FaultScore

Worst years for a BMW 330CI

Owners have filed 326 complaints about the BMW 330CI with NHTSA across model years 2000 to 2006. More of them are about the airbags than anything else.

Avoid

2004 BMW 330CI

82 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly airbags.

Cleanest on record

2003 BMW 330CI

18 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every BMW 330CI 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
2006 B 35 1 0 73,000 Airbags
2005 B 38 0 3 82,000 Airbags
2004 F 82 8 1 45,000 Airbags
2003 B 18 1 0 110,000 Airbags
2002 C 55 3 7 93,900 Airbags
2001 D 97 7 5 112,342 Airbags
2000 1 0 0 Airbags

What breaks on a BMW 330CI

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

Airbags 132 40.5%

Worst in 2004

Lights 33 10.1%

Worst in 2001

Worst in 2004

Worst in 2001

Transmission & Drivetrain 24 7.4%

Worst in 2001

Fuel & Propulsion 24 7.4%

Worst in 2001

Body & Structure 16 4.9%

Worst in 2001

Tires 9 2.8%

Worst in 2001

Steering 6 1.8%

Worst in 2001

Suspension 6 1.8%

Worst in 2001

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 4 1.2%

Worst in 2004

Brakes 3 0.9%

Worst in 2004

Acceleration & Cruise Control 3 0.9%

Worst in 2004

Seats 3 0.9%

Worst in 2002

Exactly what failed on a BMW 330CI

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

Automatic Transmission 17 30.4%
Engine 11 19.6%
Side/Window 6 10.7%
Body 5 8.9%
Frontal 5 8.9%
Tail Lights 4 7.1%
Lower ARM 2 3.6%
Tread/Belt 2 3.6%
Cooling System 2 3.6%
Ignition 2 3.6%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every BMW 330CI, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jul 2001 peak 12 Jun 2025

Compare the BMW 330CI

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