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BMW 323iYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 563 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls on record for the BMW 323i.

BMW 323i
Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints563Top: Power trainSafety recalls121998–2011 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: OSX, Public domain.

Best & worst years

BMW 323i years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 323i median. Tap a year for its full report.

'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2011Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls2010Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls2009Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2008Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls2007Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls2006Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2005Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2004Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2003Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2002Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2001Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls2000Not rated–/100401 complaints · 7 recalls1999Not rated–/100136 complaints · 7 recalls1998Not rated–/10016 complaints · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common BMW 323i problems

All model years combined: 563 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train27010
Air bags12527
Structure432
Electrical system266
Visibility220
Suspension190
Latches/locks/linkages191
Tires173
Vehicle speed control121
17 other systems8413
12 recalls

BMW 323i recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

19%Air bags: frontal24V-513 · 2006–2011 · Jul 3, 2024 · 394,029 vehicles42%Driver side: inflator module21V-401 · 1999–2001 · May 27, 2021 · 4,511 vehicles42%Passenger side: inflator module20V-018 · 2000–2005 · Jan 15, 2020 · 292,948 vehiclesDo not drive8%Driver side: inflator module19V-851 · 1999 · Nov 26, 2019 · 7,910 vehiclesDo not drive6%Driver side: inflator module19V-852 · 1999–2000 · Nov 26, 2019 · 34,396 vehicles9%Driver side: inflator module19V-853 · 1999–2001 · Nov 26, 2019 · 74,185 vehicles29%Air bags14V-428 · 2000 · Jun 11, 2018 · 574,007 vehiclesDo not drive50%Electrical system: wiring17V-676 · 2006–2011 · Oct 25, 2017 · 702,965 vehicles–Air bags: side/window02V-223 · 1999–2000 · Aug 9, 2002 · 20,500 vehicles–Brake lights: switch00V-048 · 2000 · Feb 17, 2000 · 17,700 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages99V-100 · 1999 · May 3, 1999 · 31,067 vehicles–Air bags: side/window99V-063 · 1999 · Mar 26, 1999 · 34,701 vehicles