IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE REVERSE GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
2001 BMW 330I
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 330I 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
50–25K
625–50K
1150–75K
1275–100K
16100–150K
13150K+
63 reports with mileage · 53 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 →
- Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports
Power Train complaints
23 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE D-G CLUTCH DRUM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE D-G CLUTCH DRUM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.... UPDATED 03/08/13 *BF UPDATED 03/27/2013 *JS UPDATED 04/18/13*LJ
NO WARNING LIGHT. PUT IN REVERSE AND I HEARD A POP NOISE. I THOUGHT MY STUFF WAS MOVING IN TRUNK. PUT IN GEAR AND DROVE. WHEN I CAME TO FULL STOP AND TRY TO REVERSE. IT DOESN'T WORK. MORE LIKE REVERSE WAS IN NEUTRAL. ALL OTHER GEAR IS FINE EXCEPT REVERSE. I HAVE A BMW 330I SEDAN, 2001 3L. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. I BEEN DRIVI…
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NO WARNING LIGHT. PUT IN REVERSE AND I HEARD A POP NOISE. I THOUGHT MY STUFF WAS MOVING IN TRUNK. PUT IN GEAR AND DROVE. WHEN I CAME TO FULL STOP AND TRY TO REVERSE. IT DOESN'T WORK. MORE LIKE REVERSE WAS IN NEUTRAL. ALL OTHER GEAR IS FINE EXCEPT REVERSE. I HAVE A BMW 330I SEDAN, 2001 3L. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. I BEEN DRIVING ON AND OFF WITH THIS CAR FOR 4 YEARS SINCE GAS IS EXPENSIVE. NOW IT COMPLETELY DIED. THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I HEARD SEPTONIC TRANSMISSION ARE MADE BY GM. *TR
THE METAL STRAP THAT SUPPORTS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK JUST BROKE OFF. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND HEARD A POP SOUND AND THEN METAL GRINDING AND JUMPING AROUND (LIKE A NEEDLE ON A SCRATCHED RECORD/ A CD) THE BRACKET TO WHICH THE FORWARD END OF THIS STRAP MOUNTED TO THE UNDERBODY BROKE FREE LEAVING A GASH LIKE TE…
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THE METAL STRAP THAT SUPPORTS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK JUST BROKE OFF. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND HEARD A POP SOUND AND THEN METAL GRINDING AND JUMPING AROUND (LIKE A NEEDLE ON A SCRATCHED RECORD/ A CD) THE BRACKET TO WHICH THE FORWARD END OF THIS STRAP MOUNTED TO THE UNDERBODY BROKE FREE LEAVING A GASH LIKE TEAR ON THE UNDERBODY. I AM HAVING THE CAR SERVICED FOR REPAIRS, BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE PARTS DEPARTMENT DIDN'T HAVE ANY FIXABLE SOLUTION FOR THE MISHAP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD DO WAS TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP TO HAVE A FABRICATED PIECE MADE. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS INCIDENT AND FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER BMW OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME INCIDENT. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THE LOSS OF REVERSE. THE DRIVE GEAR SEEMS TO BE FINE; HOWEVER, THE REVERSE IS NOT OPERATING. I AM NOW LOOKING INTO HAVING IT SERVICED FOR THAT ISSUE AS WELL. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DID TELL ME THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN CAMPAIGN ON THE TRANSMISSION (THOUGH THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT IT WAS ONLY FOR PROGRAMMING ISSUES). I HAD ALSO FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHER BMW OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE AS WELL. I KNOW THAT THEY HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE TWO TYPES OF TRANSMISSION (THE GM AND THE ZF TRANSMISSION). THERE WAS A MENTION THAT IT COULD BE A FAULTY SOLENOID OR THE REVERSE DRUM HAS BROKEN/ SHREDDED. NONE THE LESS YOU CAN PLACE INTO "REVERSE" AND GIVE IT GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS NO MOVEMENT UNLESS YOU PLACE INTO "DRIVE." MY CAR DOES HAVE THE STEPTRONIC FEATURE.
2001 330I BMW. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH REVERSE IN TRANSMISSION. *TGW
MY 2001 BMW 330I STOPPED GOING IN REVERSE LAST WEDNESDAY. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AS I WAS VERY SUPRISED TO SEE DOZENS OF WEBSITES DEDICATED TO THIS NO REVERSE ISSUE. HOW COME THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS COMMON FAILURE? *KB
REVERSE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING. ALL OTHER FORWARD GEARS WORK FINE - (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). BASED ON A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 3 SERIES BMW'S. *TR
I OWN AN AUTOMATIC 2001 BMW 330I. I HAVE HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ON MARCH 28, 2010, I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE (2 MINUTES LATER - WITHOUT STOPPING THE ENGINE) THE CAR DID NOT MOVE BACKWARDS. I PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE CAR, WAIT AND PUT IT BACK INTO REVERSE AND PRESSED ON …
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I OWN AN AUTOMATIC 2001 BMW 330I. I HAVE HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ON MARCH 28, 2010, I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE (2 MINUTES LATER - WITHOUT STOPPING THE ENGINE) THE CAR DID NOT MOVE BACKWARDS. I PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE CAR, WAIT AND PUT IT BACK INTO REVERSE AND PRESSED ON THE GAS. THE VEHICLE REV'S UP BUT DOES NOT MOVE AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE IT SEEMS THE 2001 330I POWER TRAIN IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS EVEN WITH ALL MAINTENANCE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR
NOTHING LED TO THE PROBLEM BUT MY BMW REVERSE STOPPED WORKING. LAST FALL THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED PER RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. NO REVERSE HAS STOPPED WORKING. *TR
NOTHING HAPPENED LEADING UP TO MY TRANSMISSION WON'T GO INTO REVERSE. IT JUST FAILED AND WON'T ENGAGE. FOUND OUT THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY ON BMW TRANSMISSION. *LN
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.
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.
02V138000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
May 16, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A RECALL THAT BEGAN DURING SEPTEMBER 2001 (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V206). 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.
01V206000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Jun 21, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. 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.
00V383000 · Wheels:rim
Nov 20, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE MACHINE USED TO MOUNT AND INFLATE THE TIRES ON THE WHEELS AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE INNER RIM FLANGE OF THE WHEELS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR FROM THE TIRE AFFECTING HANDLING AND VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FIVE WHEELS FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGE. IF DAMAGE FROM THE MOUNTING MACHINE IS FOUND ON ANY WHEEL, ALL FIVE WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED.
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.