AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
2001 BMW 3 Series
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 36 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 BMW 3 Series, most frequently naming the airbags, exterior lighting and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 50 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2001 | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 2 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 3 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 4 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 5 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 6 |
| Sep 2011 | 2 | 8 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 9 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 10 |
| Feb 2012 | 1 | 11 |
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 12 |
| Apr 2012 | 1 | 13 |
| Jul 2012 | 1 | 14 |
| Nov 2012 | 1 | 15 |
| Feb 2013 | 1 | 16 |
| Mar 2013 | 2 | 18 |
| May 2013 | 1 | 19 |
| Apr 2014 | 2 | 21 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 22 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 23 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 24 |
| Nov 2014 | 2 | 26 |
| Apr 2015 | 1 | 27 |
| May 2015 | 1 | 28 |
| Jun 2015 | 2 | 30 |
| Nov 2015 | 1 | 31 |
| Jan 2016 | 1 | 32 |
| Mar 2017 | 1 | 33 |
| Dec 2017 | 1 | 34 |
| Aug 2018 | 1 | 35 |
| Oct 2018 | 1 | 36 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags816.7%
- Exterior lighting816.7%
- Electrical612.5%
- Fuel system612.5%
- Powertrain (other)36.3%
- Other / unspecified36.3%
- Suspension36.3%
- Tires & wheels24.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSafety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYME
THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CONTAINS PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC FOR DEPLOYING THE SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAGS.BMW REVISED THE MODULE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE SPAN OF THE MODEL YEARS 1999 THROUGH 2002 (IDENTIFIED AS MRS2.CA, MRS2.BB, MRS3, MRS3+ AND MRS4).ALTHOUGH MODEL YEAR 1999.5 VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB HAD 6.5% OF THE SUBJECT POPULATION, IT ACCOUNTED FOR 29% OF THE TOTAL REPORTS RECEIVED.THE MRS2.BB EXPOSURE ADJUSTED REPORT RATE WAS ALMOST 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN OTHER 3 SERIES AIR BAG MODULE VERSIONS.IN AUGUST 2002, BMW INITIATED A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 20,500 MODEL 323I AND 328I VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB (NHTSA RECALL # 02V223000).IN ADDITION TO EXPERIENCING A LOWER RATE OF NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENTS, MOST OF THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES ALSO SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT POTHOLE/CURB IMPACT WITH SOME HAVING ADDITIONAL UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT/SCRAPE OR SUSPENSION DAMAGE.SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
COMPLETE DISINTEGRATION OF OF A HANOOK VENTUS S1 NOBLE WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. TIRE DID NOT HIT ANY OBSTACLES, NOR WAS THE TIRE. UNDER OR OVER INFLATED. DRIVEN 17,000 MILES BEFORE FAILURE
- NHTSA ID
- 11141148
- Incident
- Oct 17, 2018
- Mileage
- 117,000 mi
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE CAR JERKED AND STUTTERED ALMOST AS IF IT WAS BRAKING ON ITS OWN OR LOCKING UP. THIS OCCURRED TWICE TODAY AND IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS IT WAS UNEXPECTED AND COULD HAVE LED TO A LOSS OF CONTROL, WHILE DRIVING AT A SIGNIFICANT SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. BMW SHOULD HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT WHATEVER IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM.
- NHTSA ID
- 11122431
- Incident
- Aug 26, 2018
- Mileage
- 116,700 mi
OUR 2001 E46 HAS ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS WHICH ARE FAILING. MY WIFE HAS FOUND HERSELF LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR, UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE LOCKS FREEZE, AND CANNOT BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED, TRAPPING THE OCCUPANT IN THE CAR. THERE IS NO MECHANICAL OVERRIDE TO THE SYSTEM. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN SHE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11054991
- Incident
- Dec 4, 2017
- Mileage
- 68,000 mi
I TOOK IT TO BMW DEALER TO FIX THE RECALL PART--AIR BAG MODULE ON MAY 01,2015, NEXT DAY I WENT TO PICKUP THE CAR, THEY TOLD ME IT IS DONE. I HAD NOT LOOK AT THE PAPER WORK. AFTER THE DAY BEFORE, I RECEIVED FINAL RECALL AGAIN, AND THEN I LOOK UP THE DOCUMENT, THEN I FOUND OUT DEALER HAD NOT CHANGE THE AIR BAG MODULE FOR ME. THE PAPER TYPE IN " DEALER IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS FOR NON DEALER BRAND VEHICLE"? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY??
- NHTSA ID
- 10968638
- Incident
- May 1, 2015
WAS DRIVING ON HWY 99 GETTING READY TO EXIT ON JENSEN AVE WHEN I FELT A BUMP THEN MY DRIVER CURTAIN/ DOOR AIRBAG DEPLOYED. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND DAMAGED TO THE DIVER'S RIM AND TIRE, BRAKES HAVE BEEN CLICKING EVER SINCE AND SUSPENSION SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED AS WELL SINCE CAR IS BEEN SHAKING AND TILTING TO THAT SIDE
- NHTSA ID
- 10819230
- Incident
- Jan 6, 2016
- Mileage
- 6 mi
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 10795195
- Incident
- Aug 1, 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.
- NHTSA ID
- 10726590
- Incident
- May 15, 2015
- Mileage
- 94,000 mi
RECALLED PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS REPLACED BY DEALER LAST WEEK, BUT THE DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF. THE DEALER SAYS THIS WAS AN EXISTING PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX WITHOUT CHARGING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO "DIAGNOSE." I MAINTAIN THIS IS DIRECTLY ELATED TO THE RECALLED AIR BAG AND SHOULD BE FIXED WITHOUT CHARGE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10723037
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2015
- Mileage
- 85,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BMW: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE CRANKS WITH NO START. *RM UPDATED 5/19/15. *PE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
BMW: SOME AIRBAGS, DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER, ARE IMPROPERLY DEPLOYING DUE TO A POSSIBLE INFLATOR NOT PRODUCED TO SPECIFICATIONS. MODEL 2001-2006 E46 (3 SERIES). *PE UPDATED 9/4/14. *PE
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BMW: DSC WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE WARNING LAMPS FOR DSC, ABS AND BRAKE WARNING ILLUMINATED. THERE MAY ALSO BE A WARNING IN THE CONTROL DISPLAY FOR CHASSIS CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE. *JS
ENGINE
BMW: VEHICLE DOES NOT START: LOOSE GROUND Z6000 *4B. COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE BMW NEW VEHICLE/SAV LIMITED WARRANTY. *JS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BMW: THE HIGH-VOLTAGE (HV) BATTERY CELLS COULD BE DAMAGED IF THE VEHICLE IS PREVENTED FROM ENTERING SLEEP MODE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. UPDATED 03/11/2013 *JS
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 42.2 |
| 2012 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 45.8 |
| 2009 | 53 | 2 | 0 | 48.8 |
| 2008 | 68 | 3 | 0 | 45.4 |
| 2007 | 115 | 2 | 0 | 46.9 |
| 2006 | 202 | 4 | 1 | 50.9 |
| 2005 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 40.8 |
| 2004 | 77 | 0 | 3 | 42.2 |
| 2003 | 73 | 0 | 3 | 42.5 |
| 2002 | 26 | 0 | 6 | 39.9 |
| 2001Viewing | 36 | 1 | 2 | 41.3 |
| 2000 | 88 | 1 | 2 | 47.3 |
| 1999 | 6 | 1 | 2 | — |
| 1998 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.