10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,100 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 BMW 330 engine problems

engine problem

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2001 BMW 330 Owner Comments

problem #5

Dec 012006

330

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine stalls on a few occasions when vehicle was turning left at low speed, causing temporary loss of power steering. Was able to quickly re-start the engine every time but could have caused crash otherwise. This occurred more frequently after 2008 (and after 60K miles), both at low speed on local roads and at 45 ~ 55 mph on highways, summer or winter conditions, with or without ac turned on. Occurrences are infrequent and unpredictable. Reported to my BMW dealer several times but dealer was unable to replicate the problem and unable to diagnose the issue. Otherwise, the vehicle drives perfectly fine and I love it.

- Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA

problem #4

Mar 042010

330

  • 65,000 miles
2:00 pm I left greenwood village, co to go to a meeting at 49th and nome street. I arrived at my meeting in my BMW at approximately at 2:30 with no problems or indications of problems. 4:00 pm I left the meeting. Then I smelled something with a distinct odor 4:08 pm I drove onto East bound I-70 and continued on I-70 until the ramp to southbound I-225, approximately one mile or so. I was going about 55 mph and there was not much traffic at this time. My windows were rolled up and I had the radio on. I did not have any other electronic equipment on inside the car. The odor got a lot worse as I entered onto the ramp. Smoke started to come out of the BMW front vents and then a flame came from under the steering wheel. I was now on I-225 heading southbound at about 55 miles per hour in the left hand lane. As I was moving over to the right hand lane the instrument panel lit up. A lot of smoke came out from all of the front vents, and especially the front defroster. I looked at the engine temperature light and it was normal. The automobile was running fine. I turned the car off. Then more smoke started coming out of the vents. Then, flames started coming out of the vents and front defroster. 4:10 pm the engine was still turned off. I got out of the car. Flames and black smoke went through the convertible roof straight up. 4:20 pm the Aurora fire department and more Aurora police came.. they towed the car away to the impound lot. The investigator said maybe headlight control module is the problem. All work has been done at BMW service and nothing recent. Car is totaled. No aftermarket accessories.

- Englewood, CO, USA

problem #3

May 092004

330 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 64,000 miles
I drive a 2001 BMW 330I. It stalled on me a few times already. One time, I was slowing down to make a turn and it stalled on me while the car was slowing down. Also, sometimes the accelerator hesitates on me, and it happened twice when I was crossing an intersection and almost got into an accident because of it.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #2

Dec 192003

330 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,000 miles
2001 BMW 330I. Engine stalled any time.happened after engine already warm up (after drove about 1 hour).

- Cypress, TX, USA

problem #1

Mar 152003

330

  • Manual transmission
  • 22,500 miles
The engine of my car shut off, and upon being towed to the dealer, they got back to me to say that the engine failed as a result of drivers error from a downshift from 4th to 2nd. The dealer said that this was identified by the car's computer system. However, after talking to many mechanics, I have been instructed that this problem could never have been identified by a car's computer, and this was just an out for the manufacturer and dealer. I am not satisfied with their answer, and am looking for a way to protest their decision. For right now, I was stuck paying for the total bill which exceeded $6000.

- Belle Vernon, PA, USA

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