BMW 330xi Complaints

193 consumer complaints on file.

#11703146December 5, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
“The PCV valve heater (positive crankcase ventilation heater) on my 2006 BMW 330xi failed and caused an engine bay electrical fire. This component is under an active BMW safety recall for fire risk. The failure happened suddenly while driving, with no prior warning lights or symptoms. Smoke began coming from the engine area, followed by visible flames. My safety was put at risk, and I immediately exited the vehicle. The vehicle became inoperable and was towed by the City of Chicago. The car has since been declared a total loss due to the fire. The vehicle is currently in the city impound and available for inspection upon request. The problem has not been inspected by a dealer yet because the vehicle was destroyed before I received the recall repair.”
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656332April 23, 2025
AIR BAGS
While I was driving the air bags went off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11506457February 9, 2023
AIR BAGS
Takata Airbag Safety Recall Vin:[XXX] I live in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which according to BMW and NHTSA is Zone B. My vehicle has a built date of 10/19/2005 330xi e90 model. The time in which the degradation to the propellant poses an unreasonable risk to safety is stated as a 10-15 year time frame. My car is almost 18 years old but BMW has NOT prioritized my vehicle's airbag. My vin number might not have made the list for zone A but its in zone B. I should have to wait until someone gets killed or injured. My name is [XXX] and can be reached at [XXX] My BMW dealer is Otto's BMW West Chester, PA 610399-8067 Please demand that BMW comply with the recall information listed on clearly on your NHTSA site and BMW of America's site. (Site Last updated 01/14/2019) Thank you. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11497465December 14, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11478511August 9, 2022
TIRES
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11472318July 5, 2022
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact stated that the air bags warning and seat belts warning lights illuminated intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V428000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11472320July 5, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms remedy not yet available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11467167June 2, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact's brother owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact stated while his mother was driving approximately 30-40 MPH, she smelled a burning plastic odor and the vehicle started to overheat. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The coolant temperature warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11463487May 5, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle began to overheat. The check engine warning light, the coolant temperature warning light, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and waited. The contact then continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly while driving and smoke would come out from underneath the hood and through the vent inside of the vehicle while driving, and the vehicle would occasionally stall. Additionally, the contact also stated that the vehicle stalled and failed to restart twice. The vehicle was then towed twice to the contact's residence. The contact's father, who is an independent mechanic, could not determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle remained at the residence undrivable. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine And Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11449466January 30, 2022
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Coolant leak from exhaust manifold Reservoir fails All coolant hoses fail
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11441776November 26, 2021
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
We took our recently purchased BMW 2006 330xi in for recalls and a few fixes. However, the BMW service center wasn't able to fix one of the issues through the recall process since it doesn't show up for our vehicle. However, everything that I read suggests that it was a recall for this make and model. We are not sure if it was supposedly addressed before we purchased the vehicle and it is now a reoccurring issue or it is a first-time issue. The airbag/seatbelt warning light is present for passenger seat occupancy detector faults. The BMW service center said it was the sensor in the front passenger seat and offered to fix it for $1000 plus. We opted to not fix it until we checked further into the situation. The light for the passenger airbag saying that it is off is currently lit, and the airbag/seatbelt light remains on at this time. Looking for more information on this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11440350November 13, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434546September 27, 2021
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2005 BMW 330XI. The contact received a recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V018000 ( air bags) which they took the vehicle to a local dealer who performed the recall repair on the vehicle. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed the contact was making a U-turn when another driver t- bone and crashed into the rear passenger side door. The air bags did not deploy. There was no medical treatment at the scene however the next day the contact and her grandson went to the hospital. The contact sustained an injury to their back while her grandson injured his neck and back. A police report was filed. The contact had the vehicle towed to a towed yard where it was later deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11427969August 5, 2021
AIR BAGS
i was driving about 35mph and hit a pot hole in the road. that caused my passenger front, passenger side door, and passenger aide door top to deploy.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11412892April 19, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
330I SEDAN - ZKW HID HEADLIGHTS WITH BURNT XENON BULB REFLECTORS RENDERING THE HEADLIGHTS INEFFECTIVE AND THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11406217April 3, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
GOING THROUGH MY NEWLY PURCHASED, USED 2006 330XI, I FOUND SEVERAL WARNINGS FOR FRONT HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED ADAPTIVE FUNCTIONS WERE DISABLED AND THE LEFT LOW BEAM WAS STUCK POINTING LEFT. WHILE THE BULBS THEMSELVES WERE STILL FUNCTIONING, THE LIGHT WAS POINTED DIRECTLY AT ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND DID NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. OPENING THE ACCESS PANEL AT THE REAR OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOWED MULTIPLE BARE WIRES INSIDE OF THE SEALED HOUSING, THE INSULATION HAD SIMPLY STARTED TO FLAKE OFF OF THE WIRES RENDERING ALL CENTERING AND LEVELING FUNCTIONS OF THE LIGHT INOPERABLE. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH BMW HEADLIGHTS, FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTED DATA AND CASES PLEASE REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING FORUM THREAD : HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/THREADS/
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11394822February 5, 2021
POWER TRAIN
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TAKES A LONG TIME TO ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE BUT ONCE IT GETS GOING, IT SHIFTS SMOOTHLY. I SPOKE TO A TECHNICIAN AND THERE IS NO KNOWN FIX FOR IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11387793January 12, 2021
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378421December 8, 2020
ENGINE
I DIDN'T GET ANY PICTURES. MY SISTER HAS A 330 XI DRIVE TO DENVER AT ONE POINT OF THE DRIVE HURDLE A POP IN THE CAR. WHERE DRIVING FAST NO POT HOLES HIT. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH A MECHANIC FRIEND OF MINE. WE GOT UNDER THE CAR THE CAR AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE AXEL WAS RESTING ON THE FRAME OF THE CAR. THERE WHERE 3 MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE MOTOR MOUNT BRACKETS AN 1 LAYING ON THE SCID PLATE UNDER THE CAR. I HAVE READ SOME OTHER TESTIMONY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A DEFINITE PROBLEM SO I HOPE YOU LOOK IN TO THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11350918August 24, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER READING MANY FORUM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MY VEHICLE PROBLEM IS THE GM5 MODULE. THIS MODULE CONTROLS A WIDE SELECTION OF ELECTRICAL FUNCTION ON THIS CAR. THE FUNCTION THAT IS AT ISSUE IS THE CENTRAL LOCKING/UNLOCKING FUNCTION INITIATED BY THE KEY, KEY FOB OR LOCKING CONTROL BUTTON ON THE CONSOLE. BY RESEARCHING ONLINE IT IS APPARENT THAT THE BMW E46 MODEL HAS HAD A LONG PERIOD THAT THIS MODULE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. THIS FAULTY MODULE (GM-5) WILL LEAVE YOU LOCKED OUT OF YOUR CAR AND OR ONCE INSIDE NOT ALLOW ANY OTHER DOORS TO OPEN BY ANY MEANS. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU MAY BE THREATENING SITUATION. THE MANUFACTURER KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AS IT SPANS YEARS OF PRODUCTION. I AM JUST REPORTING THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. WE HAPPEN TO KEEP OUR CARS ALONG TIME AND THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE AND FRUSTRATING PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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