2003 BMW 330XI Owner Complaints

While I was driving the air bags went off.

NHTSA ID

11656332

Incident

Apr 23, 2025

Continental Sport Plus 215/50 ZR17 Replaced Michelin tires with four of this size/brand. Highly unstable at highway speeds. Even more unstable under wet roadway conditions.

NHTSA ID

11478511

Incident

Jun 13, 2022

Coolant leak from exhaust manifold Reservoir fails All coolant hoses fail

NHTSA ID

11449466

Incident

Jan 14, 2022

Power windows Power windows broke on 3 windows. Sometimes the glass has shattered. Sometimes the glass just slides down and becomes non operational. Glass shattering has been scary and dangerous. This has occurred while driving. I live in a state with lots of weather. Thunderstorms. Has occurred with child in car seat during a thunderstorm. At highway speed. I have had them repaired at dealerships and at independent bmw repair shops. Cost has been approx $600. This began as early as 2010 and continues to this day.

NHTSA ID

11440350

Incident

Jul 20, 2016

330I SEDAN - ZKW HID HEADLIGHTS WITH BURNT XENON BULB REFLECTORS RENDERING THE HEADLIGHTS INEFFECTIVE AND THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11412892

Incident

Nov 27, 2018

Mileage

158,300 mi

ON OR AROUND THE FIRST WEEK OF DEC. 2020 AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS, THE CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION WITHOUT ANY PRIOR DASH WARNING INDICATORS. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED THE CAR ON THE FIRST TRY. AT THAT TIME I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN BAD GAS. FAST FORWARD TO JAN. 09, 2021 WHILE PULLING UP TO GAS STATION CAR ACCELERATES WHILE I AM APPLYING BRAKES. VERY SCARY BECAUSE I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND IT REVVED UP AS THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS STARTED TO HAPPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS, ALTHOUGH. INTERMITTENTLY. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I FOUND THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN SEVERAL BMW FORUMS SINCE 2002 AND APPEARS TO HAPPEN IN OLDER AND NEWER CARS REGARDLESS OF MODEL TYPES. I HAVE MAYBE 165,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THE MAINTENANCE IS VERY WELL DOCUMENTED AND CONSISTENT.

NHTSA ID

11387793

Incident

Dec 8, 2020

Mileage

165,000 mi

POWER TO CAR WAS CUT. COULD NOT UNLOCK DOORS OR PULL DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN DOOR/UNLOCK. STUCK INSIDE.

NHTSA ID

11321870

Incident

Apr 21, 2020

Mileage

175,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50MPH I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND DURING THE TURN THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED HALF WAY DURING A FULL ROTATION AND LOCKED UP PREVENTING ME FROM MAKING A FULL RIGHT HAND TURN. ONCE PARKED I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND IT STOPPED HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11320188

Incident

Apr 4, 2020

Mileage

126,000 mi

WINDOW BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS BEING LOWERED. HEAR WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A CRACKING SOUND. WINDOW STAYED IN THE DOWN POSITION AND COULD NOT BE RAISED. SMALL CHILD WAS SEATED IN HIS CAR SEAT NEXT TO WINDOW. WE WERE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH. (HWY 540). A THUNDERSTORM BEGAN, NO SAFE WAY TO PULL OVER FOR ABOUT A MILE OR TWO. 4 YR OLD CHILD WAS SCARED, WET AND HOT (NORTH CAROLINA-SUMMER). CHILD WAS NOT HARMED, JUST VERY SCARED. SEMI TRAILER TRUCKS HAULING BY. VERY BUSY TIME OF DAY. CHILD WAS MY NEIGHBORS SON, I WAS HELPING PICK HIM UP FROM DAYCARE BECAUSE HER OTHER CHILD WAS SICK I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION AS THIS IS THE 5TH WINDOW ON THIS VEHICLE THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN JARRING TO SAY THE LEAST TO HEAR GLASS CRACKING AS YOU LOWER THE WINDOW. I'VE HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS, THRIVED. EACH TIME THE COST TO REPAIR A WINDOW HAS BEEN AROUND $600. I GO TO VERY REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOPS HERE AND IN CALIFORNIA. THINGS HAVE BEEN SUCKED OUT OF THE WINDOW DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE WIND. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. ONE INCIDENT WAS ENOUGH, BUT 5!!! I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS AND THE WINDOWS DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM. IT SCARY AND A MAJOR DISTRACTION FOR THE DRIVER. UNBELIEVABLE. BMW HAS A BIG PROBLEM. MY FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN 2010 AND THEY HAVE CONTINUED THOUGH 1218. CURRENTLY THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW IS ALSO MAKE A GLASS SCRAPING SOUND, SO WE JUST LEASE IT UP. THAT WINDOW HAD BEEN REPLACED IN 2010.. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET, I DON'T HAVE ANY PHOTOS TO PROVIDE SINCE I WAS ALWAYS IN SUCH A HURRY TO GET THEM FIXED DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. PLEASE HELP THIS A BIG PROBLEM FOR US BMW DRIVERS.(I'M GLAD THE TODDLER IN MY CAR WAS UNHARMED, NO BROKEN GLASS GOT ON HIM. MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION WINDOWS HAVE NO PROBLEMS, EVEN WITH MY 3 BOYS USING THEM.

NHTSA ID

11268417

Incident

Aug 4, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, AND NOW THE CAR STAYS ON WHEN THE KEY OUT OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE RECALL WAS FIXED BEFORE ABOUT THE LIGHTS BUT THEY STARTED BACK AGAIN I JUST GOT THE CAR AND I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT WITHOUT THE BATTERY DYING IF I GO TO WORK OR EVEN THE STORE

NHTSA ID

11184018

Incident

Feb 24, 2019

Mileage

164,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BMW 330XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S JOB, THE FRONT END CAUGHT FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE, BUT IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE REPAIR CONTRIBUTED TO THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, BUT NOT TOWED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT ONCE A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, THEY COULD DISCLOSE SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ID

11104782

Incident

Jun 29, 2018

Mileage

106,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL: AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED ON 11/23/16. THE AIR BAG RED LIGHT INDICATOR REMAINED ON AND WAS NEVER RESET BY THE DEALER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BUT NEVER RESOLVED THE ISSUE. TO THIS DAY THE LIGHT IS UNRESOLVED, STILL ON

NHTSA ID

11054518

Incident

Nov 23, 2016

I'VE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS NOW BUT NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES AS CAN BE FOUND WHEN DOING SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET. THIS PROBLEM INVOLVES THE DOOR NOT UNLOCKING AFTER BEING LOCKED VIA THE CENTER CONSOLE, KEY FOB, OR AUTO LOCK FEATURE WHEN VEHICLE IS MOBILE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED ACROSS MULTIPLE BUILD TYPES DURING THE EARLY 2000'S. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IN AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE WHEN OCCUPANTS CANNOT SAFELY AND QUICKLY EXIT THE CAR WITHOUT HAVING THE BREAK THE WINDOW AND CLIMB OUT BECAUSE THE DOORS WILL NOT EVEN UNLOCK WHEN YOU PULL THE LATCH WHICH SHOULD DISENGAGE THE "LOCKED" STATE. I HAD GO TEND TO A PATIENT AT THE HOSPITAL TODAY FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY CAR WITHOUT HAVING TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW, THEN USE MY KEY TO UNLOCK MY DOOR FROM THE LOCK CYLINDER ON THE OUTSIDE. HOWEVER I WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY CAR AND HAD TO DO SO FROM THE DRIVER DOOR ONLY. THIS CAN BE LIFE THREATENING IN THE WRONG SITUATIONS. THIS INVOLVES THE GENERAL MODULE 5 OR "GM5" AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR A POTENTIAL SAFETY RECALL AS IT IS INTERMITTENT.

NHTSA ID

10911077

Incident

Oct 2, 2016

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10860537

Incident

Apr 20, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED IT HAS BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS, SINCE THE RECALL WAS FIRST INITIATED AND STILL NO RESOLUTION. UPDATED 06/16/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10854297

Incident

Apr 8, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V3180000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/20/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10836838

Incident

May 27, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (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 NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10788390

Incident

Aug 15, 2015

FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN EARLY 2003, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON INDEFINITELY. THE BMW DEALER TURNED THE ALERT LIGHT OFF SEVERAL TIMES, AND DID NOT FIX THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM, INDICATING THAT IT WAS ONLY THE SENSOR AND THAT THE AIRBAG WAS WORKING. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO REMAIN ON. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO MURRAY BMW IN DENVER THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED AND THE DEALERSHIP MERELY TURNED THE ALERT LIGHT OFF INDICATING THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, AND NOT REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THE REPAIR WAS NEVER MADE. NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THE SENSOR. WHEN THE AIRBAG RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL REMAINED ON, AND THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG WAS NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE WHEN PURCHASING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE!

NHTSA ID

10717650

Incident

Mar 3, 2003

Mileage

500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10693355

Incident

Mar 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED ,THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. 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 NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10681404

Incident

Jun 15, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 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 NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID

10667036

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

109,000 mi

I WAS IN A PARKING GARAGE THE WEEKEND AFTER I HAD JUST BOUGHT MY 2003 BMW 330XI MAN IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, I HAD MY GIRLFRIEND WITH ME AT THE TIME. UPON TRYING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WE COULDN'T NOTHING WOULD UNLOCK THE DOORS, NOTHING WOULD ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS, THIS WAS EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING TO BE HAPPENING ON A DATE. SHE COULDN'T BELIEVE WE WERE STUCK IN THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO WAY OUT. LUCKILY HAVING MY CELL PHONE I WAS ABLE TO CALL 911 SO THEY COULD HELP ME. I MANAGED TO HAVE THE SUNROOF OPEN AT THE TIME AND WAS ABLE TO HAND THEM MY KEYS WHERE THEY COULD PLACE THE KEY INSIDE OF THE KEY HOLE AND MANUAL UNLOCK THE DOORS. THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST EXPERIENCE I EVER HAD. I ONLY CALLED THE POLICE SO THEY COULD TAKE NOTE OF THE ISSUE OF THE SAFETY. I HAVE TAKEN FAMILY OUT FOR OUTINGS ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY ALL HAVE TO CLIMB OUT OF WINDOWS OR THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR. I'VE EVEN HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF MY OWN CAR I REFUSE TO PUT A DIME INTO FIXING THIS AS ITS CAUSED ME EMBARRASSMENT TO THE POINT I HARDLY DRIVE IT UNLESS I GO SOMEWHERE ALONE. I EVEN HAVE A SEAT BELT THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR NO REASON. THE GM5 NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMAGE IF I HAD A CHILD OR FAMILY BACK THERE THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM OUT IS TO OPEN THE DOOR AND YOU CAN'T BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10547744

Incident

May 25, 2012

Mileage

79,000 mi

2003 BMW 330XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SPONTANEOUS CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED ON HIS DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE FAILED,CREATING A VOID AROUND THE OUTSIDE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE, ABOUT MID-WAY BETWEEN THE BEAD AND TREAD LINES. THE CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED THE SIDEWALL PILES SIMPLY GAVE WAY AND WITHOUT THAT INTERNAL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, THE TIRE SUDDENLY LOST AIR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DISCOUNT TIRE STORE FOR AN INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT OBSERVE ANY ROAD TRAUMA OR EXTERNAL REASON FOR THE SUDDEN FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE VIRTUALLY NEW. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED, THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON DUNPLOP'S PART. DUNLOP REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE, BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER AND THE TIRES HAD BEEN PURCHASED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER MORE THAN SIX YEARS AGO.

NHTSA ID

10476429

Incident

May 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330 XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS ON FILE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN QUALIFIED FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10465090

Incident

Jul 4, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

DRIVERS SEAT HAS SEAT WARMERS AND THE SEAT OVERHEATS WHEN TURNED ON. IT HAS BURNED A SMALL HOLE IN MY SEAT AND PROBABLY WOULD CAUSE A FIRE IF LEFT TURNED ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457556

Incident

Mar 1, 2011