RoadVitals

2000 BMW 323I Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
33
Latest Jul 8, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 401 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 BMW 323I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 8, 2019

2000 BMW 323I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWERTRAIN SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID
11229255
Incident
Jul 8, 2019
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 29, 2019
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND CAUSED A FENDER BENDER WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AN UNKNOWN BMW DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REVERSE DRUM FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE METAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID
11204332
Incident
Apr 15, 2019
Mileage
180,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 28, 2015

THE REVERSE GEAR IS NOT WORKING. I CANNOT REVERSE... THIS OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

NHTSA ID
10807285
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Mileage
130,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 11, 2015

THE VEHICLE DOES NOT GO IN REVERSE. IT WORK INTERMITTENTLY RANDOMLY. I NOTICE THE COMPLAINTS ON LINE IN WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP *TR

NHTSA ID
10789739
Incident
Oct 21, 2013
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 20, 2015

THE VEHICLE HAS A HARD TIME REVERSING, I CAN COMMAND IT TO REVERSE BUT SOMETIMES NOTHING HAPPENS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL, THE CAR IS A 2000 AND ONLY HAS 96K MILES. THIS PAST MONTH I HAVE SPOKEN WITH BMW ABOUT THE ISSUE. I LET THEM KNOW I FEEL IT POSES A SAFETY RISK BUT THEY SAID THEY CANNOT HELP ME. EVEN THOUGH IT IS CLEARLY A MFG. DEFECT. JUST HOPING TO HAVE AN ADVOCATE TO HELP ME. THE CAR IS STATIONARY ON A STREET.

NHTSA ID
10783854
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Mileage
84,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 12, 2015

THE CAR GOT STUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY. NO REVERSE. FORWARD STILL WORKING.

NHTSA ID
10748202
Incident
Aug 4, 2015
Mileage
80,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 20, 2015

THE CAR WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE

NHTSA ID
10735373
Incident
Jul 20, 2015
Mileage
160,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 4, 2015

GOT IN CAR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING PUT IT IN REVERSE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. IT WAS LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THEN CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS AS IT WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE APPLIED BREAKS AND PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND ALL THE FORWARD GEARS WORKED FINE, TRIED REVERSE AGAIN AND SAME THING HAPPENED DIDN'T MOVE NO MATTER HOW MUCH THROTTLE WAS APPLIED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION/WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM,BEFORE THIS THE TRANSMISSION WORKED GREAT NO PROBLEMS AT ALL.THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AS IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING IT COULD SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE.

NHTSA ID
10731955
Incident
Jul 4, 2015
Mileage
82,140 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 22, 2014

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT POWER THE CAR IN REVERSE. FORWARD GEARS ALL WORK NORMALLY. THIS WAS A SUDDEN FAILURE AND AFTER SEARCHING ON THE WEB, IT APPEARS THIS IS A FREQUENT FAILURE OF THIS GM SUPPLIED TRANSMISSION IN POST 3/2000 BMWS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10660234
Incident
Nov 21, 2014
Mileage
93,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 25, 2014

I JUST GOT HOME AND TRIED TO PUT MY 2000 BMW 323I IN REVERSE TO PARK BUT NOTHING HAPPENED! IT WAS AS IF THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL! I AM VERY UPSET AS I HAVE JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED! *TR

NHTSA ID
10574784
Incident
Mar 25, 2014
Mileage
174,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 8, 2014

BOUGHT MY 2000 BMW 323I BRAND NEW, I'M THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER. I HAVE HAD IT ONLY DEALER SERVICED WITH ALL RECORDS KEPT. AT 67K MILES THE REVERSE WENT OUT. DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. BEING THAT IT WOULD BE IN THE THOUSANDS TO FIX I CONTINUED DRIVING IT WITH NO REVERSE. MEANING I PUSH IT. I CONTACTED BMW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR THAT CAUSED IT. YET THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM ON ONLINE FORUMS. SHAME ON BMW FOR NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10563467
Incident
Feb 1, 2007
Mileage
67,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 21, 2013

THE CAR HAS 86,000 MILES I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND IT WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE IN REVERSE! ONLY SOLUTION IS A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH COSTS MORE THAN BOOK VALUE OF CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10553280
Incident
Nov 20, 2013
Mileage
86,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 15, 2013

MY BMW IS ONE OF POSSIBLE THOUSANDS THAT RECEIVED A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION MADE BY ZF. THE REVERSE DRIVE D HUB BREAKS LEAVING PIECES RATTLING AROUND INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND NO REVERSE. CHECK WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG TO SEE A FEW THAT HAVE REGISTERED THEIR BMW'S WITH COMMENTS. REPAIR COST RANGE FROM $1800 - $5000 OR MORE DEPENDING ON PARTICULAR DEALERSHIPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. I FIND DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT BMW HAS NOT OFFERED ANYTHING IN RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE THAT'S PLAGUING SO MANY OF THEIR CARS WITH VERY HIGH REPAIR BILLS. BMW PROMOTED THESE CARS WITH "LIFETIME-NO SERVICE" TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10547934
Incident
Oct 15, 2012
Mileage
14,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 5, 2013

MY BMW 323I ABRUPTLY LOST THE ABILITY TO REVERSE ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 2013. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY VERY COMMON TO BMW 3-SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED DURING THE LATE 1990'S AND EARLY 2000'S. THERE IS EVEN A WEBSITE DEVOTED TO IT (NOREVERSE.ORG). BMW SHOULD CONSIDER DOING A RECALL IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10533707
Incident
Aug 3, 2013
Mileage
108,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 28, 2013

THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. THERE ARE SO MANY BMW'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10513913
Incident
Apr 27, 2011
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 17, 2013

LIKE THE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS ON THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE, MY 2000 BMW 323I WIT 71K MILES FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE. I WAS AT CHURCH AND PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS - EVER. THE CAR WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE WEB AND WAS ASTOUNDED THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF BMW 2000 323I OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED BMW OF AMERICA VIA EMAIL AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME RESPONSE AS THE OTHER OWNERS OF "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." MANY OWNERS HAD LESS THAN 50,000 AND BMW IS NOT OWNING UP TO THE PROBLEM. BMW HAD NOT AND WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, BUT INTERESTINGLY THEY ARE NO LONGER USING THESE TRANSMISSIONS. A CLASS ACTION IS BEING DISCUSSED AND RIGHTLY SO. THIS IS A RIP OFF OF THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS AND DEFINITELY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CAN SEE SOMEONE NOT BEING ABLE TO BACK UP OFF OF A TRAIN TRACK, ETC. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10503363
Incident
Mar 17, 2013
Mileage
71,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Nov 18, 2012

WAS TRYING TO REVERSE N IT WOULDN'T IT PERIODICALLY WON'T REVERSE UNTIL CAR WARMS UP. WINDOW WON'T GO UP WITHOUT MANUALLY PULLING IT UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10485040
Incident
Nov 2, 2012
Mileage
154,400 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 31, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE REVERSE DRUM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ID
10482709
Incident
Oct 17, 2012
Mileage
84,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 22, 2012

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS NO REVERSE GEAR. I PUSHED THE CAR, MYSELF. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR. I READ ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGER TO THE OWNERS AND EVERYONE AROUND THE VEHICLE. NOT TO MENTION, THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. THIS IS MY FIRST CAR. PLEASE CONSIDER HELP WITH THIS MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10471830
Incident
Aug 19, 2012
Mileage
142,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 18, 2012

PICKING MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL AND NO REVERSE. NO INDICATIONS ANYTHING WRONG PUT INTO REVERSE ACTS LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL. ABSOLUTELY NO REVERSE. DROVE HOME AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP. WENT ONLINE AND SHOCKED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF NO REVERSE FAILURE ONLINE. THE NO REVERSE ORG IN 2009 IS NO LONGER UP BUT SHOCKED HOW MANY PEOPLE POSTED THE EXACT PROBLEM! BMW NORTH AMERICA OR CORPORATE SAYS THEY CAN'T DO A RECALL AND TO NOTIFY NHTSA. ETHICALLY, WE BOTH KNOW THEY SHOULD FIX THESE FAULTY DRUMS THEY OUTSOURCED TO GM AND DID NOT TELL ANYONE. PLEASE RECALL THE NO REVERSE FAILURE FOR THE 2000 MODEL, THANKS FOR RECALLING THE SUB-FRAME CRACKING. BMW SERVICE CENTERS ARE A RIP OFF AND NEVER TELL THE OWNER WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON. I AM AN ORIGINAL OWNER, HAVE METICULOUS SERVICE RECORDS AND FEEL THE US NEEDS TO MAKE THEM STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. PLEASE HELP US. GETTING STUCK IN A DANGEROUS PARKING LOT AT NIGHT WOULD NOT BE SAFE? PLEASE ASK BMW TO FIX THEIR FAULTY DRUM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10458974
Incident
May 18, 2012
Mileage
88,112 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 17, 2012

I WAS PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL AROUND 4:30PM ON APRIL 17, 2012 AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT...THE CAR HAD NO POWER. THE TRANSMISSION JUST REVVED UP LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO BACK UP. I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD IT IN THE WRONG GEAR BUT NO IT WAS IN REVERSE. I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND WENT AROUND THE CORNER TO WAIT FOR HER. WHEN I TRIED TO REVERSE OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT IT STILL DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER. THANKFUL THE CAR ROLLED BACK FAR ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT. ONCE I GOT HOME I HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO MY PARKING STALL BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN THE REVERSE WAS NOT WORKING. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR, THE MILES ARE LOW 125,000 AND IT GETS REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK UPS. *JS

NHTSA ID
10455587
Incident
Apr 17, 2012
Mileage
126,598 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 9, 2012

THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. WENT TO LEAVE A FRIENDS HOUSE AND IT WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. HAD TO BE PUSHED BACKWARDS, PUT INTO DRIVE AND FORWARD GEARS WORKED FINE. DROVE ABOUT 11 MILES, STOPPED AND PUT IT IN REVERSE, AND IT WORKED. COUPLE DAYS LATER I WENT TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, AND REVERSE STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE REVERSE WORKS ON AND OFF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE A TRAFFIC SITUATION COULD ARISE WHERE REVERSE IS NEEDED TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, YET BMW HAS FAILED ISSUE A RECALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10443172
Incident
Dec 28, 2011
Mileage
134,565 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 3, 2012

THE REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK THIS MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO BACK THE CAR FROM THE PARKING LOT. THE FORWARD GEAR IS GOOD THOUGH. MY CAR HAS A DUAL TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10442222
Incident
Jan 3, 2012
Mileage
86,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 28, 2011

I HAVE A BMW 323I AND THE REVERSE WENT OUT. LOOKS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. I AM DUMBFOUNDED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PIECE OF S#!% TRANSMISSION. BMW HAS LOST ME AS A CUSTOMER, SINCE THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT WHEN SO MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. BACKING OUT ONTO A TWO LANE, 55 MPH HWY MY SON AND I WERE NEARLY KILLED SINCE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I THOUGHT IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. NO IT FAILED! *TR

NHTSA ID
10441460
Incident
Dec 1, 2010
Mileage
120,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 23, 2011

2000 BMW 323I. CONSUMER STATES REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE *TGW

NHTSA ID
10441832
Incident
Dec 1, 2011

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .