The 2003 BMW 330ci has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 755,387 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 6, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS20V0180002020-01-15292,948 affected
Defect
BMW 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, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger…
Consequence
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
AIR BAGS15V3180002015-05-28419,235 affected
Defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i…
Consequence
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in…
AIR BAGS13V1720002013-05-0243,204 affected
Defect
BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to…
Consequence
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
Remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW intends to issue initial notifications to owners informing them of the safety defect in June 2013. Once replacement parts are available, estimated for July, BMW will notify owners again to contact their dealers and schedule a…
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
9
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
ENGINE
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
STRUCTURE
1
STRUCTURE:BODY
1
TIRES:SIDEWALL
1
Total complaints18
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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.”
“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.”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw 330ci. The contact stated that while driving at 25-30 mph, the vehicle went over a bump in the roadway and the rollover protection system activated. The contact stated that there was no accident and that the vehicle did not rollover. The contact stated that safety…”
“Tl* the contact owned a 2003 bmw 330ci. While driving 50 mph, the contact suffered a stroke and crashed into another vehicle. The air bags deployed and that metal fragments struck the contact in the mouth. The contact sustained injuries to the mouth and lost a tooth. Medical attention was…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw 330ci. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 14v428000 (air bags) and 15v318000 (air bags); however, the parts for the recall repairs were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the…”
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 bmw 330ci. The contact stated that nhtsa campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact received the notification in june of 2016. The dealer (bmw of el paso, 6318 montana ave, el paso, tx, 79925)…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw 330ci. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was…”
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 bmw 330ci. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 BMW 330ci as of
July 6, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.