2004 BMW 330I

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2004 BMW 330I
RENDERED 2026-08-02T09:21:01.243Z

This year had more than double the complaints of 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

2004: 113 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 71%

71% of complaints: exterior lighting — 80 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE

Show complaint excerpts

HEADLIGHTS OF 2004 BMW 330I WITH XENONS ARE MADE BY MANUFACTURING COMPANY "ZKW" AND BOUND TO FAIL. VISIBILITY AND LIGHT OUTPUT BECOMES EXTREMELY POOR, THAT YOU MUST DRIVE AROUND WITH EXTRA LIGHTS, OR HIGH BEAMS ON.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120325

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HE NOTICED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED WITH AN INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF BRIGHTNESS.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120104

I OWN A 2004 BMW 330I M-PERFORMANCE EDITION. MY HEADLIGHTS ARE MANUFACTURED BY A COMPANY CALLED ZKW. I AM CANADIAN AND MY CAR IS A CANADIAN CAR BUT THE FAULTY PART IN QUESTION IS COMMON TO BOTH US-SPEC AND CDN-SPEC BMW 3-SERIES.

NHTSA ODI report, 20111111

AIR BAGS 18%

18% of complaints: air bags — 20 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

The contact owns a 2004 BMW 330. The contact stated while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the front center of the vehicle crashed into the front center of another vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated.

NHTSA ODI report, 20260625

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%

9% of complaints: electrical system — 10 distinct reports on file.

FIRE

Show complaint excerpts

Two hours after I got to work one of my coworkers came running in the backroom, And told me my car was on fire.

NHTSA ODI report, 20210601

VISIBILITY/WIPER 6%

6% of complaints: visibility/wiper — 7 distinct reports on file.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4%

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

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2004 — complaint volume: 113

I 20040203 — DP (closed 20040527)

DELAYED TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT

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

I 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

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

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

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