2000 BMW 3 Series recalls & problems

The 2000 BMW 3 Series has 1 safety recall and 88 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (36 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints88filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 21V401000 · May 27, 2021 · 4,511 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power train Automatic transmission; Axle assembly	36	0	0	0	100,000 mi
Structure Frame and members; Body	30	0	0	0	94,000 mi
Air bags Side/window	11	3	0	4	102,017 mi
Engine and engine cooling Cooling system	8	0	1	0	90,000 mi
Visibility Power window devices and controls; Sun/moon roof assembly	4	0	0	0	—
Suspension Rear	4	0	0	0	144,000 mi
Electrical system	4	0	1	0	162,500 mi
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting	2	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	0	—
Exterior lighting	2	0	0	0	—
Equipment Appliance › Air conditioner	1	0	0	0	—
Parking brake	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Oct 10, 2019 · 216,000 milesElectrical system
REAR LIGHTS . CLIP CONTACTS MELTING GROUND WIRE . PURCHASED LIGHTS AND CLIPS 3 TIMES AND MELTED AGAIN. LIGHTS INOPERABLE AFTER 2 WEEKS OF LIFE HARNESS MELTED . RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNINGS AND A TICKET I NOW HAVE TO PROVE REPAIR . RECALL FOUND FOR EVERY OTHER MODEL EXCEPT THE 323I 2000 . NOT SAFE TO HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS AVAILABLE . CAN'T DRIVE CAR IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS. CAN'T SELL CAR IN UNSAFE CONDITION
Nov 12, 2013 · 99,000 miles · crashAir bags
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WITH A TAKATA RECALL NOTICE. MY 2000 323I HAS A AIRBAG SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGE FROM THE REAR END PASSENGER SIDE. REPAIR WORK WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE DAMAGES.
Jul 23, 2016 · 2 injuriesAir bags
TAKATA RECALL!! I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH ON A REGULAR STREET I ALWAYS DRIVE ON AND MID DRIVE BOTH PASSANGER AND DRIVER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON!!!! CAUSING VERY SERIOUS INJURIES!! ALSO CAUSING MORE DAMAGE TO MY CAR!!!!
May 27, 2016 · 148,000 milesService brakes
THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK... THE TRANSMISSION- REVERSE HAS GONE OUT... AND THE RADIATOR HAS A SERIOUS LEAK... MAKES THE CAR RUN HOT!
Sep 9, 2014Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Sep 1, 2014 · 62,500 milesAir bags
RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM BMW USA FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 14V-428 (DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIR BAG) LAST SEPTEMBER 2014. AS OF TODAY'S DATE (MARCH 11, 2015), BMW USA HAS NOT INFORMED ME WHEN I CAN EXPECT THEM TO PERFORM THE WORK NEEDED TO RECTIFY THE DEFECTIVE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG. THEIR SUGGESTION THAT I OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IS LUDICROUS AND VIRTUALLY IMPRACTICAL. *TR
Sep 8, 2014Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Sep 4, 2014 · 91,000 milesPower train
WELL DOCUMENTED NO REVERSE ISSUE FOR BMW GM TRANSMISSION D-CLUTCH FRACTURE. *TR

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

EA02012 · opened Jul 15, 2002 · closed Jun 24, 2003 · led to recall 02V223000INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYME
THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CONTAINS PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC FOR DEPLOYING THE SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAGS.BMW REVISED THE MODULE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE SPAN OF THE MODEL YEARS 1999 THROUGH 2002 (IDENTIFIED AS MRS2.CA, MRS2.BB, MRS3, MRS3+ AND MRS4).ALTHOUGH MODEL YEAR 1999.5 VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB HAD 6.5% OF THE SUBJECT POPULATION, IT ACCOUNTED FOR 29% OF THE TOTAL REPORTS RECEIVED.THE MRS2.BB EXPOSURE ADJUSTED REPORT RATE WAS ALMOST 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN OTHER 3 SERIES AIR BAG MODULE VERSIONS.IN AUGUST 2002, BMW INITIATED A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 20,500 MODEL 323I AND 328I VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB (NHTSA RECALL # 02V223000).IN ADDITION TO EXPERIENCING A LOWER RATE OF NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENTS, MOST OF THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES ALSO SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT POTHOLE/CURB IMPACT WITH SOME HAVING ADDITIONAL UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT/SCRAPE OR SUSPENSION DAMAGE.SEE…
PE02011 · opened Jan 31, 2002 · closed Jul 15, 2002INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG