2005 BMW 330CI problems
The 2005 BMW 330CI has 38 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (53%) concerns air bags. Next are lighting (18%) and body & structure (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 38 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 53% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 82,000 miles 17 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 | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 17 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 82,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the BMW 330CI with enough data (3 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.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while entering a highway. There were no warnings prior to the incident. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer, who was unable to determine the problem. Later that evening, the convertible top became stuck halfway open. The top had to be manually pushed while the switch was activated to get it to move. The manufacturer was also notified.
The side impact air bag deployed for what seemed like no apparent reason while driving home from work on feb 14th 2010 at approximately 2320 hours. I managed to keep the car under control and made it to the side of the road. I inspected the vehicle and nothing struck it and there was no tire damage. I restarted the car and drove home and contacted BMW north america about the problem and they said they were going to cover the oct of the repairs even though the vehicle is out of warranty.
Mbw 330ci 2005: on 3/22/10, @ 3pm pacific, my brake response went from "good stop" to "unsafe, bad, "cruise-to-stop". I've had my car into irvine BMW 5 times since then, and "nothing wrong" could be found. I contacted BMW n.a. About ongoing problem, when I read about the "recall" just now reported, on the 5 & 7 series cars. The "problem described" as the reason for that recall, is what I've complained to BMW since 3/30/10!
I was coming around a curve at around 35 miles per hour when out of nowhere my power steering failed. I nearly ran off the road when the power steering was lost but was able to slow down and stay on the road. Had this happened on an offramp at 50 miles per hour there could have been a completely different outcome. My internet research has shown this is a common problem for the power steering pumps to fail as the internal shaft breaks away in the pump and fluid is no longer circulated within the system.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 BMW 330ci. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14v428000 (air bags); however, the parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 134,000.