2005 BMW 330Ci Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2005 BMW 330Ci has 33 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 0, and ranks 2 out of 2 model years tracked. It carries two do-not-drive airbag recalls, and Airbags account for 61% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 0/100
- #2 of 2 330Ci years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 33
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17 city / 25.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2005 BMW 330Ci problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags20 (61%)
- Electrical System7 (21%)
- Structure & Body4 (12%)
- Steering2 (6%)
- Brakes1 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Side impact airbags deployed unexpectedly while driving with no collision or tire damage found afterward.
- Convertible top failed to lock or became stuck partway open, sometimes with a cracked lock mechanism on the driver's side.
- Power steering suddenly failed or became very hard to turn, in one case recurring even after the pump was replaced.
- Passenger front headlight intermittently failed to illuminate at speed, traced to a bad igniter, controller, and bulb.
- Front tires showed sidewall and tread cracking on the factory Michelin Pilot Sport tire size.
- Some owners reported long delays getting replacement parts for the airbag recall repair.
2005 BMW 330Ci recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V018000Jan 15, 2020Airbags292,948 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- NHTSA 15V318000May 28, 2015Airbags419,235 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.
2005 BMW 330Ci fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 25.5 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,000
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other 330Ci years
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Recalls | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | No verdict | 0 | 33 | 2 ! | 20 |
| 2006 | No verdict | 100 | 34 | 2 ! | 20 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 BMW 330Ci reliable?
- NHTSA lists 33 complaints for the 2005 330Ci with a complaint index of 0, and it ranks 2nd out of the 2 model years with data, meaning it has more reported issues relative to the other year tracked.
- What problems does the 2005 BMW 330Ci have?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 61% of complaints (20 of 33), followed by Electrical System issues at 21% and Structure & Body issues at 12%.
- Does the 2005 BMW 330Ci have a recall?
- Yes, it has two recalls, both airbag-related and both marked do-not-drive, covering passenger front airbag replacement.
- At what mileage do 2005 330Ci problems usually show up?
- Median mileage at failure across all reported problems is 66,612 miles, though airbag complaints specifically cluster around a median of 101,292 miles.
- How does the 2005 330Ci compare to the 2006 model?
- The 2006 330Ci has 34 complaints and the same two recalls, with a complaint index of 100 versus 0 for the 2005 model, though the 2005 still ranks worse at 2nd of 2 years tracked.