2003 BMW 330XI problems
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW 330XI. Air bags is the most reported problem area, at 31% of complaints. Next are electrical system (19%) and tires (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 42 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 31% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 109,000 miles 23 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 | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 23 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 109,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a fire; 1 injury reported.
It is also covered by 5 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 BMW 330 xi. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the instrument panel caught fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The police were contacted and a fire report was on file. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and they confirmed that the VIN qualified for repairs under NHTSA campaign id number: 11v438000 (exterior lighting:brake lights). The failure and current mileages were 110,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 BMW 330xi. While the vehicle was parked at the contact's job, the front end caught fire. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the power steering pump was replaced days before the fire, but it was unknown if the repair contributed to the fire. There were no injuries. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed, but not towed.
Complaint regarding defective goodyear tires. There was a bubble on the front left tire. The consumer believed the tire was defective and should not have to pay to have it replaced.
From the time I bought the car new in early 2003, the air bag sensor light remained on indefinitely. The BMW dealer turned the alert light off several times, and did not fix the underlying problem, indicating that it was only the sensor and that the airbag was working. The light continues to remain on. After several visits to murray BMW in denver the problem was not fixed and the dealership merely turned the alert light off indicating there was nothing wrong, and not repairing the problem.
All exterior lights comes on when the car is off, and now the car stays on when the key out out of the ignition. The recall was fixed before about the lights but they started back again I just got the car and I can't even drive it without the battery dying if I go to work or even the store
Other model years of the 330XI
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
- 1999