIN, I CHECKED THE INTERNET FIND YOU GUYS AND OTHER SITES WITH CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, I CALLED THE BMW CORPORATION AND TALKED TO THEM FOR GET…
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MY CAR YEAR 2000, 328I YESTERDAY REVERSE WENT OUT LIKE ALL THE OTHERS, I DROVE IT FOR A WHILE AND TRIED IT, WORKED FOR THE WHOLE DAY, THIS MORNING TURNED IT ON REVERSE DID NOT WORK AGAIN, I CHECKED THE INTERNET FIND YOU GUYS AND OTHER SITES WITH CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, I CALLED THE BMW CORPORATION AND TALKED TO THEM FOR GETTING THEM TO PAY FOR THE OBVIOUS DEFECT THEY WENT THROUGH THERE BOOK, TO WHY MY CAR IS NOT RECALLED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM NEAR MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL. LIFTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD PULLED THE MOUNT FROM THE BODY CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND NEARLY SIDESWIPED A PERSON IN THE NEXT LANE. *TR
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. *TR
THE REVERSE GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN GEAR. ALL OTHER GEARS RESPOND. CANNOT MOVE CAR IN REVERSE. PROBLEM STARTED OCTOBER 2011. AT THIS TIME THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MOVED.
MY 382I WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE NOR FORWARD. THE BMW RICHMOND VA. ASKED FOR $2,695.56. TO REPAIR MY TRANSMISSION. I ORDER A USED TRANSMISSION FROM LKQ AFTERMARKET BY KEYSTONE BRING TO COST TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION AT BMW RICHMOND VA, TO $1,065..THE BMW DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY DAMAGED THE CAR REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING …
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MY 382I WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE NOR FORWARD. THE BMW RICHMOND VA. ASKED FOR $2,695.56. TO REPAIR MY TRANSMISSION. I ORDER A USED TRANSMISSION FROM LKQ AFTERMARKET BY KEYSTONE BRING TO COST TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION AT BMW RICHMOND VA, TO $1,065..THE BMW DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY DAMAGED THE CAR REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING A OIL LEAK..THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT THERE'S NO OIL IN MY CAR, BUT I CHECKED ANYWAY DO TO THE FACT I LIVE IN BROOKLYN NY AND HAD A LONG DRIVE..WHEN I PUT THE OIL IN THE CAR THE CAR SMOKED VERY BADLY AND I HAD TOWED BACK TO THE BMW RICHMOND DEALER AND THEY CHARGED ME ANOTHER $693.29 TO FIX THE PROBLEM.I FOUND OUT THAT BMW RICHMOND VA. NEVER REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION. ALSO THE CLAMPS THAT HOLD THE COOLING FAN WAS MISSING AND I WAS TOLD TO PAY THEM $475.00, TO REPLACE IT OR THE COOLING FAN WOULD JUMP INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING DEATH OR INJURY TO ME OR ANYONE AROUND THE CAR.I AM IN COURT ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SITUATION THEY PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN.. *TR
TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE HAS ALL LIGHTS LIT-UP EXCEPT THE DRIVE THOUGH DASHBOARD HAS D LIT UP. I KNOW I AM IN DRIVE MODE. NO PROBLEM DRIVING THE CAR. IT IS VERY CONFUSING AND DEFINITELY VERY CONCERNING. *TR
THIS MORNING I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE IN MY 2000 328I BMW AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE...NOTHING HAPPENED, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE WOULD REV UP WHILE APPLYING GAS PEDAL BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, GOT A RIDE TO WORK AND RETURNED 8 HOURS LATER. MY SON HELPED ME PUSH IT INT…
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THIS MORNING I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE IN MY 2000 328I BMW AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE...NOTHING HAPPENED, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE WOULD REV UP WHILE APPLYING GAS PEDAL BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, GOT A RIDE TO WORK AND RETURNED 8 HOURS LATER. MY SON HELPED ME PUSH IT INTO STREET BECAUSE DRIVE STILL WORKED. I DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK THEN PULLED IN FRONT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO PUSH IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND TRIED REVERSE.......AMAZINGLY REVERSE WORKED. I LOOKED-UP THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS SETTLED IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN NJ IN 2008, CASE 2:07-CV-05755-DMC-MF. APPARENTLY THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR
Official recalls
721V401000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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