2005 BMW 330i Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2005 BMW 330i has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 7th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Electrical system issues make up 61% of its 28 complaints, and it carries 4 recalls, 3 marked do-not-drive.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 60/100
- #7 of 16 330i years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 28
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- 3 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 27 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2005 BMW 330i problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System17 (61%)
- Airbags5 (18%)
- Steering3 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (11%)
- Brakes2 (7%)
- Seat Belts2 (7%)
- Engine1 (4%)
- Other1 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Rear tail light wiring melts, sometimes triggering a warning light on the instrument panel while driving.
- Xenon headlights dim or fail as the plastic ZKW reflector bowl inside the housing degrades from heat, cutting night visibility.
- The car pulls severely to one side when braking, even after repeated alignment checks find nothing wrong.
- Side curtain airbags have deployed after hitting a pothole, with no crash involved.
- Seatbelt and airbag warning lights illuminate due to an internal fault in the passenger seatbelt sensor.
2005 BMW 330i recalls
4 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 14V428000Jun 11, 2018Airbags574,007 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
- 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 330i fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 27 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 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 330i years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 BMW 330i reliable?
- Compared with other 330i model years, 2005 sits at a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 7th worst of 16 years, giving it a Caution verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2005 BMW 330i?
- Electrical system issues dominate, accounting for 17 of 28 complaints (61%), mostly involving melted tail light wiring and degraded xenon headlight reflectors, at a median mileage of 85,000.
- Does the 2005 BMW 330i have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2005 330i, and 3 of them are do-not-drive recalls, two involving airbags and one involving electrical wiring in the rear lamps.
- How does the 2005 330i compare to the 2006 330i?
- The 2006 330i has a Complaint Index of 100 and an Avoid verdict with 219 complaints, far worse than the 2005 model's Complaint Index of 60 and Caution verdict.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2005 BMW 330i?
- EPA rates the 2005 330i at 21 mpg combined (18 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800.