MYRModel Year Report

2004 BMW 330I

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2004 BMW 330I
RENDERED 2026-11-01T17:00:01.520Z

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
113
Recalls
5

Campaigns on file for 2004

Investigations
6

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Exterior lighting

78% of complaints

Complaints per year

2001: 116 complaints 2001 2002: 45 complaints 2003: 77 complaints 2004: 113 complaints 2004 113 2005: 28 complaints 2006: 219 complaints 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2008: 0 complaints 2009: 0 complaints 2010: 0 complaints 2010 2011: 0 complaints 2017: 42 complaints 2018: 32 complaints 2018 2019: 41 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2021: 29 complaints 2021 2022: 6 complaints 2023: 4 complaints 2024: 6 complaints 2024 2025: 6 complaints 2026: 1 complaint
2001: 116 complaints 2001 2002: 45 complaints 2003: 77 complaints 2004: 113 complaints 2004 113 2005: 28 complaints 2006: 219 complaints 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2008: 0 complaints 2009: 0 complaints 2009 2010: 0 complaints 2011: 0 complaints 2011 2017: 42 complaints 2018: 32 complaints 2018 2019: 41 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2021: 29 complaints 2022: 6 complaints 2022 2023: 4 complaints 2024: 6 complaints 2024 2025: 6 complaints 2026: 1 complaint 2026
2001: 116 complaints 2001 2002: 45 complaints 2002 2003: 77 complaints 2003 2004: 113 complaints 2004 113 2005: 28 complaints 2005 2006: 219 complaints 2006 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2008: 0 complaints 2008 2009: 0 complaints 2009 2010: 0 complaints 2010 2011: 0 complaints 2011 2017: 42 complaints 2017 2018: 32 complaints 2018 2019: 41 complaints 2019 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2021: 29 complaints 2021 2022: 6 complaints 2022 2023: 4 complaints 2023 2024: 6 complaints 2024 2025: 6 complaints 2025 2026: 1 complaint 2026

2004: 113 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19990
20000
2001116
200245
200377
2004113
200528
2006219
20070
20080
20090
20100
20110
201742
201832
201941
202053
202129
20226
20234
20246
20256
20261

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Exterior lighting

78% · 88 reports

Most commonly citing headlights and turn signal.

CRASHFIRE
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, 2012-03-25

Also filed under Visibility and equipment adaptive/mobility

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, 2012-01-04

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, 2011-11-11

Air bags

18% · 20 reports
CRASHINJURY
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, 2026-06-25

Electrical system

9% · 10 reports
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, 2021-06-01

Visibility/wiper

6% · 7 reports

Visibility

4% · 4 reports

Most commonly citing interior.

CRASH

Safety timeline

5 recalls · 6 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2004Complaint volume 113 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. I
    2004-02-03Defect petitionClosed 2004-05-27 Delayed transmission engagement
  3. R
    2007-04-02Service brakes, hydraulic07E023000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    2009-04-08Defect petitionClosed 2009-08-06 Rear lamp illumination
  5. I
    2009-08-07Preliminary evaluationClosed 2009-12-22 Rear lamp illumination
  6. I
    2009-12-18Engineering analysisClosed 2011-09-28 Rear Lamp Illumination
  7. R
    2012-02-15Exterior lighting11V438000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  9. R
    2014-12-01Air bags14V428000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  11. R
    2016-08-19Air bags15V318000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2020-02-13Air bags20V018000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2004 BMW 330I — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Exterior lighting: 88 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 20 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 10 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 07E023000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 11V438000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 14V428000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V318000 · Air bags
  • Recall 20V018000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2004 BMW 330I reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 BMW 330I is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW 330I?
The most-reported component is exterior lighting, accounting for 78% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2004 BMW 330I have?
5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.