Complaints about the 2019 BMW 330I peaked in 2025, with 13 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Sedan, gasoline, AWD/All-Wheel Drive, built in Germany. Owner complaints on file from Aug 2, 2019 to Aug 26, 2026.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25V-636 | Sep 23, 2025 | Engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuitPark outside | Electrical system | 199,674 | Part replacement |
| 23V-584 | Aug 16, 2023 | Receiver audio module control unit software may fail to properly generate audible seat belt warnings to the driver to fasten their seat belt | Electrical system | 144 | Software update |
| 23V-211 | Mar 29, 2023 | Seat frame may not have been welded properly to the seat rails | Seats | 51 | Part replacement |
| 21V-096 | Feb 19, 2021 | When shifting into Reverse, a small portion of the rearview image may be obscured, or the screen may not illuminate | Back-over prevention | 13,858 | Software update |
| 20V-355 | Jun 15, 2020 | In certain driving conditions, such as high temperatures and rough road surfaces, a steering gear tie rod may become damaged, possibly resulting… | Steering | 2,779 | Part replacement |
| 19V-912 | Dec 20, 2019 | Outboard rear seat belt pretensioners may not lock as intended during a crash | Seat belts | 135 | Part replacement |
| 19V-732 | Oct 15, 2019 | Needle roller bearings of the counterbalance shafts may have been improperly installed, potentially causing the counterbalance shaft to loosen | Engine and cooling | 217 | Part replacement |
| 19V-684 | Sep 27, 2019 | Back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the… | Back-over prevention | 257,473 | Software update |
| 19V-352 | May 9, 2019 | Driver and passenger knee air bag assemblies may have been improperly folded and assembled | Airbags | 5,079 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
41 complaints on file, page 1 of 3.
On XXX approximately 2:02am my car was seen on fire parked in driveway on [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11759675The contact owned a 2019 BMW 330I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at the residence in the driveway, there was an abnormal cracking sound coming from outside the residence. The contact checked and became aware that the vehicle was on fire. The vehicle was unoccupied at the time. The contact stated that the residential camera showed that the fire had started by the front driver's side tire. The Fire Department arrived at the residence and extinguished the fire. The residence and the vehicle were consumed by the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. No injuries were sustained. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
NHTSA complaint 11752479KAFAS Mid Camera has software malfunction, internal fault, system does not operate as designed. Takes down all driver assistance features. Module unable to accept new coding/programming. BMW service information - B66 20 19
NHTSA complaint 11749521Please update recall repair status to repaired for this VIN (dealer repair invoice attached)
NHTSA complaint 11737293The contact owns a 2019 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving up to a red light, the vehicle became inoperable. The "Call Roadside Assistance", "Starter System Failure" and "Engine Could Not Start" messages were displayed. The vehicle was able to restart; however, upon arriving to the residence, the vehicle became inoperable. The failure mileage was 81,652.
NHTSA complaint 11726631Description of the Problem: •Component/system that failed: The engine starter, which is subject to an open recall issued September 23, 2025. The starter was not replaced during a service visit. The vehicle no longer exists due to the fire, but the VIN and service records are available for inspection. •Safety risk: The starter malfunction caused the vehicle to catch fire while parked, creating a serious safety risk to myself, my child, and others nearby. •Problem reproduction/confirmation: The fire and defect were confirmed by BMW’s inspection as originating from the starter irregularity tied to the recall. •Inspections: The vehicle was inspected by BMW North America’s engineering team after the fire, and insurance representatives confirmed the total loss. •Warning signs prior to failure: There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms indicating the starter defect before the fire. Additional context: The vehicle was serviced at an authorized BMW dealership on December 3, 2025. I was not informed of the recall, and the starter was not replaced. The vehicle caught fire on December 19, 2025, resulting in a total loss. While my insurance resolved the ACV, this incident was caused by BMW’s recall-related defect and procedural failure. I have escalated this matter to BMW North America and am requesting a resolution that restores me to a comparable position (replacement vehicle or financial support). Official confirmation: BMW North America confirmed in a confidential letter that the fire originated from the starter defect tied to the open recall. This letter is available for review upon request.
NHTSA complaint 11720473Vehicle shudders under acceleration no warning lights or errors . Changed transfer case oil and same problem continues. No recall from manufacturer for issu
NHTSA complaint 11720158See attached document for complaint.
NHTSA complaint 11718904I am reporting a premature failure of two critical engine components: the Heat Management Module (Coolant Pump/Thermostat assembly) and the Oil Filter Housing. Despite the vehicle's low mileage (40,000 miles), the Heat Management Module began leaking coolant, posing a significant risk of engine overheating and sudden loss of power while driving. Simultaneously, the Oil Filter Housing has developed a leak, allowing oil to seep onto the engine block and potentially onto the serpentine belt. Both failures represent a safety hazard: Coolant Leak: Risk of thermal engine damage and being stranded in traffic due to overheating. Oil Leak: Risk of oil contacting hot exhaust components (fire hazard) or causing the serpentine belt to slip/fail, resulting in a sudden loss of power steering and charging systems. These components appear to have failed due to manufacturing or material defects rather than standard wear and tear for a vehicle of this age and mileage
NHTSA complaint 11718383My 2019 BMW 330i has a recurring cooling system defect, including coolant leaks, heater inoperative, and risk of engine overheating. The defect began while the vehicle was under warranty and was repaired by BMW, but it recurred. BMW later instructed me not to drive the vehicle due to safety concerns, yet declined responsibility and transportation. The vehicle remains unsafe to operate.
NHTSA complaint 11712263The contact owns a 2019 BMW 330i. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH on a three-lane highway, traveling in the exit lane, and using the hands-free calling system to speak with his wife, the vehicle crashed into an unknown metal object in the roadway, which tore the undercarriage. The driver-side air bag exploded without warning, resulting in him sustaining a concussion, and the vehicle came to a stop. The emergency call system failed to activate. His wife was able to contact 911, who was delayed in locating the incident site. The fire department, ambulance, and police department were on the scene. The contact was treated at the scene by the ambulance. The contact went to a walk-in clinic the next day, where medical attention was provided. There was no reported fire or police report filed due to the lack of identification of any damage. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who determined there was damage to the undercarriage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had written a letter to send to the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 51,443.
NHTSA complaint 11707834The contact owns a 2019 BMW 330I. The contact recently purchased the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The message "Drivetrain Malfunction" was displayed. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, when the vehicle was started, the vehicle vibrated and jerked abnormally with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure became progressively worse, and the vehicle was no longer being driven. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000.
NHTSA complaint 11704226The contact owned a 2019 BMW 330I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on the driveway, the vehicle caught fire. The contact called the fire department, and the fire was extinguished. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and was declared a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The contact stated that recently he had received a recall notice from the manufacturer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System). The contact related the fire to the description of the recall of the fire risk when parked. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
NHTSA complaint 11703907The contact owns a 2019 BMW 330I. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 91,000.
NHTSA complaint 11701483My parked vehicle, with the ignition off, caught fire while I was inside the gym. Within10-15 mins of entering the gym, the gym intercom announced that a car matching the description of my vehicle was on fire on the parking lot. When I went outside, firefighters were actively extinguishing the flams and cutting in the hood of the car. The vehicle was ultimately destroyed and considered a total loss. The vehicle has an active recall warning of a potential fire risk, even when the car is parked and turned off. The fire occurred without any action on my part, and I could have been seriously injured or killed. Also, others as well.
NHTSA complaint 11700770The contact owns a 2019 BMW 330I. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact called the local dealer and the manufacturer and was advised that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint 11700334Seat restraint malfunction that prevents the air bag from working properly. Dealer is aware of this problem but has not been able to correct it.
NHTSA complaint 11686264The issue at hand is the oil filter housings on the B 58 and B 48 motors that BMW manufacturers. These oil filter housings are known to break after four years or 60,000 miles. can range from the engine overheating to oil leaks. The engine overheating can total the motor and the oil leaking can become a fire hazard. I was fortunate enough to be able to replace mine while BMW replaced another common failure point which is the heat management module. However, this is not as big as an issue as the oil filter, housing, because if the oil leaks, it can become again a fire hazard. There are several forum posts online about this issue I would like for NTHA please look at this thank you.
NHTSA complaint 11671771Vehicle is relatively new and kept in great shape. No damage nothing, one day the sensor for passenger airbag malfunction appears indicating that passenger airbag will not deploy in event of a crash. Dealership says it’s not covered under warranty and have to pay to replace out of pocket costing multiple thousands of dollars. Error seems manufacturer defect.
NHTSA complaint 11668576While traveling at approximately 20 mph, the vehicle experienced a sudden loud pop from the engine bay, immediately followed by multiple dashboard warning lights. The vehicle was safely brought to a stop, and AAA was contacted to arrange towing to the nearest available repair facility. A diagnostic inspection identified the failure of the crankshaft vibration damper. According to the repair facility, this component is essential to maintaining the structural integrity and operational balance of the engine. At the time of failure, the vehicle had approximately 37,000 miles on the odometer—well below the expected service life of such a critical part. Had this failure occurred at highway speeds, the resulting mechanical disruption could have led to a loss of engine function and increased the risk of a serious accident or death. The nature and mileage of this failure raise concerns about a potential defect or design flaw. I am requesting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review this incident and consider whether similar cases have been reported. Failures of this type should be reviewed for broader safety implications.
NHTSA complaint 11664246Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.