2000 BMW 3 Series problems
The 2000 BMW 3 Series has 111 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (27%) concerns body & structure. Next are transmission (20%) and drivetrain & axles (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 111 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Body & structure 27% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 99,000 miles 94 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 4 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 19 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 22 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 15 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 13 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 6 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 6 |
What the data shows
Of the 94 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 99,000 miles. For body & structure specifically, the median reported mileage is about 94,000 miles (23 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 4 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2000 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the BMW 3 Series with enough data (20 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Dt: the contact stated the driver's side air bag deployed while driving on the highway. There was no prior warning. The contact and mechanic contacted the manufacturer, and they offered no assistance. Updated 12/14/2005.
Takata recall!! I was driving 35 MPH on a regular street I always drive on and mid drive both passanger and driver air bags deployed for no reason!!!! Causing very serious injuries!! Also causing more damage to my car!!!!
While driving driver's side air bag deployed inadvertently. Driver sustained head injuries and was transported to the hospital.
Automatic transmission on 2000 BMW 323ci with 52,000 miles failed in reverse only. Properly maintained and driven less than 10,000 miles per year. Initial diagnosis cost $327.00, and told estimated cost of replacing transmission was $5500.00. No reason found as to why the transmission failed. Told that if keep driving the car that the entire transmission will eventually fail which was a serious danger on the highway.
I heard a squeaking noise coming from the rear end, took it to my mechanic, and was told the subframe has torn off of the rear suspension. He checked to see if there is a recall, but none has been found. He did notice online that this has been an ongoing problem, with many complaints, and that a class action lawsuit had been filed.