Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2023 BMW 330E with NHTSA between 2022 and 2026.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 38
Against the median year of the BMW 330E. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
50% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2023 BMW 330E
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Other & Unspecified
220.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Lights
220.0%
Electrical System
220.0%
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control
110.0%
Brakes
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Engine & Cooling
110.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Nov 2022peak 3Mar 2026
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
San Jose, CACrash2 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
I rear-ended someone and suspect issue with the automatic emergency braking for my 2023 BMW 330E. The car was totaled and I no longer have it - date of accident [XXX]. My VIN [XXX] ) wasn’t included in current recalls but the model was discontinued, which raises concern. The incident was reported to police and insurance. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11678912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I rear-ended someone and suspect issue with the automatic emergency braking for my 2023 BMW 330E. The car was totaled and I no longer have it - date of accident [XXX]. My VIN [XXX] ) wasn’t included in current recalls but the model was discontinued, which raises concern. The incident was reported to police and insurance. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11678912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bellaire, TXCrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This is to report an incident with a recently purchased 2023 BMW 330e. Model: BMW | Make: 330e | Color: white Purchase: 17th Sep, 2022 | Dealer: BMW of San Antonio Incident date: 17th November, 2022 | Time: 9AM (approx) | Place: Parking Garage, MD Anderson Blvd, Houston, TX 77030 Incident description: When turning in to park in the parking spot in the garage, the car suddenly shot forward and hit the barrier in front. Airbags did not deploy, although the impact was strong enough to throw the driver hard against her seat belt with slight bruising. The driver does not recall the front proximity sensors giving any warning beeps (as normally happens if the car is too close to a barrier). Damage: The front of the car on the driver's side sustained significant damage, including the proximity sensor on the driver's side becoming non-functional. The engine warning light did not come on, and the car was driveable. Aftermath: The incident was reported to insurance. The car has now been assessed by certified collision specialists repair. Comments: The driver has been driving for over 20 years (12 years in the USA) with an exemplary driving record. She has been parking in the same garage for the last 2 years. It is, of course, entirely possible that she mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake when turning in to park, but it would be unusual, and perhaps unlikely. Also, the amount of damage to the front is testimony to the speed with which the car hit the barrier, when the driver was driving dead slow, maneuvering between cars to edge forward in a parking spot. If the incident is due to a malfunction, it raises the possibility of danger for future drivers. We report this just in case it is - if others report similar issues with this make/ model of the car, perhaps preventive measures can be taken before somebody gets seriously injured.
NHTSA complaint #11495571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Doral, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
On one occasion, the car automatically applied the breaks and parked itself while driving on a main road. On another occasion, while parking the car at the home it accelerated aggressively and almost crashed into the garage- driver lost complete control of the car. On a separate occasion, the gauge console (screen behind the steering wheel) became morphed and could not show the MPH- an electrical glitch it seemed. The last occasion the car stopped and parked itself while accelerating or braking on the highway.
NHTSA complaint #11726457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Doral, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On one occasion, the car automatically applied the breaks and parked itself while driving on a main road. On another occasion, while parking the car at the home it accelerated aggressively and almost crashed into the garage- driver lost complete control of the car. On a separate occasion, the gauge console (screen behind the steering wheel) became morphed and could not show the MPH- an electrical glitch it seemed. The last occasion the car stopped and parked itself while accelerating or braking on the highway.
NHTSA complaint #11726457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Doral, FL
ENGINE
On one occasion, the car automatically applied the breaks and parked itself while driving on a main road. On another occasion, while parking the car at the home it accelerated aggressively and almost crashed into the garage- driver lost complete control of the car. On a separate occasion, the gauge console (screen behind the steering wheel) became morphed and could not show the MPH- an electrical glitch it seemed. The last occasion the car stopped and parked itself while accelerating or braking on the highway.
NHTSA complaint #11726457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Jose, CACrash2 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
I rear-ended someone and suspect issue with the automatic emergency braking for my 2023 BMW 330E. The car was totaled and I no longer have it - date of accident [XXX]. My VIN [XXX] ) wasn’t included in current recalls but the model was discontinued, which raises concern. The incident was reported to police and insurance. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11678912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I rear-ended someone and suspect issue with the automatic emergency braking for my 2023 BMW 330E. The car was totaled and I no longer have it - date of accident [XXX]. My VIN [XXX] ) wasn’t included in current recalls but the model was discontinued, which raises concern. The incident was reported to police and insurance. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11678912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Essex Junction, VT
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving on [XXX] in Vermont on Friday morning, when I heard a very loud pop close to my ear. It sounded like a gun, but I saw that my windows were not broken. I continued to drive but then noticed the sound of rushing air, as though one of my windows was open. It was not. I drove a short distance, then decided to pull over into a parking lot. There, I discovered a huge hole in my sun roof. In addition to the hole, the remaining panel was completely shattered. I called my insurance company who had me drive it to a nearby body shop. They put a camera into the hole to try to see if there was a stone or other object between the glass and the panel inside the car. They found only broken glass. They believe my sunroof shattered because of hot outside temperatures (in the mid 80's) and the fact that I had my air conditioner on. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11606276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Willis, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Subject: Concern Regarding Daytime Brightness Levels in BMW 330e Instrument Cluster I am reaching out to express a concern I've encountered with the instrument cluster in my 2023 BMW 330e. It has come to my attention that, unlike many other vehicles, the instrument cluster in my BMW does not maintain full brightness during the day. The absence of manual brightness control, combined with the behavior of the ambient brightness sensor, seems to result in an excessively dim display, especially in bright daylight conditions. I understand that different vehicles may have varying features, but the contrast in brightness levels during the day has been a noticeable and somewhat inconvenient aspect of my driving experience. It has led to difficulty in reading critical information such as speed, fuel levels, and other essential data. I wanted to bring this to your attention not just as an individual driver but with the hope that you can consider the feedback in the broader context of user experience. Full brightness during the day is a common expectation among drivers, and I believe addressing this concern could enhance the satisfaction of BMW customers.
NHTSA complaint #11567091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Willis, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Subject: Concern Regarding Daytime Brightness Levels in BMW 330e Instrument Cluster I am reaching out to express a concern I've encountered with the instrument cluster in my 2023 BMW 330e. It has come to my attention that, unlike many other vehicles, the instrument cluster in my BMW does not maintain full brightness during the day. The absence of manual brightness control, combined with the behavior of the ambient brightness sensor, seems to result in an excessively dim display, especially in bright daylight conditions. I understand that different vehicles may have varying features, but the contrast in brightness levels during the day has been a noticeable and somewhat inconvenient aspect of my driving experience. It has led to difficulty in reading critical information such as speed, fuel levels, and other essential data. I wanted to bring this to your attention not just as an individual driver but with the hope that you can consider the feedback in the broader context of user experience. Full brightness during the day is a common expectation among drivers, and I believe addressing this concern could enhance the satisfaction of BMW customers.
NHTSA complaint #11567091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Magnolia, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
:**Complaint Regarding 2023 330e Instrument Cluster Brightness Issue** - I wish to report a safety concern regarding the instrument cluster brightness in my 2023 BMW 330e. The instrument cluster features an auto-dimming screen with no brightness control during the day. The ambient brightness sensor does not accurately detect daylight conditions unless the sunshade on the sunroof is open. This results in an excessively dim instrument cluster that is challenging to read in bright daylight. **Safety Implications:** This issue poses a safety concern as it hinders the driver's ability to access critical information such as speed, fuel levels, and other essential data. It may lead to distractions and decreased situational awareness. **Requested Action:** I kindly request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigates this issue and collaborates with the manufacturer, BMW, to find a solution promptly. This could involve a software update or a hardware adjustment to the ambient brightness sensor to ensure the instrument cluster remains readable in all lighting conditions.
NHTSA complaint #11551742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bellaire, TXCrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This is to report an incident with a recently purchased 2023 BMW 330e. Model: BMW | Make: 330e | Color: white Purchase: 17th Sep, 2022 | Dealer: BMW of San Antonio Incident date: 17th November, 2022 | Time: 9AM (approx) | Place: Parking Garage, MD Anderson Blvd, Houston, TX 77030 Incident description: When turning in to park in the parking spot in the garage, the car suddenly shot forward and hit the barrier in front. Airbags did not deploy, although the impact was strong enough to throw the driver hard against her seat belt with slight bruising. The driver does not recall the front proximity sensors giving any warning beeps (as normally happens if the car is too close to a barrier). Damage: The front of the car on the driver's side sustained significant damage, including the proximity sensor on the driver's side becoming non-functional. The engine warning light did not come on, and the car was driveable. Aftermath: The incident was reported to insurance. The car has now been assessed by certified collision specialists repair. Comments: The driver has been driving for over 20 years (12 years in the USA) with an exemplary driving record. She has been parking in the same garage for the last 2 years. It is, of course, entirely possible that she mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake when turning in to park, but it would be unusual, and perhaps unlikely. Also, the amount of damage to the front is testimony to the speed with which the car hit the barrier, when the driver was driving dead slow, maneuvering between cars to edge forward in a parking spot. If the incident is due to a malfunction, it raises the possibility of danger for future drivers. We report this just in case it is - if others report similar issues with this make/ model of the car, perhaps preventive measures can be taken before somebody gets seriously injured.
NHTSA complaint #11495571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.