RoadVitals

2023 BMW 330E

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
6
Latest Mar 23, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Feb 23, 2023
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 BMW 330E, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and exterior lighting categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 55 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance225.0%
  • Electrical225.0%
  • Exterior lighting225.0%
  • Brakes112.5%
  • Engine112.5%

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

2 campaigns 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.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

Feb 23, 2023
120 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, 330e, 330e xDrive, 430i Convertible, 430i xDrive, M440i, 2022-2023 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive, i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 vehicles. During a service visit, a replacement electronic control unit (ECU) may have been installed with incorrect programming, which can cause the automatic door locking (ADL) function to not lock the doors as intended.
The risk: Doors that do not lock as intended while the vehicle is in motion may open during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Oct 7, 2022
1,296 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 330e and 330e xDrive hybrid electric vehicles. After shifting into reverse, the rearview camera software may cause a portion of the rearview image to be obstructed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk: An obstructed rearview image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 21, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-80-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 23, 2026

On one occasion, the car automatically applied the breaks and parked itself while driving on a main road. On another occasion, while parking the car at the home it accelerated aggressively and almost crashed into the garage- driver lost complete control of the car. On a separate occasion, the gauge console (screen behind the steering wheel) became morphed and could not show the MPH- an electrical glitch it seemed. The last occasion the car stopped and parked itself while accelerating or braking on the highway.

NHTSA ID
11726457
Incident
Mar 21, 2026
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 6, 2025
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I rear-ended someone and suspect issue with the automatic emergency braking for my 2023 BMW 330E. The car was totaled and I no longer have it - date of accident [XXX]. My VIN [XXX] ) wasn’t included in current recalls but the model was discontinued, which raises concern. The incident was reported to police and insurance. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11678912
Incident
Aug 8, 2023
Filed Aug 3, 2024

I was driving on [XXX] in Vermont on Friday morning, when I heard a very loud pop close to my ear. It sounded like a gun, but I saw that my windows were not broken. I continued to drive but then noticed the sound of rushing air, as though one of my windows was open. It was not. I drove a short distance, then decided to pull over into a parking lot. There, I discovered a huge hole in my sun roof. In addition to the hole, the remaining panel was completely shattered. I called my insurance company who had me drive it to a nearby body shop. They put a camera into the hole to try to see if there was a stone or other object between the glass and the panel inside the car. They found only broken glass. They believe my sunroof shattered because of hot outside temperatures (in the mid 80's) and the fact that I had my air conditioner on. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11606276
Incident
Aug 2, 2024
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 22, 2024

Subject: Concern Regarding Daytime Brightness Levels in BMW 330e Instrument Cluster I am reaching out to express a concern I've encountered with the instrument cluster in my 2023 BMW 330e. It has come to my attention that, unlike many other vehicles, the instrument cluster in my BMW does not maintain full brightness during the day. The absence of manual brightness control, combined with the behavior of the ambient brightness sensor, seems to result in an excessively dim display, especially in bright daylight conditions. I understand that different vehicles may have varying features, but the contrast in brightness levels during the day has been a noticeable and somewhat inconvenient aspect of my driving experience. It has led to difficulty in reading critical information such as speed, fuel levels, and other essential data. I wanted to bring this to your attention not just as an individual driver but with the hope that you can consider the feedback in the broader context of user experience. Full brightness during the day is a common expectation among drivers, and I believe addressing this concern could enhance the satisfaction of BMW customers.

NHTSA ID
11567091
Incident
Jan 1, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 25, 2023

:**Complaint Regarding 2023 330e Instrument Cluster Brightness Issue** - I wish to report a safety concern regarding the instrument cluster brightness in my 2023 BMW 330e. The instrument cluster features an auto-dimming screen with no brightness control during the day. The ambient brightness sensor does not accurately detect daylight conditions unless the sunshade on the sunroof is open. This results in an excessively dim instrument cluster that is challenging to read in bright daylight. **Safety Implications:** This issue poses a safety concern as it hinders the driver's ability to access critical information such as speed, fuel levels, and other essential data. It may lead to distractions and decreased situational awareness. **Requested Action:** I kindly request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigates this issue and collaborates with the manufacturer, BMW, to find a solution promptly. This could involve a software update or a hardware adjustment to the ambient brightness sensor to ensure the instrument cluster remains readable in all lighting conditions.

NHTSA ID
11551742
Incident
Jul 28, 2023
Filed Nov 30, 2022
Crash reported

This is to report an incident with a recently purchased 2023 BMW 330e. Model: BMW | Make: 330e | Color: white Purchase: 17th Sep, 2022 | Dealer: BMW of San Antonio Incident date: 17th November, 2022 | Time: 9AM (approx) | Place: Parking Garage, MD Anderson Blvd, Houston, TX 77030 Incident description: When turning in to park in the parking spot in the garage, the car suddenly shot forward and hit the barrier in front. Airbags did not deploy, although the impact was strong enough to throw the driver hard against her seat belt with slight bruising. The driver does not recall the front proximity sensors giving any warning beeps (as normally happens if the car is too close to a barrier). Damage: The front of the car on the driver's side sustained significant damage, including the proximity sensor on the driver's side becoming non-functional. The engine warning light did not come on, and the car was driveable. Aftermath: The incident was reported to insurance. The car has now been assessed by certified collision specialists repair. Comments: The driver has been driving for over 20 years (12 years in the USA) with an exemplary driving record. She has been parking in the same garage for the last 2 years. It is, of course, entirely possible that she mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake when turning in to park, but it would be unusual, and perhaps unlikely. Also, the amount of damage to the front is testimony to the speed with which the car hit the barrier, when the driver was driving dead slow, maneuvering between cars to edge forward in a parking spot. If the incident is due to a malfunction, it raises the possibility of danger for future drivers. We report this just in case it is - if others report similar issues with this make/ model of the car, perhaps preventive measures can be taken before somebody gets seriously injured.

NHTSA ID
11495571
Incident
Nov 17, 2022

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B010425

ENGINE

The high-voltage battery assemblys refrigerant circuit expansion valves limited warranty for defects in materials and/ or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from theoriginal first in-service / delivery date.

B120721

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage supply The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following DME Fault Code: 21B209 - Starter alternator / belt for 48V system (OSA_RIEMEN_RISS): Belt betweenCombustion engine and starter generator torn And/or one or more of the following other issues are also occurring: Noise in the area of the belt drive. Odor from the engine compartment. Smoke formation in the area of the belt drive. Drive belt damaged or prematurely worn. Torn drive belt.

B640422

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

An interference noise (groaning noise) can be heard from within the heating and air-conditioning unit in thecenter of the instrument panel. The groaning noise always occurs when either a ventilation flap, air stratification flap or the recirculated airflap moves to a different position. Due to the complex design of the heating and air-conditioning unit, the kinematics causing it (top or bottom,left or right) may not be able to be precisely located. Depending on the vehicle model, the number of servomotors (and the associated kinematics unit) varies.Various models use either 2 or 3 servomotors.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

B360121

STEERING

At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. This can be felt (jerking)/ heard via an acoustic acknowledgement (clunk) as seen at the 11 second mark of the video. See attached video V36 01 21.

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

BMW 330E by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024300
2023Viewing620
2022201
2021351
2020010
2018522
2017902
2016102

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.