2004 BMW 330CI problems
The 2004 BMW 330CI has 82 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (38%) concerns air bags. Next are engine (16%) and electrical system (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 82 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 38% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 8 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 45,000 miles 51 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 | 18 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 11 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 51 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 45,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 58,000 miles (12 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 8 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 8 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the BMW 330CI with enough data (36 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
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.
On 14 september 2008 I was involved in a motor vehicle accident involving my 2004 BMW 330ci convertible. We had a vehicle run a left turn red light into us as we were passing through the intersection in kent wa. I estimate the impact was probably equivalent to a 50 to 60 MPH collision. It was observed that the air bags did not deploy but the roll over roll bar did. With the recall of air bags for the BMW I think it may also apply to the 2004 3 series also.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 BMW 330ci. While making a left turn at a traffic light, the contact's vehicle was involved in a crash with an oncoming vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent facility. The contact sustained injuries to the upper body that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 15v318000 (air bags) and 14v428000 (air bags).
While backing out of a short driveway and placed t to drive, the vehicle revved and started speeding out of control with brakes applied. The vehicle sideswiped a neighbors vehicle before crashing head on into a tree causing it to stop. I had jerked up the emergency brake and ripped the key out of the ignition. The replaced airbags did not deploy.
Engine power failure and heavily distorted windshield on a 2004 BMW 330ci. Repeated failure of engine power without warning (twice in an itersection). BMW replaced eng. Computer, then installed new software after second incident. Rough idle and surging continues and gas mileage in city dropped to 12.6-13 mpg. Additionally the windshield is heavily distorted. BMW replaced it with an equally distorted one and the fse said"all 3 series windshields are distorted,worse on the x3".
I was driving my 2004 BMW 330ci when suddenly without any warning my engine stopped working, which resulted in no engine power, no power brakes and no power steering. It was a very dangerous situation. It was towed to the nearest BMW dealer where the fuel pump was replaced.