2001 BMW 328I
The 2001 BMW 328I appears in 3 NHTSA recall campaigns (air bags) and in 4 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is engine and engine cooling: 400 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 116.8 per 1,000 across all 2001 model-year vehicles and against 34.4 per 1,000 for the BMW 328I line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 67.7 complaints per model year across the 21 BMW 328I model years on this register.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2001 (3); the most recent in the file is dated 31 Jul 2003.
NHTSA carries a "do not drive" advisory on at least one of these campaigns.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: BMW 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, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V-851, 19V852, or 19V-853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence: The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC.
Do not drive advisory
Defect, as filed: 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 frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
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.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC.
Defect, as filed: BMW 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 equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver air bag as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW notified owners, and Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC.
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2001 BMW 328I (black) against all 2001 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2001 | 328I line | All 2001 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 400 | 34.4 | 116.8 |
| Unknown or Other | 200 | 39.2 | 19.7 |
| Tires | 200 | 13.4 | 33.1 |
| Power Train | 200 | 51.1 | 93.1 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 400 | 34.4 | 116.8 |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 200 | 39.2 | 19.7 |
| Tires | 1 | 200 | 13.4 | 33.1 |
| Power Train | 1 | 200 | 51.1 | 93.1 |
4 unique complaints, 5 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other BMW 328I model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0 | 31 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | 25 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | 25 | — |
| 1999 | 7 | 82 | 207,270 |
| 2000 | 7 | 105 | 1,018,247 |
| 2001 | 3 | 4 | 371,644 |
| 2002 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 292,948 |
| 2003 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 292,948 |
| 2004 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 292,948 |
| 2005 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 292,948 |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 | 1,156,959 |
| 2007 | 6 | 338 | 2,490,876 |
| 2008 | 5 | 175 | 2,414,311 |
| 2009 | 6 | 128 | 2,430,952 |
| 2010 | 6 | 72 | 2,570,448 |
| 2011 | 7 | 224 | 2,570,638 |
| 2012 | 6 | 47 | 1,267,696 |
| 2013 | 5 | 90 | 873,667 |
| 2014 | 8 | 47 | 839,513 |
| 2015 | 4 | 17 | 735,429 |
| 2016 NHTSA | 1 | 11 | 720,796 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All BMW 328I model years · BMW: 250 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2001 BMW 328I have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 21V401000, was reported to NHTSA on 27 May 2021 and concerns air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Across all model years the BMW 328I line has 27 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2001 BMW 328I?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 2001 BMW 328I complain about most?
Engine and Engine Cooling: 2 of 5 component mentions (400 per 1,000). Next is unknown or other with 1. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.