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BMW 330xiYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 193 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls on record for the BMW 330xi.

BMW 330xi
Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints193Top: Air bagsSafety recalls141999–2011 model years

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

Best & worst years

BMW 330xi 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 330xi median. Tap a year for its full report.

'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2011Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2010Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2009Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2008Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2007Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2006Not rated–/100104 complaints · 6 recalls2005Not rated–/10012 complaints · 4 recalls2004Not rated–/10013 complaints · 4 recalls2003Not rated–/10033 complaints · 5 recalls2002Not rated–/10020 complaints · 5 recalls2001Not rated–/10011 complaints · 5 recalls2000Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1999Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common BMW 330xi problems

All model years combined: 193 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
Air bags1044
Electrical system314
Seat belts162
Exterior lighting120
Seats101
Steering90
Tires90
Engine and engine cooling91
Engine94
10 other systems221
14 recalls

BMW 330xi 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 drive77%Driver side: inflator module20V-017 · 2006–2011 · Jan 15, 2020 · 59,965 vehicles31%Emission control: crankcase (pcv)19V-273 · 2006 · Apr 4, 2019 · 184,505 vehicles29%Air bags14V-428 · 2001–2005 · Jun 11, 2018 · 574,007 vehiclesDo not drive50%Electrical system: wiring17V-676 · 2006–2011 · Oct 25, 2017 · 702,965 vehicles30%Sensor: occupant classification17V-428 · 2006 · Jul 6, 2017 · 2,158 vehicles32%Driver side: inflator module15V-318 · 2002–2005 · May 28, 2015 · 419,235 vehiclesDo not drive45%Sensor: occupant classification13V-564 · 2006 · Nov 12, 2013 · 76,565 vehicles–Air bags13V-172 · 2002–2003 · May 2, 2013 · 43,204 vehiclesDo not drive–Exterior lighting: brake lights11V-438 · 2002–2005 · Aug 26, 2011 · 241,000 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 14 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 330xi

  1. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · 2004–2005 · still open
    Led to recall 14V-668
  2. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · 2004–2005 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 13V-172
  3. Rear Lamp IlluminationEA09019 · 2002–2005 · closed Sep 28, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-438
  4. REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONPE09036 · 2002–2005 · closed Dec 22, 2009
    Led to recall 11V-438
  5. REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONDP09002 · 2002–2005 · closed Aug 6, 2009
    No recall