2001 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 36 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 1 involved a crash.
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: exterior lighting
8 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Nov 20, 2015
THE REAR PARKING LIGHT WENT OUT IN MY CAR, SO I PURCHASED MORE BULBS, BUT THE BULB NEVER WORKED. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY BMW DEALERSHIP FOR THE TAKATA RECALL, THEY CHECKED THE LIGHT TOO AND SAID THAT A PART IN THE HOUSING HAD BURNED ALL THE WAY DOWN . I RECENTLY CHECKED ON RECALLS, AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE HOUSING THAT HOUSES THE BRAKE AND SIGNAL LIGHTS, BEGINNING WITH 2002 MODELS. MY CAR IS A 325I 2001, I FEEL THAT THIS YEAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A RECENT RECALL, I RESEARCHED ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY 2001 BMW 325IS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE THAT RECALL. THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I REALLY THINK THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IMMEDIATELY.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 22, 2015
A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR CARS PRODUCED FROM 9/1/01 TO 02/01/05. [RECALL CAMPAIGN 11V-438: REPAIR GROUND CABLE FOR REAR LIGHT LAMPS (SIDE PANEL)]. ...UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ALTHOUGH MY CAR WAS PRODUCED APPROXIMATELY 14 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. SITUATION ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS DOES NOT FUNCTION IN THE REAR LAMP ASSEMBLY, MOUNTED ON THE REAR QUARTER PANEL (REAR PARKING LIGHT, REAR TURN SIGNAL, AND REAR BRAKE LIGHT). CAUSE A POOR GROUND CONNECTION AT THE REAR LAMP ASSEMBLY (CONNECTORS X338 LEFT SIDE ? PIN # 2 AND X339 RIGHT SIDE ? PIN # 3) CAUSES A MALFUNCTION OF THE REAR TAIL LAMPS.
Exterior lighting, Apr 14, 2014
MY BMW IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES THAT THE 2002 BMW 3 SERIES HAS A RECALL ON. THE REAR TAILLIGHTS ARE BURNING THE NEUTRAL WIRE AND CONNECTOR OFF IN THE LAMP ASSEMBLIES. CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BECOME IN OPERABLE. *JS
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, May 14, 2013
ELECTRICAL GROUND CONTACT RESISTANCE IN REAR TAIL LAMP HAS RENDERED TAIL LAMP NON FUNCTIONAL AND CAUSED WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE IDENTICAL TO CAMPAIGN 11V438000. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 26, 2012
RECENTLY MY REAR TAILLIGHTS WERE NOTICEABLY DARKER AND LESS RESPONSIVE. TAKING MY BMW TO MY AUTHORIZED BMW DEALERSHIP/SERVICE CENTER, RESULTED IN A DIAGNOSIS THAT THE REAR WIRE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ~$300. FOLLOWING THE VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP/SERVICE CENTER, RESULTED IN THE REAR LIGHT FAILING COMPLETELY. RESEARCHING THIS INCIDENT ONLINE PRODUCED MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS W/OTHER 330I MODELS AND I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT NHTSA HAD ISSUED A RECALL OF BMW 3-SERIES FROM MY 02-06. MY BMW IS A 01. IT IS APPARENT, FROM THE MANY POSTINGS ON BMW BOARDS AND WEBSITES, THAT THIS DEFECT ALSO OCCURS IN OLDER BMWS OF THE SAME E46 SERIES EARLIER THAN MODEL YR 2002. I ASK THAT NHTSA EXTEND THE PREVIOUS RECALL TO EARLIER MODEL YEARS OF THE E46 SERIES OF BMWS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Mar 12, 2012
THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT STARTED TO DIM AND TRIGGERED A WARNING INDICATOR BUT WENT AWAY. AFTER A MONTH OR TWO, ALL THE LIGHTS ON REAR LEFT HAS FAILED. NO BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL, OR REVERSE LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS LOOKS LIKES NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA09019. I CURRENTLY SEE THE BURN HARNESS AND LIGHTBULB CARRIER BURNT AS WELL. AFTER THE LIGHTS GOING OUT IT HAS CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER. THE RECALL ISN'T JUST SEDANS, 2001 COUPES SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST. CURRENTLY I HAVE NO REAR TAIL LIGHTS AND STROBBING HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 17, 2012
FOR BMW E46 2001, REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BROWN GROUNDING WIRE ARCHES AND DAMAGES THE SOCKET CAUSING THE LIGHT TO FLICKER ON OCCASION. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO EVIDENT IN LATER MODELS OF BMW E46 AND AN RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON E46 2002-2006 MODELS. IT'S PROBLEMATIC THAT THEY ALSO DIDN'T ADDRESS THIS ON E46 2001 MODELS BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO OCCUR IN THE EARLIER MODEL AS WELL AS EVIDENT WITH MY CAR. *TR
Exterior lighting, Sep 3, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TAIL LIGHT. LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT EIGHT-PIN CONNECTOR HAS MELTED AT PIN NUMBER 5 AND HAS CAUSED FAILURE OF THE TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN INDICATOR. *TR