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
36 reports, newest first.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Feb 22, 2012
DROVE THROUGH A PARKING LOT EARLIER TODAY WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE SCRAPING METAL COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE PASSENGER SIDE GAS TANK STRAP HANGING DOWN TOUCHING THE GROUND. *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
Power train, Nov 15, 2011
I WAS TRYING TO PARK AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THE CAR DID NOT MOVE BACKWARDS. MY CAR ROLLED FORWARD AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3 SERIES. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 22, 2011
FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT BEHIND DRIVER'S SEAT LEAKING FUEL IN A STREAM ONLY WHEN TANK IS FULL. WHEN VIEWED FROM THE TOP, THERE IS AN ENCLOSED PLASTIC COLUMN, APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER THAT IS LEAKING AT A "SEAM" THROUGH PINHOLES. *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
Structure, Jun 5, 2011
BMW E46 MODEL 3-SERIES HAVE A KNOWN SUBFRAME WEAKNESS CAUSING THE REAR AXLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SUPPOSEDLY RESOLVED THIS, BUT THE TERMS OF THE SUIT ENDED IN 2010 LEAVING ANYONE THAT EXPERIENCES THE PROBLEM AFTER THE TERM OF THE SUITE TO FIX THE BMW ADMITTED ENGINEERING FAILURE THEMSELVES. THIS LEAVES THOUSANDS OF 1999-2006 BMW 3 SERIES AS POTENTIAL HAZARDS ON THE ROAD. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 27, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF YET IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AT THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 04/13/11*LJ UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 01/04/2012 *LN *TR
Electrical system, Feb 3, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW SERIES 3. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE IDLES VERY HARD. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE IGNITION COIL IS THE REASON FOR THE HARD IDLING. THE CONTACT STATES HE HAD HIS VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A BMW EMPLOYEE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE COIL WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT SAYS HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT SAYS THE VEHICLE HAD THE DEFECTIVE PART(S) BUT THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT GOING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SAYS HE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR SIX MONTHS TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SAYS THAT IN A LETTER HE RECEIVED, HE WAS ADVISED THAT IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRED, THE VEHICLE WILL FAIL INSPECTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Structure, Other or unspecified, Jan 15, 2004
THE ENGINE OF MY CAR SHUT OFF, AND UPON BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY GOT BACK TO ME TO SAY THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AS A RESULT OF DRIVERS ERROR FROM A DOWNSHIFT FROM 4TH TO 2ND. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTER SYSTEM. HOWEVER, AFTER TALKING TO MANY MECHANICS, I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD NEVER HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY A CAR'S COMPUTER, AND THIS WAS JUST AN OUT FOR THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR ANSWER, AND AM LOOKING FOR A WAY TO PROTEST THEIR DECISION. FOR RIGHT NOW, I WAS STUCK PAYING FOR THE TOTAL BILL WHICH EXCEEDED $6000.
Tires, Sep 9, 2001
I PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THIS. SEE FILE # 748060- I HAVE NEVER REC'D ANY RESPONSE OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. I EXPERIENCED 2 FLAT TIRES SIMUTANEOUSLY AT HIGH SPEED WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING OR INDICATION OF ANYTHING IMPROPER, ETC. I ONLY HAD 4400 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND FIND HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD OCCUR. AFTER REPLACING AT MY EXPENSE, SINCE MY DEALER INFORMED ME THAT ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN TO TIRES AND THAT THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE, I LEARNED OF NHTSA RECALL # 00V383. (PLEASE REFER TO THE SPECIFICS OF THIS RECALL BEFORE PROCEEDING). I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY CAR IN NOV. 2000, THEREFORE IT WAS EN ROUTE BY SEA IN OCT. 2000 AND MANUFACTURED IN SEPT. 2000. AFTER NOTIFYING MY DEALER, THEY SAID THEY HAD "CHECKED MY VIN NUMBER AND DETERMINED THAT MY CAR WASS NOT AFFECTED. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE AND DO NOT KNOW HOW TO VERIFY EXCEPT BY ASKING YOU TO INVESTIGATE. BMW USA WAS CONTACTED VIA E-MAIL AND PROVIDED NO ANSWERS, EXPLANATIONS, OR VERIFICATION OF THEIR CLAIM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND PROVIDE ME WITH SOME KIND OF EXPLANATION AS TO WHETHER THIS WAS SOME FREAK COINCIDENCE THAT BMW IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OR THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE MY WHEELS, ETC. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. (DOT NUMBER: 00V383 TIRESIZE: 17)
Air bags, Jun 29, 2001, crash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HIS LANE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK