BMW 328IC · model year

2000 BMW 328IC

37 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2000BMW328IC carries 37 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2000 328IC is structure:frame and members with 11 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (6) and suspension:rear (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2000 328IC. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

37
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

37 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS11
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
SUSPENSION:REAR3
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1
TIRES1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
STRUCTURE1

Recent Complaints

20110621STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DRIVERSIDE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT HAS TORN THROUGH THE REAR SUBFRAME DUE TO A BMW ENGINEERING FLAW. *TR

Mileage: 141,129

20110604STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE REAR SUBFRAME ON THE 1999-2006 :BMW 3 SERIES CARS CAN TEAR OR RIP, CAUSING THE REAR END TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR. MY 2000 328CI SHOWS EVIDENCE OF THIS FRAME CRACKING. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

20110128SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 328IC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD THUMP FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FEELING SIMILAR TO BEING STRUCK FROM THE REAR. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE REAR BUSHINGS WERE FAILING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF AN UNKNOWN RECALL TWO YEARS PRIOR FOR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED UNDER ANY RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20101125POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO REVERSE.. NOVEMBER 23,2010 WHILE TRYING PARK TO MY DRIVE WAY, MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FIND OUT THAT NO REVERSE!!! AND WHILE TRYING TO AVOID GET HIT BY ANOTHER CAR, I HIT CURB END UP WITH DAMAGED SUSPENSION AND STILL NO REVERSE .. *TR

Mileage: 130,094

20090922POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY 2000 BMW 328CI WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I HAVE READ THAT THERE THIS IS A VERY COMMON TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH THE GM TRANSMISSION AND THAT GM RECALLED IT BUT BMW DID NOT. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20090909POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE CAR WAS IN PARKING LOT. I SWITCHED THE STICK INTO REVERSE POSITION AND THE CAR GOES NOWHERE. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20090401POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY 200 BMW 328CI'S TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR AND TOOK PERFECT CARE OF IT. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED BY AN AUTHORIZED BMW DEALERSHIP. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

20090309AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 328IC. WHEN AN OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATES EVEN IF THE PERSON IS PROPERLY POSITIONED. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 FOR THE 2004-2006 BMW VEHICLES (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE DEALER COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AND IS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND A SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE WAS RESET, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 144,000

20090211ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR SIX WEEKS DUE TO A CRACK IN THE OIL WATER SEPARATOR. THE PART HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF VEHICLES IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000. UPDATED 3/19/09 *CN ENGINE WAS LEAKING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. UPDATED 03/25/09.*JB

Mileage: 120,000

20081230POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

REVERSE REFUSES TO WORK. NO WARNING, DROVE 2 HOURS, PULLED INTO DRIVE WAY AND COULDN'T GET OUT. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

20081203POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FIRST THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTER. CAR WOULDN'T START IN PARK. I HAD THAT FIXED. THEN I NOTICED WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE, IT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. THEN OUT OF THE BLUE, ONLY SEVERAL DAYS OUT OF THE SHOP, THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE IN ANY GEAR. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 21,500 MILES OR SO. I WILL ASK MECHANIC TO KEEP OLD PART. I CALLED VOB OF ROCKVILLE, MD. THEY WERE THEIR USUAL DISGUSTING SELVES. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME OVER 6000 DOLLARS THAT I DON'T HAVE. THE CAR IS A 200 328CI PURCHASED NEW. *TR

Mileage: 21,500

20071031STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

REAR SUBFRAME (LEFT REAR MOUNT) IS COMPLETELY TORN OUT OF THE FLOOR. CURRENTLY CAUSES A JOLTING ACTION IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND A CREAKING NOISE IN LOW SPEED DRIVING. IF LEFT UNATTENDED, COULD CAUSE MISALIGNMENT, POOR PERFORMANCE, AND THE REAR AXLE TO DROP FROM THE BODY. THIS IS NOT ONLY BAD BUT ALSO A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

20070720STRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 328IC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE SUB-FRAME TO CRACK WHERE THE TWO PARTS WERE ATTACHED. BMW STATED THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20070126STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

BACK IN JUNE 2006, I TOOK MY 2000 BMW 332CI TO BMW OF SAN DIEGO IN CALIFORNIA FOR THE SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM REAR AREA OF MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE SO NOTHING WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. NOW I TOOK MY CAR TO A REGULAR CHECK UP AT THE SAME BMW OF SAN DIEGO, AND THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME THAT REAR SUBFRAME IS TORN AND IT IS SAFETY HAZARD SO THEY THINK I SHOULD NOT DRIVE MY CAR AT ALL UNTIL I GET A REPAIR DONE AT LOCAL BODY SHOP. THEY THINK I SHOULD TOW THE CAR THERE. I THEN NOTICED THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 40 OTHER COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA SITE ABOUT THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM I AM HAVING. I LEARNED THROUGH ONLINE FORUM THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECALLED BY BMW GERMANY IN GERMAN A FEW YEARS BACK. I ALSO LEARNED THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HAS PAID TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON FOR SOME CUSTOMERS EVEN IF THEY ARE ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY JUST LIKE MYSELF. CURRENTLY I AM WAITING FOR BMW OF NORTH AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE TO VISIT THE BMW O

Mileage: 110,000

20061026STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

MY 2000 328CI BMW 5 SPD. THE SUBFRAME BEGAN TO TEAR IN 2004. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS BUT I'VE NOTICED VARIOUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A DEFECT AND COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING. *NM

Mileage: 40,000

20060831STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT IN MY 2000 328CI HAS A SIGNIFICANT FATIGUE CRACK AT THE SUBFRAME MOUNT WITHIN THE REAR AXLE SUPPORT. THIS PART, BMW #41117000246, FAILS DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKS FORMING IN THE SHEET METAL AT THE PERIPHERY OF THE SPOT WELDS OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT TO THE BODY OF THE CAR. THE CRACK WAS OBSERVED DURING A REGULAR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND MORE COMMON FAILURE THAN THE NUMBERS REPORTED TO NHTSA. ONE ENTHUSIASTS SITE HAS A LIST WITH 120 1999 AND 2000 E46 CARS WITH THIS FAILURE. THE CRACK IN MY CAR WAS OBSERVED BECAUSE I KNEW TO LOOK FOR IT. OTHERS HAVE NO IDEA THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN. THERE WAS NO PRIOR ACCIDENT OR EVENT THAT WOULD MAKE ONE SUSPECT SUCH A FAILURE. I ONLY KNEW BECAUSE A FELLOW BMW CAR CLUB MEMBER WARNED ME TO LOOK. THE CONSEQUENCES IS THAT THE REAR DRIVETRAIN AND SUSPENSION ARE SEPARATING FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. AFTER THE FIRST SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINT FAILS (VIRTUALLY ALWAYS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR) THEN THE PASSENGER SI

Mileage: 65,250

20060406VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

LEFT SIDE DRIVER WINDOW WILL NOT MAKE FINAL POWER UP AFTER SHUTTING DOOR IF THE WINDOW HAS BEEN PARTIALLY OPENED OR CLOSED PREVIOUSLY. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE WINDOW CLOSE TIGHTLY IS TO POWER DOWN THE WINDOW COMPLETELY AND THEN POWER UP COMPLETELY WITH NO STOPPING PART WAY. *JB

Mileage: 12,683

20060406SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

AT LOW SPEEDS, WHEN TURNING, THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS A CREAKING SOUND DUE TO DISTORTED AND LOOSE BALL JOINTS ON BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS - REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH CONTROL ARMS. *JB

Mileage: 23,224

20060406ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

CABIN HEATER BLOWER FAN IS SPORADIC (RUNS HIGH THEN LOW THEN HIGH AGAIN ON ITS OWN) DUE TO DEFECTIVE FINAL STAGE RESISTOR. *JB

Mileage: 12,683

20060406ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO FAULT CODE 168 - FAULTY THERMOSTAT THAT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE THERMOSTAT. *JB

Mileage: 18,087

Compare 2000BMW328IC to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2000 BMW 328IC have?
The 2000 BMW 328IC has 37 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 BMW 328IC?
The most-complained component for the 2000 BMW 328IC is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and SUSPENSION:REAR.
Is the 2000 BMW 328IC safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.