FaultScore

Worst years for a BMW 323I

Owners have filed 676 complaints about the BMW 323I with NHTSA across model years 1985 to 2011. More of them are about the transmission & drivetrain than anything else.

Avoid

2000 BMW 323I

459 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly transmission & drivetrain.

Cleanest on record

1998 BMW 323I

27 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every BMW 323I year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2011 1 0 0 Electrical System
2010 3 0 0 Electrical System
2008 4 0 0 Electrical System
2007 3 0 2 Engine & Cooling
2001 3 1 1 Transmission & Drivetrain
2000 D 459 17 2 92,162 Transmission & Drivetrain
1999 C 175 13 8 104,000 Airbags
1998 B 27 10 1 102,501 Airbags
1985 1 0 0 Electrical System

What breaks on a BMW 323I

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Worst in 2000

Airbags 142 21.0%

Worst in 2000

Worst in 2000

Worst in 1999

Worst in 2000

Suspension 19 2.8%

Worst in 2000

Doors, Latches & Locks 19 2.8%

Worst in 2000

Tires 18 2.7%

Worst in 1999

Engine & Cooling 17 2.5%

Worst in 2000

Brakes 14 2.1%

Worst in 2000

Other & Unspecified 14 2.1%

Worst in 2000

Acceleration & Cruise Control 12 1.8%

Worst in 2000

Lights 10 1.5%

Worst in 1999

Seat Belts 10 1.5%

Worst in 2000

Exactly what failed on a BMW 323I

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Automatic Transmission 223 66.2%
Side/Window 28 8.3%
Frontal 21 6.2%
Frame AND Members 16 4.7%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 14 4.2%
Body 10 3.0%
Manual Transmission 8 2.4%
Underbody Shields 7 2.1%
Sensor/Control Module 5 1.5%
Latch 5 1.5%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every BMW 323I, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Apr 1999 peak 17 Jun 2023

BMW 323I problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the BMW 323I

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.