Most common 2018 BMW 330e problems
Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 330e complaints by model year
Best 330e years: 2021. Compare all years →
2018 BMW 330e recalls (2)
Equipment › Electrical
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, i3 Rex, i3 Sport Rex, X5 xDrive40e, i3 BEV, i3 Sport BEV and 2019 i8 and i8 Roadster vehicles and 2018-2019 530e iPerformance, 530e xDrive iPerformance and 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the charging cable, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2018 BMW 330e:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2018 BMW 330e owners say
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2018 BMW 330E. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated, and the vehicle became inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The message "Drivetrain - Check Soon" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure, melted cooling hoses, and starter failure. The vehicle was repaired by the dealer under warranty and was then towed to an independent mechanic where cooling hoses were replaced. The starter failure was not addressed. The dealer was contacted about the repair of the starter failure based on NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V441000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2018 BMW 330E. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle hesitated, stalled, and restarted independently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), however the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 103,000.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2018 BMW 330E. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle hesitated, stalled, and restarted independently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), however the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 103,000.
The contact owns a 2018 BMW 330E. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal squealing sound coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
2018 BMW 330e engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo plug-in hybrid | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 28 / 34 / 30 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 BMW 330e a good car?
That is a low number of complaints for a car on sale this long. So far owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 BMW 330e?
The electrical system — 4 complaints, 57% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and fuel & propulsion system (1).
How many recalls does the 2018 BMW 330e have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2018 BMW 330e, the most recent from September 20, 2018 (electrical). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 330e?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021. See the full BMW 330e years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 BMW 330e problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 99,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.