2018 Bmw 330I

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Bmw 330I has 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: on the way home from purchasing this vehicle as a cpo at the bmw dealer, a loud engine knock developed. made an appointment at the bmw dealer to check it, and on the way there, it lost power & engine malfunction warning lights illuminated. had to pull off highway, fearing car would stop running al. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

14 complaints

36%

• ON THE WAY HOME FROM PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE AS A CPO AT THE BMW DEALER, A LOUD ENGINE KNOCK DEVELOPED. MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE BMW DEALER TO CHECK IT, AND ON THE WAY THERE, IT LOST POWER & ENGINE MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. HAD TO PULL OFF HIGHWAY, FEARING CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING AL
• On January 19, 2022 I was driving and then smoked filled inside my car and the outside engine was smoking and a light came on that said check coolant. BMW service took me in that day and they said my coolant broke. They removed it and replaced it. They did not understand how the coolant broke but I
• My oil filter housing failed at about 53,000 miles. While driving to work I got a low coolant warning and pulled over to see coolant dumping out of my car. The low coolant warning only comes on when the expansion tank is almost completely empty which can lead to oil and coolant mixing and overheatin

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“ON THE WAY HOME FROM PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE AS A CPO AT THE BMW DEALER, A LOUD ENGINE KNOCK DEVELOPED. MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE BMW DEALER TO CHECK IT, AND ON THE WAY THERE, IT LOST POWER & ENGINE MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. HAD TO PULL OFF HIGHWAY, FEARING CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING AL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

6 complaints

15%

• WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN, THERE IS A LOUD REVERBERATING ROARING SOUND THAT THAT INCREASES W SPEED AND IS VERY DISTRACTING TO DRIVER. IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON 330I EVEN ONES BEFORE 2018. BMW SERVICE MANAGER SAY IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT.
• Cylinder Head Hose Expansion Tank Replacement - Coolant leaks out completely - This repair has been done twice on this vehicle with only 26K miles. BMW USA states no recall but the dealership informed me they have issued a bulletin but just put back on the defective hose since no other replacement
• Multiple codes came on right after I had gotten my thermostat and my water pump fixed. However it ended up being that there was more leaks throughout the rest of the car. The car has currently cost me $3400 to fix and it’s still not fixed because nobody can figure out where the actual leak is coming

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN, THERE IS A LOUD REVERBERATING ROARING SOUND THAT THAT INCREASES W SPEED AND IS VERY DISTRACTING TO DRIVER. IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON 330I EVEN ONES BEFORE 2018. BMW SERVICE MANAGER SAY IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

5 complaints

13%

• In Feb 2022 my vehicle reported low coolant and later the engine overheating. At one point the accelerator pedal became less effective and the car significantly slowed down while on the highway. After refilling the car's engine coolant and still getting alerts, I brought the vehicle to the BMW auto
• On January 19, 2022 I was driving and then smoked filled inside my car and the outside engine was smoking and a light came on that said check coolant. BMW service took me in that day and they said my coolant broke. They removed it and replaced it. They did not understand how the coolant broke but I
• My 2018 BMW 330i has the same problem that the recall for the fuel sensor level on 2018 BMW M5! I broke down on the side of the interstate and had it towed to BMW and they said it was the fuel sensor reading more than it should and wanted to charge almost 3,000 to fix it. There are similarities to t

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“In Feb 2022 my vehicle reported low coolant and later the engine overheating. At one point the accelerator pedal became less effective and the car significantly slowed down while on the highway. After refilling the car's engine coolant and still getting alerts, I brought the vehicle to the BMW auto ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

10%

• The car started to make a popping noise and then the collision warning light, Steering Light and Pedestrian warning lights came on and the steering became very tight. The electric steering became manual. Yes problem has been reported to Braman BMW Jupiter as well as BMW USA.
• The contact owned a 2018 BMW 330I. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for a Manufacturers Recall: 0017150200 related to the Coolant Leak to be completed. The contact stated that after driving 7 miles to her home at 35 MPH, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. All the warning lig
• I smelt and saw smoke coming from the back of my vehicle. I pulled over on to the left side of [XXX] bound. Then, I jumped out of the car to check the truck. I didn't see anything, then i popped the hood and still did not see anything visible. I then went back to the trunk to check it again, and th

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“The car started to make a popping noise and then the collision warning light, Steering Light and Pedestrian warning lights came on and the steering became very tight. The electric steering became manual. Yes problem has been reported to Braman BMW Jupiter as well as BMW USA.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints

• WAS ON A ROAD TRIP, DROVE 600 MILES PREVIOUS DAY. NEXT DAY EVENING, PIRELLI RUN FLAT TIRE BLOWS OUT ON A FREEWAY. I HAD JUST PASSED THE TOLL PLAZA AND WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE WITH THE TRAFFIC. RUN FLAT REINFORCED SIDEWALLS SHOULD'VE ALLOWED THE TIRES TO BE USABLE EVEN AT 0 PSI BUT I EXPERIENCE
• The car's cruise control's rocker switch got stuck causing the vehicle's speed to increase continually. The rocker switch allows driver to increase or decrease speed when the cruise control is activated. The rocker switch permits speed increase in increments of 1 mph or 5 mph. If pressed up until a

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WAS ON A ROAD TRIP, DROVE 600 MILES PREVIOUS DAY. NEXT DAY EVENING, PIRELLI RUN FLAT TIRE BLOWS OUT ON A FREEWAY. I HAD JUST PASSED THE TOLL PLAZA AND WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE WITH THE TRAFFIC. RUN FLAT REINFORCED SIDEWALLS SHOULD'VE ALLOWED THE TIRES TO BE USABLE EVEN AT 0 PSI BUT I EXPERIENCE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 39 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ON THE WAY HOME FROM PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE AS A CPO AT THE BMW DEALER, A LOUD ENGINE KNOCK DEVELOPED. MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE BMW DEALER TO CHECK IT, AND ON THE WAY THERE, IT LOST POWER & ENGINE MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. HAD TO PULL OFF HIGHWAY, FEARING CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING AL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN, THERE IS A LOUD REVERBERATING ROARING SOUND THAT THAT INCREASES W SPEED AND IS VERY DISTRACTING TO DRIVER. IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON 330I EVEN ONES BEFORE 2018. BMW SERVICE MANAGER SAY IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: In Feb 2022 my vehicle reported low coolant and later the engine overheating. At one point the accelerator pedal became less effective and the car significantly slowed down while on the highway. After refilling the car's engine coolant and still getting alerts, I brought the vehicle to the BMW auto
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: The car started to make a popping noise and then the collision warning light, Steering Light and Pedestrian warning lights came on and the steering became very tight. The electric steering became manual. Yes problem has been reported to Braman BMW Jupiter as well as BMW USA.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)