2003 BMW 330I

◆ Worse than typical

2003 BMW 330I
RENDERED 2026-08-02T09:21:08.029Z

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

2003: 77 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1999	0
2000	0
2001	116
2002	45
2003	77
2004	113
2005	28
2006	219
2007	0
2008	0
2009	0
2010	0
2011	0
2017	41
2018	32
2019	38
2020	51
2021	28
2022	6
2023	2
2024	4
2025	4

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 34%

34% of complaints: exterior lighting — 26 distinct reports on file.

FIRE

Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20151009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330I. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TAILGATE LIGHT WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20110916

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE TAIL LIGHT SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ODI report, 20110418

AIR BAGS 31%

31% of complaints: air bags — 24 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH

Show complaint excerpts

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY HOUSE AND THE TRANSMISION STARTED SLIPPING AS WELL AS IT CATCHING AND BREAKING ONE OF THE AXLES LEAVING THE CAR TO BE STUCK NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE PERIOD SURELY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR GETTING...

NHTSA ODI report, 20200607

TAKATA RECALL I WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON 05/05/2017. I WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN.

NHTSA ODI report, 20170510

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT PANICKED AND CRASHED SIDEWAYS INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN.

NHTSA ODI report, 20141110

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%

9% of complaints: electrical system — 7 distinct reports on file.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6%

6% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 5 distinct reports on file.

TIRES 5%

5% of complaints: tires — 4 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2003 — complaint volume: 77

R 20030527 — visibility

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE WINDOW LIFTING ANTI-PINCHING DEVICE MIGHT NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE WINDOW LIFTING ANTI-PINCHING DEVICE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 27, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN

Campaign 03V160000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070402 — service brakes, hydraulic

CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD

Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.

Campaign 07E023000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20090408 — DP (closed 20090806)

REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION

I 20090807 — PE (closed 20091222)

REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION

I 20091218 — EA (closed 20110928)

Rear Lamp Illumination

R 20120215 — exterior lighting

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 325I, 325XI, 330I, AND 330XI VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2001, THROUGH MARCH 1, 2005. OVER TIME, RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY CA

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

Campaign 11V438000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20130809 — air bags

BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safe

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW intends to issue initial notifications to owners informing them of the safety defect in June 2013. Once replacement p

Campaign 13V172000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20141201 — air bags

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...

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.

Campaign 14V428000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160819 — air bags

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i...

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016.

Campaign 15V318000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20200213 — air bags

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...

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.

Campaign 20V018000 — check if this car was fixed