NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 BMW 320 Recalls & Complaints

The 2001 BMW 320 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 10 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 BMW 320. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2001 BMW 320 owner complaints

Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW 320, describing incidents dated May 7, 2001 to August 17, 2012.

Most-cited components

Engine 7 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Visibility/Wiper 1 complaint

Of the 10 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10471685 · Filed August 21, 2012
WHILE DOING 55 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY MY VEHICLE ENGAGED THE BRAKES ON IT'S OWN BRINGING US TO A SCREACHING, SKIDDING STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY SCARY SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE…
ODI #747261 · Filed June 22, 2001
COOLING FAN FAILURE CAUSED RAPID OVERHEATING AND COOLANT LOSS, DISABLING VEHICLE. *AK
ODI #747234 · Filed June 22, 2001
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Read all 10 complaints

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator may Rupture

NHTSA #17V047000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 20, 2017 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 230,117 vehicles

Repair completion: 24.66% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified March 15, 2017 · Vehicles built June 2, 2000 – December 29, 2001 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

DO NOT DRIVE — this recall carries a "do not drive" advisory. Contact a BMW dealer immediately.

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2001 BMW 320. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

10 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 BMW 320.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Service Brakes

ODI #10471685

Incident: August 17, 2012 · Filed: August 21, 2012

WHILE DOING 55 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY MY VEHICLE ENGAGED THE BRAKES ON IT'S OWN BRINGING US TO A SCREACHING, SKIDDING STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY SCARY SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THE YAW RATE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. I CAN NOT BELIEVE MERCEDES IS NOT RECALLING THIS VEHICLES TO BE FIXED WITH SUCH A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING THIS CAR. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #747261

Incident: May 19, 2001 · Filed: June 22, 2001

COOLING FAN FAILURE CAUSED RAPID OVERHEATING AND COOLANT LOSS, DISABLING VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #747234

Incident: June 21, 2001 · Filed: June 22, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #746951

Filed: June 17, 2001

I COMPLAINED TO BMW NA OF REPORTED FAILURES OF THE FAN. THEY AGREED THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH SIEMENS MANUFACTURED FANS. THEY LEFT A PHONE MESSAGE (I HAVE A COPY) AGREEING TO PAY FOR A VEHICLE INSPECTION TO DETERMINE IF THE FAN IS THE TYPE PRONE TO FAILURE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS I HAVE FOR MY SON WHO WILL BE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY WILL CHARGE ME TO REPLACE THE FAN BECAUSE IT HAS NOT YET FAILED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #746762

Incident: June 9, 2001 · Filed: June 13, 2001

THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE, YET THE ENGINE OVERHEATS AT 1828 MILES. A LOT OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE HOOD AND HINDERED VISIBILITY. THE OVERHEATING HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY AND ALLOWED ME VERY LITTLE TIME TO REALIZE AND TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE STOPPED, THERE APPEARED TO BE MAJOR LEAKAGE OF COOLANT/ANTI-FREEZE UNDER THE CAR. THE CAR DEALER AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. THE SHORT TIME IT TOOK THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT CAN POTENTIALLY BE DANGEROUS AS IT ALLOWS THE DRIVER VERY LITTLE TIME TO STOP AND EXIT THE VEHICLE BEFORE ANY FIRE IS IGNITED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #746726

Incident: May 7, 2001 · Filed: June 12, 2001

VEHICLE OVERHEATS: 9 DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF MY BRAND NEW CAR, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGINS REGISTERING ABNORMALLY HIGH UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. I IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF THE A/C, TURN ON THE HEAT TO THE MAXIMUM SETTING, AND ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE TEMPERATURE, AND THE RED TEMP INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. I PROMPTLY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND, WHILE DOING SO, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS. BMWSF SERVICES MY VEHICLE BY INSTALLING AN UPGRADED AUX FAN UNIT ON 5/15/01. PROBLEM 1: BMWNAS LACK OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN DETECTING A DEFECTIVE PART IN MY VEHICLE AND WILLFUL NEGLECT TO INFORM SERVICE/SALES PERSONNEL ABOUT THE KNOWN PROBLEM. EXPLANATION 1: I AM APPALLED THAT BMWNA WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS BY NEGLECTING TO OFFER PRELIMINARY INFORMATION TO DEALERSHIPS ABOUT A KNOWN PROBLEM. BMWNA HAS DEMONSTRATED A CONSISTENT PATTERN OF IGNORING, OBFUSCATING, OR DENYING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUXILIARY FAN WHEN MOST BMW MESSAGE BOARD SITES ARE LITTERED WITH THESE COMPLAINTS. BMWNAS RECKLESS NEGLIGENCE IN OFFERING SUCH INFORMATION CAUSED THE DEALERSHIPS TO ALLOW POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS VEHICLES BACK ON THE ROAD. PROBLEM 2: BMWSF INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT PART ON MY CAR THAT THEY KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE. EXPLANATION 2: IN RESPONSE TO MY LETTER TO BMWNA REGARDING THIS MATTER, A BMWNA CUSTOMER RELATIONS REP NOTIFIES ME THAT I AM TO BRING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TO HAVE A NEWLY DESIGNED AND UPGRADED AUX FAN UNIT INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE. THE REP IS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHY THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE IN THE INITIAL ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. ON 6/9/01, I CONFIRM WITH A BMWSF SERVICE ADVISOR THAT 1) THE NEW (2ND) REPLACEMENT PART IS MANUFACTURED BY BOSCH AND THAT IT IS THE UPGRADED PART WHICH REPLACES THE DEFECTIVE SIEMENS FAN AND 2) THAT THE INITIAL (1ST) REPLACEMENT PART INSTALLED IN MY CAR ON 5/15/01 IS THE SAME PART NUMBER OF THE SIEMENS FAN UNIT THAT INITIALLY FAILED.

Electrical System

ODI #746692

Fire

Incident: May 12, 2001 · Filed: June 11, 2001

VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #746659

Incident: June 8, 2001 · Filed: June 11, 2001

THIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDEGED PROBLEM FROM BMW. THE MANUFACTURER HAS CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF US ARE BEING LEFT STRANDED WHEN THE PROBLEM SURFACES. EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS ACKNOWLEDGED BMW DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE BMW NEEDS TO BE CONTACTED AND FORCED TO OFFICIALLY ISSUE A RECALL ON THE 3.0 LITER ENGINES. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #746628

Incident: June 10, 2001 · Filed: June 10, 2001

VEHICLE COOLING FAN FAILED, MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FAN, MADE BY SIEMENS IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY ALL VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THIS DEFECT. WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO BE STRANDED DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING.

Visibility

ODI #737207

Filed: December 2, 2000

IMAGE DISTORTION THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

Other BMW 320 model years

Check your 2001 BMW 320 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 320 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a BMW VIN