Skip to content
BMW 330CIModel year report

2003 BMW 330CI Problems

Complaints
18filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
110,000miles, 9 complaints with mileage
Recalls
33 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 18 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 BMW 330CI (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2003 BMW 330CI. The part named most often is air bags, with 9 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electrical system (3) and body and structure (2). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 11% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 110,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns (3 marked do-not-drive) and 17 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “Went through a pot hole in the freeway and the driver side door air bags deployed..air bag only show half fill..my speed about 60 MPH..is this how it works. No damaged except needed wheel alignment.”

NHTSA complaint #11287754, filed 2019-12, 120,000 miles

Electrical system: “Drove for about 2 hours. Left the car parked for about 3 hours. When I tried to unlock passenger door via remote key fob it did not. I got inside the car and tried to unlock it manually but it still did not let me. I had my handicapped sister with me and it was impossible to get her inside the car. I had somebody come to pick her up after over 3 hours. I have never seen another car that will not unlock at least manually when you pull the door lever on the inside or lift the lock mechanism manually. …”

NHTSA complaint #10505303, filed 2013-04, 120,000 miles

Body and structure: “The contact stated there was a temperature sensor under the right side of the front bumper. When pulling into parking spaces with a concrete parking block, the sensor would come in contact with the concrete block. The contact also indicated that the bumper was too low to the ground putting the temperature sensor at risk of damage. Updated 10/4/2006 -”

NHTSA complaint #10167243, filed 2006-09, 20,000 miles

Engine: “The cooling fans exploded after I started my car up following coolant fluid leaking out the bottom of a hose with no warning signs showing the car over heating in the end result.”

NHTSA complaint #11350004, filed 2020-08

Mileage when problems were reported

11% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 100,000 and 120,000 miles.

0%0–1011%10–250%25–500%50–7511%75–10078%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (9 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 110,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2004201120132015520172020
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 BMW 330CI. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
3 Series · sedan not rated4 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2003 BMW 330CI version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
330ci RWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed manual182722$3,750
330ci RWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic182520$4,100
330ci Convertible RWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172520$4,100
330ci Convertible RWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed manual172620$4,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2003 BMW 330CI → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 17 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 17 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 330CI

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20063476,0002—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20053366,6122—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20047751,6722—20Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200318110,0003—20—Falling
20024688,0003—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200182112,1715—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All BMW 330CI model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 BMW 330CI have?

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2003 BMW 330CI as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 BMW 330CI is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 9 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electrical system with 3.

Has the 2003 BMW 330CI been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2003 BMW 330CI get?

The EPA rates the 2003 BMW 330CI (330ci, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 18 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 BMW 330CI reported?

Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 110,000 miles and the middle half falls between 100,000 and 120,000 miles; 11% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.