BMW 330i complaints by model year
814 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 2020 | 53 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
| 2019 | 41 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| 2018 | 32 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 2017 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 219 | 5 | 10 | 7 |
| 2005 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 2004 | 113 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 2003 | 77 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 2002 | 45 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 2001 | 116 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2017–2026. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 20 | 12 | 9 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 11 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
BMW 330i recalls (38)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one 330i model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V056000 | Jan 30, 2026 | Starter Motor May Overheat and Cause a Fire | 2021–2024 | 32.2% |
| 25V636000 | Sep 23, 2025 | Engine Starter May Corrode and Overheat | 2019, 2020, 2021 | 60.3% |
| 25V202000 | Apr 1, 2025 | Starter-Generator Electrical Connection May Fail | 2025 | 97.3% |
| 24V513000 | Jul 3, 2024 | Driver's Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2006–2011 | 20.2% |
| 23V770000 | Nov 16, 2023 | Steering Gear Improperly Tightened | 2024 | 100% |
| 23V584000 | Aug 16, 2023 | Seat Belt Audio Chime Malfunction/FMVSS 208 | 2019–2022 | 91% |
| 23V211000 | Mar 29, 2023 | Front Seats Not Properly Welded | 2019, 2020, 2021 | 90.2% |
| 23V118000 | Feb 23, 2023 | Unlocked Door May Open During Crash | 2023 | 97.5% |
| 22V070000 | Feb 9, 2022 | Internal Transmission Leak May Cause Rollaway | 2022 | 100% |
| 21V554000 | Jul 21, 2021 | Passenger Seat Belt Malfunction/FMVSS 208 | 2021 | 98.8% |
| 21V401000 | May 27, 2021 | Air Bag Inflator May Explode or Underinflate Bag | 1999, 2000, 2001 | 50.8% |
| 21V298000 | Apr 28, 2021 | Front Seat Belt Buckle Assembly Malfunction | 2021 | 100% |
| 21V096000 | Feb 19, 2021 | Rearview Camera Image Malfunction/FMVSS 111 | 2019, 2020, 2021 | 97.6% |
| 20V355000 | Jun 15, 2020 | Steering Gear Tie Rods May Become Damaged | 2019, 2020 | 99.3% |
| 20V164000 | Mar 19, 2020 | Seat Belt Sensors May Not Detect Belted Condition | 2020 | 99.9% |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
BMW 330i FAQ
How many recalls has the BMW 330i had?
NHTSA lists 38 recall campaigns that cover at least one BMW 330i model year from 2001 to 2026. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which BMW 330i year has the most complaints?
Among the last 11 model years with settled counts, the 2006 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (219) and the 2005 the fewest (28). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common BMW 330i problems?
Across the 2017–2026 model years, owners most often name the engine, electrical system, unknown or other in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the BMW 330i get?
EPA rates the 2026 BMW 330i at 31 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.