NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 BMW 328I Recalls & Complaints

The 2001 BMW 328I has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 4 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 328I. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2001 BMW 328I owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW 328I, describing incidents dated July 6, 2001 to April 9, 2003.

Most-cited components

Engine 2 complaints
Power Train 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10030537 · Filed July 31, 2003
REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE AT 33K MILES WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEAR ACCIDENT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. BMWNA STATES NO LIABILITY FOR INCIDENT AND IGNORES THE FACTORY WARRANTY ON A 2000 MODULE YEAR 3 SERIES. I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY FOR ALL DAMAGES AND NEW PARTS. I HAVE THE…
ODI #749425 · Filed July 30, 2001
WHILE DRIVING, TIRE BLEWUP AND THE WHOLE OUTER WALL OF THE TIRE FELL APART AT ITS ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE. THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND LUCKILY WE PREVENTED A MAJOR CRASH DUE TO IT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: LMUJP5B7 TIRESIZE: 245/40ZR17)
ODI #749038 · Filed July 24, 2001
AMBIENT TEMP WAS 75 DEGREES. TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. STEAM WAS STREAMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW COOLANT LINE ILLUMINATED. *AK

Read all 4 complaints

Air Bag Inflator May Explode or Underinflate Bag

NHTSA #21V401000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported May 27, 2021 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 4,511 vehicles

Repair completion: 50.83% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified July 12, 2021

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V-851, 19V852, or 19V-853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Safety consequence

The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. 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.nhtsa.gov.

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflators May Explode

NHTSA #20V018000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 15, 2020 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 292,948 vehicles

Repair completion: 42.41% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified February 13, 2020 · 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 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. 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.

Air Bag Inflators May Rupture or Underinflate Bag

NHTSA #19V853000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported November 26, 2019 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 74,185 vehicles

Repair completion: 12.09% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified November 10, 2020 · Vehicles built May 20, 1999 – July 14, 2000 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999-2001 323i, 325i, 328i and 330i and 2000-2001 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, 323iT, and 325iT vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver air bag as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW notified owners, and Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. 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 328I. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 BMW 328I.

Power Train

ODI #10030537

Incident: April 9, 2003 · Filed: July 31, 2003

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE AT 33K MILES WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEAR ACCIDENT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. BMWNA STATES NO LIABILITY FOR INCIDENT AND IGNORES THE FACTORY WARRANTY ON A 2000 MODULE YEAR 3 SERIES. I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY FOR ALL DAMAGES AND NEW PARTS. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL DIFFERENTIAL SHOWING THE SHATTERED PINION GEAR. I WAS LUCKY SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT KILL SOMEONE ON THE ROAD BECAUSE BMW REFUSES TO ACCEPT A PROBLEM. *PH

Tires

ODI #749425

Incident: July 28, 2001 · Filed: July 30, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, TIRE BLEWUP AND THE WHOLE OUTER WALL OF THE TIRE FELL APART AT ITS ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE. THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND LUCKILY WE PREVENTED A MAJOR CRASH DUE TO IT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: LMUJP5B7 TIRESIZE: 245/40ZR17)

Engine and Engine Cooling; Unknown or Other

ODI #749038

Incident: July 21, 2001 · Filed: July 24, 2001

AMBIENT TEMP WAS 75 DEGREES. TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. STEAM WAS STREAMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW COOLANT LINE ILLUMINATED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #748175

Incident: July 6, 2001 · Filed: July 9, 2001

VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE SEATING IN TRAFFIC AT A RED LIGHT, WITH THE A/C ON. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN RUNNING FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES. THE CAR WAS EXACTLY ONE MONTH OLD WHEN THIS OCCURED.*AK

Other BMW 328I model years

Check your 2001 BMW 328I VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 328I at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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