BMW 330I · model year

2005 BMW 330I

42 NHTSA complaints, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005BMW330I carries 42 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, 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 2005 330I is exterior lighting with 14 filings, followed by air bags (4) and exterior lighting:headlights (4). 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. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2005 330I. 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.

42
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

42 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
EXTERIOR LIGHTING14
AIR BAGS4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS4
SUSPENSION3
STEERING3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
SEAT BELTS2
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES1
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS1
ENGINE1
POWER TRAIN1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recalls (5)

07E02300029/03/2007

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAI

15V31800028/05/2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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,

11V43800026/08/2011

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 325I, 325XI, 330I, AND 330XI VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2001, THROUGH MARCH 1, 2005. OVER TIME, RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY CAUSE ONE OR MORE REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS (TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND/OR TURN-SIGNAL), WITHIN THE VEHICL

20V01800015/01/2020

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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 PS

14V42800011/06/2018

AIR BAGS

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-200

Recent Complaints

20191120EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE OEM FACTORY ZKW HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR BOWL IS CHEAPLY MADE AND IS KNOWN TO BURN OUT. THE CHEAP PLASTIC USED CANNOT HANDLE THE HEAT OF THE BULB AND THE METALLIC REFLECTOR FILM EVENTUALLY STARTS TO GO BAD CAUSING VERY POOR HEADLIGHT VISIBILITY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND CONCERN. BMW NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND SHOULD FIND A REPLACEMENT OPTION WITHOUT USING THE POORLY MADE OEM ZKW REFLECTOR BOWL.

20190212EXTERIOR LIGHTING

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE LIGHT INTENSITY HAS STEADILY DECLINED IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS OF MY CAR, TO THE POINT WHERE THEY NO LONGER FUNCTION. MY MECHANIC HAS LOOKED INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOUND THAT THE PROJECTOR BOWL REFLECTOR HAS PREMATURELY WORN OUT -- IT HAS LOST ITS REFLECTIVE ABILITY. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC AND BASED ON MULTIPLE REPORTS IN ONLINE GROUP DISCUSSIONS, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE ZKW XENON HEADLIGHTS. THIS DEFECT IN THE HEADLIGHTS COMPROMISES SAFE OPERABILITY AND INCREASES THE RISK OF A NIGHT-TIME ACCIDENT. THIS IS A PART OF THE HEADLIGHT THAT SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT OR NEED REPLACEMENT UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, AS HAS BEEN THE CASE WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE RESORTED TO USING MY FOG LIGHTS OR HIGH BEAMS FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT. BMW AND ZKW ARE DEFLECTING THE ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING A POTENTIAL WIDESPREAD DEFECT IN THESE XENON ZKW HEADLIGHTS. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 130,000

20170317ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PRESENTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER A FEW YEARS AGO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT KEPT TELLING ME A BULB WAS OUT AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT ALL THE BULBS WERE WORKING. I HAVE REPLACE THE REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE PRONG WHERE STARTING TO MELT. SO I CALL BMWNA AND THEY TOO IGNORED MY FIRST REQUEST FOR THE RECALL ON THE 2005 BMW REAR TAIL LIGHT HAZARD, I HAVE SINCE TRIED TO CALLED SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT WITHIN THE RECALL TIME FRAME BUT IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT MY CAR IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ALL THE OTHERS ONES HAVE HAD AND WISH TO GET THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD FIXED BECAUSE IF THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WILL READ ONE THING BUT THE TAIL LIGHT IS SHOWING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THOSE TRAVELING BEHIND ME. I HAVE ENCLOSED THE TWO PHOTOS OF THE BURNT CASING AND HARNESS. I FEEL THIS HAZARD IS PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY IN GREAT DANGER BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DEFINITE SIGN WHEN OR WHERE THESE LIGHTS MALFUNCTION THE BLINKER, BRAKE, ETC .

20170317EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I PRESENTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER A FEW YEARS AGO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT KEPT TELLING ME A BULB WAS OUT AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT ALL THE BULBS WERE WORKING. I HAVE REPLACE THE REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE PRONG WHERE STARTING TO MELT. SO I CALL BMWNA AND THEY TOO IGNORED MY FIRST REQUEST FOR THE RECALL ON THE 2005 BMW REAR TAIL LIGHT HAZARD, I HAVE SINCE TRIED TO CALLED SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT WITHIN THE RECALL TIME FRAME BUT IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT MY CAR IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ALL THE OTHERS ONES HAVE HAD AND WISH TO GET THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD FIXED BECAUSE IF THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WILL READ ONE THING BUT THE TAIL LIGHT IS SHOWING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THOSE TRAVELING BEHIND ME. I HAVE ENCLOSED THE TWO PHOTOS OF THE BURNT CASING AND HARNESS. I FEEL THIS HAZARD IS PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY IN GREAT DANGER BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DEFINITE SIGN WHEN OR WHERE THESE LIGHTS MALFUNCTION THE BLINKER, BRAKE, ETC .

20170203AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL"- WE RECEIVED A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 2016 ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND OUR CAR WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT SAYS " YOUR VEHICLE IS ALSO AFFECTED BY A PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL" AND " WE ARE PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL". PRIOR TO THE LETTER ( AUGUST 26, 2016), THIS PARTICULAR CAR HAD CHANGED OIL AT PACIFIC BMW AND CHECKED THE AIRBAG AND NOTED " RECALL: PERFORMS RECALLS/ REPLACE DRIVER'S AIRBAG/ PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME/ UNABLE TO PERFORM RECALL". THEY ADVISED ME TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP ON THIS MATTER, WE CONTACTED ON THE FOLLOWING MONTH BUT THEY SAID " THERE WAS NO AVAILABLE PARTS" AND THEY WOULD CALL US ONCE IT'S AVAILABLE. IT'S BEEN 6 MONTHS NOW AND WE HAVEN'T RECEIVE ANY CALL OR ADVICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP ( PACIFIC BMW ) ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF THE SAID AIRBAG RECALL AND WHEN TO REPLACE IT. OUR CAR JUST SITTING IN THE GARAGE OR WE BARELY USE IT BECAUSE OF THIS AIRBAG RECALL AND AFRA

20161219SEAT BELTS

DRIVER SEAT BELT IS LOOSE AND DOES NOT RETRACT ALL THE WAY. IT STILL ENAGES IN LOCKED MODE BUT IT IS VERY LOOSE AND NEEDS TO BE MANUALLY PULLED ONTO MY CHEST TO FEEL SNUG AND SECURED.

20160824AIR BAGS

CALLED ABOUT THE RECALL FOR AIRBAGS THEY JUST BLOW ME OFF. I HAVE 2 KIDS 9 AND 12 WHO RUDE W ME AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NO ONE WILL GIVE ME RENTAL!

20160328EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 330I. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), 14V428000 (AIR BAGS), AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Mileage: 85,000

20150828AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20150813EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I BROUGHT MY CAR TO BMW FREEPORT WAS A TAIL LIGHT RECALL & THEY REFUSED TO FIX MY VEHICLE. SAID THE HARNESS & WIRES WERE MELTED TOO MUCH & IT WOULD COST $1400 TO FIX. NOW I HAVE A SAFETY HAZARD AS I'M DRIVING WITH NO TAIL LIGHT OR MY WIRES COULD CATCH ON FIRE. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED FOR FREE UNDER A RECALL FROM 2011.

Mileage: 138,000

20150714ENGINE

WHILE ACCELERATING, THE ENTIRE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 20-30 MPH. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR AT ANY OTHER SPEED AND IS MORE PRONOUNCE GOING UPHILL THAN DOWN. BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT. THIS SAME PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED 2 YEARS AGO (JUNE 2013) FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A REOCCURING ISSUE. REPAIR WAS NOT MADE AND CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED AS CAR MAY CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN CITY DRIVING WITH MULTIPLE STOPS AND STARTS.

Mileage: 130,000

20150714POWER TRAIN

WHILE ACCELERATING, THE ENTIRE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 20-30 MPH. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR AT ANY OTHER SPEED AND IS MORE PRONOUNCE GOING UPHILL THAN DOWN. BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT. THIS SAME PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED 2 YEARS AGO (JUNE 2013) FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A REOCCURING ISSUE. REPAIR WAS NOT MADE AND CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED AS CAR MAY CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN CITY DRIVING WITH MULTIPLE STOPS AND STARTS.

Mileage: 130,000

20150714UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE ACCELERATING, THE ENTIRE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 20-30 MPH. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR AT ANY OTHER SPEED AND IS MORE PRONOUNCE GOING UPHILL THAN DOWN. BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT. THIS SAME PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED 2 YEARS AGO (JUNE 2013) FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A REOCCURING ISSUE. REPAIR WAS NOT MADE AND CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED AS CAR MAY CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN CITY DRIVING WITH MULTIPLE STOPS AND STARTS.

Mileage: 130,000

20141222FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 330I. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED EXTREMELY DIMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REFLECTOR INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING MELTED AND CAUSED THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE DIMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000...UPDATED 01/21/15 *BF UPDATED 9/11/2017*CN

Mileage: 90,000

20140426EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE PROJECTOR BOWLS ON MY 2005 E46 330I SHOW SIGNS OF BURNING. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO AFFECT ALL E46 MODELS WITH ZKW XENON HEADLIGHTS. THE BURN BOWLS EFFECT THE LIGHT OUTPUT OFTEN RESULTING IN A POORLY LIT VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD. *TR

Mileage: 123,000

20130228EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PURCHASED THE CAR IN APRIL 2012. NOTICED THAT THE XENON HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT OUTPUTTING AS MUCH LIGHT AS I THOUGHT THEY SHOULD. INSPECTED THE AREA BEHIND THE HEADLIGHTS (THE REFLECTIVE BOWLS) AND DISCOVERED THAT THEY WERE BURNED. UPON RESEARCHING ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE ZKW XENON EQUIPPED BMW 3 SERIES (E46) VEHICLES, AND THE NHTSA HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ALREADY. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY MIND. HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS SHOULD NOT BURN FROM THEIR DESIGNED USAGE. THIS WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. BMW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM . *TR

Mileage: 87,500

20130205EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED BUT APPEARED VERY DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

20121229SUSPENSION

ZKW BRAND XENON HEADLIGHTS - THE BACK OF THE PROJECTOR BOWL IS MADE OF PLASTIC (VS. METAL IN THE AL/BOSCH BRAND, ALSO USED BY BMW), WHICH OVER TIME BURNS FROM THE HEAT PUT OUT BY THE HEADLIGHTS. THE BURN TURNS THE PLASTIC FROM WHITE TO BROWN/ORANGE, WHICH SEVERELY REDUCES LIGHT OUTPUT, MAKING NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS. THE HEADLIGHT FROM MY CAR IS SO POOR THAT AT NIGHT I CAN SEE THE SHADOW OF MY CAR PRODUCED FROM CARS BEHIND ME. SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE HAS BEEN CAUSED DUE TO POOR LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20121229EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ZKW BRAND XENON HEADLIGHTS - THE BACK OF THE PROJECTOR BOWL IS MADE OF PLASTIC (VS. METAL IN THE AL/BOSCH BRAND, ALSO USED BY BMW), WHICH OVER TIME BURNS FROM THE HEAT PUT OUT BY THE HEADLIGHTS. THE BURN TURNS THE PLASTIC FROM WHITE TO BROWN/ORANGE, WHICH SEVERELY REDUCES LIGHT OUTPUT, MAKING NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS. THE HEADLIGHT FROM MY CAR IS SO POOR THAT AT NIGHT I CAN SEE THE SHADOW OF MY CAR PRODUCED FROM CARS BEHIND ME. SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE HAS BEEN CAUSED DUE TO POOR LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20111130EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DASH MOUNTED WARNING LIGHT INDICATED TAIL LIGHT ISSUES. CHECKED THE LIGHT AND ALL THE BULBS WERE FINE BUT THE ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. I THEN NOTICED THE THE BROWN WIRE IN THE CONNECTOR HAD MELTED THROUGH THE CASE AND WAS TOUCHING OTHER WIRES IN THE CONNECTOR WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHORT OUT THE ENTIRE LIGHT. THE BROWN WIRE HAS VISIBLE SIGNS OF MELTING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY TYPE BMW AND A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. RIGHT NOW MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE NOTICE BUT I HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS. *KB

Mileage: 69,500

Compare 2005BMW330I to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 BMW 330I have?
The 2005 BMW 330I has 42 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 BMW 330I?
Yes, the 2005 BMW 330I has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 BMW 330I?
The most-complained component for the 2005 BMW 330I is EXTERIOR LIGHTING with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS.
Is the 2005 BMW 330I 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.