2001 BMW 330i Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Side/window
  17
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  1
• Frontal
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  00%
• 25k–50k
  110%
• 50k–75k
  440%
• 75k–100k
  110%
• 100k–150k
  220%
• 150k+
  220%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 BMW 330i owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Hi, my name is [redacted] and the owner of the 2001 BMW mentioned with the VIN number above. My airbag deployed for no reason as I was driving with my mother in the car on Tuesday the 26th of November around 5:30 p.m.. , the airbag deployed for no reason at all I was doing the speed limit, driving with the flow of traffic on Paramount Boulevard in the city of Paramount or borderline Downey I'm not sure in California. There was no accidents all the car did not hit any other cars or anything while this incident occurred. I me and my mom really lucky to be alive. Although the injuries from the incident was in catastrophe however we do have a lot of small injuries and side effects that seems to be developing more as time goes by. The seriousness of this incident is at a very high level as it could have caused it for both of us or one of us. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 BMW 330xi. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, she heard a loud banging sound coming from underneath her vehicle without warning. Contact's rear left tire broke off from her car. The contact immediately lost control of her vehicle and veered to left side of the road. The contact hit another vehicle and spun out in the middle of the road. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. Upon a VIN search, there were two recalls NHTSA recall number: 17V047000 and 20V018000(air bags) on her vehicle at the time of the accident. The contact stated that she sustained whiplash as a result of the accident; the other driver did not sustain injuries. A police report was filed [redacted]. Axle was broken. The vehicle was totaled and towed to a junk yard. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. …

-My infrastructure system management has been affected overtime-which covers electronic control units (ECUs), software, and network architecture-are driven by the need to manage increasing system complexity, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and electronic malfunctions. -My De-icing fluid management system-Has been affected by potential engine damage, reduced structural integrity, and risk of in-flight failure due to overheating. -My vehicle has been affected sense March 3, 2025 - Major Terminal Outage: A massive power outage, traced to a fire and downed power line near the airport, I [redacted] believe my Power failures and component-level are faulty... -My vehicles brake lines are not meeting specifications, which could cause leaks & affect the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), increasing the risk of a crash god forbid... …

Takata recall I called [phone]. After explaining that I lived hundreds of miles from the nearest BMW dealer, I was told by the phone rep that my case would be accelerated and that I would be hearing back by phone. I waited days, but no one ever called me. I then called [phone]. I got bounced around and was finally connected with a BMW dealer in idaho falls, almost 500 miles from my home in rosebud, montana. The person who spoke to me was very young, had a poor attitude, and wanted to order me around. She ignored all my pleas. I am 65 years old and drive hundreds of miles per week for my usda job. I thus do not have the physical stamina or time to drive to idaho falls. Nevertheless she told me I had to drive to idaho falls for a Saturday appointment. She informed me that any expenses I incurred (gasoline, lodging, etc.) had to come out of my own pocket and that I would not be reimbursed. …

Takata recall this is a follow-up to the complaint I submitted earlier today, # 11021353. I bought my BMW from the sharpest rides car dealership of englewood, colorado. The date of sale was April 10, 2015. But it was not until I read the flyers the NHTSA sent to my post office box in 2017 that I knew anything about any Takata airbag recall. The NHTSA website clearly shows that there have been two manufacturer recalls on my BMW. The first recall was July 15, 2014, well before I bought my BMW from the sharpest rides on April 10, 2015. While negotitating the purchase of my BMW, I had numerous telephone conversations, and exchanged myriad emails, with sharpest rides personnel. No one at the sharpest rides ever warned me of a dangerous airbag. No one at the sharpest rides ever warned me of an unsafe, hazardous condition in my car.

Tl contact owns a 2001 BMW 330i. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the driver's side air bag deployed without warning. The failure May have been triggered by a pothole in the road. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The driver was not injured. In addition, there was a sudden loss of engine power. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road and the engine restarted and resumed normal operation. The vehicle has not been repaired. The nearest authorized dealer was located 70 miles away. The vehicle is not being driven due to the safety risk involved. The failure and current mileages were 115,000.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2001 BMW 330i. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V428000 (air bags) and 17V047000 (air bags). The part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available, but indicated that it could be four months or longer. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact was not experiencing a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

On Saturday 03/01/2014 at around 10:30 pm I had just passed the tappan zee bridge going to connecticut so I was on the 287 west or north highway (not sure because at some point 287 changes from west to north). It was about 1-2 miles after when I hit a huge pothole that made air bag or side curtain fell off. The entire bag did not deploy, just the side curtain fell off and stayed hanging. Insurance company considered it a collision and totaled my car. I feel upset because the air bag did not open properly and yet my car was totaled because of it.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2001 BMW 330i. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 17V047000 (air bags), 13V172000 (air bags), and 14V028000 (electrical system); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issues. The VIN was not provided. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available and parts distribution disconnect.

I was driving my BMW 2001 330i on dover chester rd crossing the intersection of morris tpke in randolph, nj when I hit a pot hole and patch work on the road. The passenger side door and window airbags deployed cutting the power to the engine and turning on the emergency hazard lights. I immediately pulled off the road and saw that I had a flat tire but no damage to tire rim and no damage to the body of the car. There was no impact or reason for the airbag system to deploy.

Related recalls

Airbag complaints in other 330i years