2000 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 88 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2000 reports, 3 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleMay 27, 2021
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V-851, 19V852, or 19V-853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 21V401000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling
8 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jan 26, 2012
THE REVERSE GEAR STOP WORKING. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jan 21, 2012
THE CAR TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. THE ISSUE HAPPENS SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING, AND ACTS EXACTLY AS IF YOU WERE IN NEUTRAL GEAR. THERE IS A DEDICATED SITE CALLED HTTP://WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG THAT DOCUMENTS THOUSANDS OF CASES FROM BMW OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ITS TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES 1999-2003 HAVE THIS ISSUE, BUT FAILS TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE ON THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IN NOVEMBER, I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY NORMALLY TO DRIVE TO WORK. WHEN I ARRIVE AT WORK AND ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE INTO THE SPACE, THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACT THIS WAY. ALL OTHER GEARS WORK NORMAL (MEANING IT DRIVES FINE FORWARD), IT IS JUST THAT YOU CANNOT ENGAGE REVERSE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Nov 26, 2011
THE CAR WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Sep 13, 2011
MY 2000 3 SERIES BMW HAS STOPPED GOING IN REVERSE. AT ALL. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AS I WAS IN TRAFFIC YESTERDAY AT A RED LIGHT WHEN A SEMI TRUCK TURNED THE CORNER IN FRONT OF ME AND NEEDED ME TO BACK UP. I WAS STUCK BEHIND A VAN THAT WAS ABLE TO GO IN REVERSE AND OF COURSE EXPECTED ME TO FOLLOW SUIT, AND I COULDN'T! I'VE BEEN READING ONLINE AND ALL OVER THE WORLD PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH THIS PARTICULAR SERIES OF BMW. I'VE ONLY HAD MY CAR A YEAR. IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 100K MILES ON IT. I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT AFFORD THE 3-5K IT WILL COST TO REPLACE IT. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. PLEASE HAVE THIS RECALLED BEFORE IT TURNS INTO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEBACLE. IT'S NOT FAIR. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Aug 4, 2011
REVERSE GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. CAR ACTS AS IF IT IS NEUTRAL, ENGINE JUST REVS. CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. WAS SURPRISED TO FIND IT IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MODEL, AND THAT THERE IS A WEBSITE DEVOTED TO THE PROBLEM (NOREVERSE.ORG). ALSO LEARNED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR CADILLACS THAT USED THE SAME TRANSMISSION AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 22, 2010, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323CI. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWENTY MINUTES WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS YELLOW SMOKE POURING THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO TWENTY FOOT FLAMES FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED NEXT TO A BUILDING WHICH WAS PARTIALLY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD FURTHER INSPECT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 26, 2007
DURING HWY OPERATION OF MY VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK RUPTURED WITH A 7 INCH LONG GAP. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Jan 15, 2004
CYLINDER HEAD CRACK - 9/5/03 WATER PUMP FREEZE, DRIVE BELT TEAR/BROKEN - 11/9/01 3 WINDOWS (REGULATOR BROKEN) DRIVER SIDE 2 TIMES