BMW · 3 Series · 2000
1
Recall
88
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2000 BMW 3 Series has 1 recall and 88 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: power train (29 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
REAR LIGHTS . CLIP CONTACTS MELTING GROUND WIRE . PURCHASED LIGHTS AND CLIPS 3 TIMES AND MELTED AGAIN. LIGHTS INOPERABLE AFTER 2 WEEKS OF LIFE HARNESS MELTED . RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNINGS AND A TICKET I NOW HAVE TO PROVE REPAIR . RECALL FOUND FOR EVERY OTHER MODEL EXCEPT THE 323I 2000 . NOT SAFE TO HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS AVAILABLE . CAN'T DRIVE CAR IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS. CAN'T SELL CAR IN UNSAFE CONDITION
TAKATA RECALL!! I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH ON A REGULAR STREET I ALWAYS DRIVE ON AND MID DRIVE BOTH PASSANGER AND DRIVER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON!!!! CAUSING VERY SERIOUS INJURIES!! ALSO CAUSING MORE DAMAGE TO MY CAR!!!!
THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK... THE TRANSMISSION- REVERSE HAS GONE OUT... AND THE RADIATOR HAS A SERIOUS LEAK... MAKES THE CAR RUN HOT!
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
WELL DOCUMENTED NO REVERSE ISSUE FOR BMW GM TRANSMISSION D-CLUTCH FRACTURE. *TR
RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM BMW USA FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 14V-428 (DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIR BAG) LAST SEPTEMBER 2014. AS OF TODAY'S DATE (MARCH 11, 2015), BMW USA HAS NOT INFORMED ME WHEN I CAN EXPECT THEM TO PERFORM THE WORK NEEDED TO RECTIFY THE DEFECTIVE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG. THEIR SUGGESTION THAT I OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IS LUDICROUS AND VIRTUALLY IMPRACTICAL. *TR
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WITH A TAKATA RECALL NOTICE. MY 2000 323I HAS A AIRBAG SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGE FROM THE REAR END PASSENGER SIDE. REPAIR WORK WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE DAMAGES.
I WAS PREPARING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN "NEUTRAL" AND DID NOT MAKE ANY NOISE OR MOTION. THE REVERSE NEVER SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR ON A LIMITED BASIS OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS. A SHORT TIME PRIOR TO THIS, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE CAR WHILE ACCELERATING BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 25 MPH AND 30 MPH DRIVING FORWARD. IT WAS SUBTLE AND ACTUALLY BEGAN TO GO AWAY. I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY UNUSUAL STRESS, NOISE, OR DIFFICULTIES WHILE GOING INTO REVERSE PRIOR TO FINDING IT COMPLETELY GONE TODAY. I FEEL EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND DID NOT INVOLVE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I FEAR THAT IT COULD HAVE PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN GREAT BODILY HARM, HAD I NOT BEEN SO LUCKY. I FEAR FOR WHAT THIS MAY COST TO REPAIR OR EVEN EVALUATE, SINCE MANY ONLINE HAVE EXPRESSED A SIMILAR SITUATION RESULTING IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF REPAIRS. *JB
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEATER SETTING ON WARM, SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM CENTER CONSOLE AND LEFT SIDE OF GLOVE BOX FROM UNDERNEATH. HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND ESCAPE THE SMOKE FILLED CABIN THE SMOKE TURN TO A FLAME FROM UNDER THE GLOVE BOX. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO TOTALLY BURN FROM THIS INCIDENT. I REVIEWED THE SCHEMATICS TO IDENTIFY THE ONLY HEATING DISSIPATING ELEMENT LOCATED UNDER THERE IS THE FSR BLOWER MOTOR CONTROL SMOKE APPEARED SUDDENLY. *JB
THE LEFT REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT TORN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE UNIBODY/FRAME MOUNTING LOCATION. THE REAR BODY METAL FATIGUE WAS CAUSED FROM LOADING AND UNLOADING OF THE DRIVE TRAIN DUE TO AN ENGINEERING DESIGN DEFECT. THIS OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY BMW. A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT REQUIRED BMW TO FIX THE PROBLEM FROM 2009 TO 2010, BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR THE METAL FATIGUE SHOWED UP AFTER THE 2010 DEADLINE FOR REPAIR. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE REAR AXLE CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A VEHICLE RECALL AND ALL BMW E46 3 SERIES SHOULD HAVE THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINTS REPAIRED AND REINFORCED BY BMW AT NO COST. *TR
CAR JUST STOPPED GOING INTO REVERSE. THIS IS A ISSUE THAT IS COMMON IN MANY OTHER 2000 3 SERIES. *TR
GREAT CAR UNTIL PARKED AT GROCERY STORE AND CAR WOULD NOT BACK UP WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. ONLY 75000 MILES. BMW DEALER WANTED $6000 TO REPLACE WITH FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION. CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN REPAIR. OFFERED TO CONTACT DEALER AND ASK FOR 10% REDUCTION. NEVER HEARD BACK. LAST BMW FOR ME. VERY FREQUENT FAILURE PER THE INTERNET AND THIS SITE. *TR
THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED GOING INTO REVERSE. WORKS IN DRIVE. *TR
THE AIRBAG ICON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STAYS ON. MY MACHANIC TOLD ME THIS MEANS THAT A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT DOES NOT ACTIVATE THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT AND, AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF A COLLISION. SO I ASKED THEM TO REPAIR IT, AFTER PAYING ABOUT $700, ABOUT 8 MONTHS LATER IT POPPED BACK ON , SO I'M SERIOULY LOOKING TO TRADE THIS CAR. *TR
ON FEBRUARY 6, 2012 EXITING THE FREEWAY AN ABOUT A MILE OR SO AFTER, I HEARD THIS BIG CLUNK THAT CAME FROM THE REAR, STOPPED AND PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT THAT WAS. LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND THE REAR AXEL WAS HANGING AND SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY FOR INSPECTION AND CALLED BMWNA TO FILE THE CLAIM. THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND OFFERED 50% OF THE COST. MY CAR HAS 160K MILES AND IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BESIDES THIS FAULTY ENGINEERED BY BMW AND THEY WILL NOT PAY. LUCKILY I AM STILL ALIVE. HOW ABOUT IF I WAS STILL ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING AND THIS THING HAPPENED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT? THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS! SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE. I AM STILL DEALING WITH BMWNA TO COVER FOR THE REALLY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT THIS INCIDENT CREATED. IT WAS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND NOW THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE HELP!!! *TR
THE REVERSE GEAR STOP WORKING. *TR
THE CAR WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. *TR
THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED GOING INTO REVERSE. I HAD TO PUSH IT TO GET OUR OF THE PARKING SPOT AND WENT STRAIGHT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING, THE REVERSE GEAR DECIDED TO WORK SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT FOR TEST DRIVE AGAIN AND IT FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE AGAIN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BMW OWNERS THAT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REVERSE GEAR. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FROM BMW TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
I HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END, TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THE SUBFRAME HAS TORN OFF OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. HE CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL, BUT NONE HAS BEEN FOUND. HE DID NOTICE ONLINE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM, WITH MANY COMPLAINTS, AND THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAD BEEN FILED. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2000 BMW 3 Series has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 88 owner-reported complaints for the 2000 BMW 3 Series.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2000 BMW 3 Series.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2000 BMW 3 Series are power train (29 reports), structure (23 reports), air bags (10 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2000 BMW 3 Series. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.