2001 BMW 330I Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 35about this part
- Share
- 30%of 116 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 75,220miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 35 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 BMW 330I, 30% of the 116 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 75,220 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 4 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving my Bmw 2001 330I on dover chester rd crossing the intersection of morris tpke in randolph, nj when I hit a pot hole and patch work on the road. The passenger side door and window airbags deployed cutting the power to the engine and turning on the emergency hazard lights. I immediately pulled off the road and saw that I had a flat tire but no damage to tire rim and no damage to the body of the car. There was no impact or reason for the airbag system to deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10587219, filed 2014-05, 74,700 miles“We were driving my 2001 Bmw 330I the posted speed limit (70 MPH) in missouri on hwy 57 northbound in the right-hand lane when suddenly, at mile marker 19, there was an explosion on the drivers side causing the driver to temporarily lose control of the vehicle due to the impact of the airbags hitting him on the side of the face, up against his right arm and elbow, and covering him with a light, white powder. …”
NHTSA complaint #10260826, filed 2009-03, 75,740 miles“On saturday 03/01/2014 at around 10:30pm I had just passed the tappan zee bridge going to connecticut so I was on the 287 west or north highway (not sure because at some point 287 changes from west to north). It was about 1-2 miles after when I hit a huge pothole that made air bag or side curtain fell off. The entire bag did not deploy, just the side curtain fell off and stayed hanging. Insurance company considered it a collision and totaled my car. I feel upset because the air bag did not open properly and yet my car was totaled because of it.”
NHTSA complaint #10573228, filed 2014-03, 182,000 miles“My driver side curtain and door airbags deployed after hitting a pot hole. There is no damege to any sides of the vehicle. After they deployed, the car cut off, and I am still rolling. Hazzard lights did come on. And now, I am scared to drive the car.”
NHTSA complaint #10122408, filed 2005-05, 69,895 miles“In january 2006, the trouble light in our 2001 Bmw 330I, signaled that the computer that activates the air bags had failed. The local dealer indicates that he has 3 other similar vehicles with the same problem, but to this date he has been unable to secure the proper replacement parts in the u.s and is on back order to the factory in germany. During the past 4 months we have been without air bags in this vehicle because of a shortage of the proper replacement parts.”
NHTSA complaint #10159940, filed 2006-06, 45,139 milesRelated recalls
- 20V018000Jan 15, 2020DO NOT DRIVEBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci…Covers: BMW 330I 2000–2005, 330CI 2000–2006, M3 2000–2006 +11 more
- 14V428000Jun 11, 2018DO NOT DRIVEBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes…Covers: BMW 330I 2001–2006, 325I 2001–2006, M3 2001–2006 +4 more
- 21V401000May 27, 2021BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i…Covers: BMW 330I 1999–2001, 328I 1999–2001, 323I 1999–2001 +6 more
- 19V853000Nov 26, 2019BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999-2001 323i, 325i, 328i and 330i and 2000-2001 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, 323iT, and 325iT vehicles…Covers: BMW 330I 1999–2001, 328I 1999–2001, 323I 1999–2001 +6 more
Related service bulletins
- 10184591Nov 1, 2020SERVICE ACTION - HEAD AIR BAG HOLDER RETROFIT: A rattle noise may develop from the head air bag (ITS) gas generator contacting adjacent component. This noise can be heard while…
- 10160287Apr 1, 2019TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.
- 10160244Apr 1, 2019TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.
- 10153726Jan 1, 2019Takata class action settlement. Customer support program. Front driver side airbag modules.
- 10149558Oct 1, 2018For the above-referenced vehicles with passenger?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?) will provide a Customer Support Program as outlined in the Takata…
- 10149557Oct 1, 2018For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?) will provide a Customer Support Program as outlined in the Takata…
- 10154816Feb 1, 2018In an effort to improve the completion rate on Takata air bag recall affected vehicles; BMW NA has expanded the BMW Ultimate Rewards platform to include a new Recall Support…
- 10148100Jun 1, 2014Special Technical Campaign. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has urged vehicle manufacturers to conduct an investigation into air bags which may not…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 17% |
| 2024 | 1 | 17% |
| 2021 | 4 | 14% |
| 2020 | 5 | 9% |
| 2019 | 4 | 10% |
| 2017 | 1 | 2% |
| 2006 | 133 | 61% |
| 2005 | 5 | 18% |
| 2004 | 20 | 18% |
| 2003 | 24 | 31% |
| 2002 | 13 | 29% |
| 2001 | 35 | 30% |
Other parts of the 2001 BMW 330I
23 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsTires
6 complaintsSuspension
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsWheels
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 BMW 330I
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology