2002 Bmw 325 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (4) · Latches/Locks/Linkages (3) · Electrical System (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Bmw 325 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2019-10-02 · campaign 19V698000 · 3,924 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 325i and 325xi Sedan, and 323Ci, 325Ci, and 330Ci Convertible vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles that may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. The frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion of previous recalls, numbers 17V-047 and 19V-015.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2017-01-20 · campaign 17V047000 · 230,117 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These re
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.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Service bulletins (4)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2024-01-16 · B510819 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Exterior Lighting 2010-08-01 · SIB-63-02-01 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
bmw: procedure for determining and replacing incandescent and halogen light bulbs under warranty. *rm
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System 2010-06-01 · SIB-32-04-07 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
bmw: a new technical process has been created for bmw to identify causes of steering complaints with a wide range of models. *rm
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2009-12-01 · SIB-16-02-09 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
bmw vehicles: fuel level sensor repairs. where it is necessary to replace the right or the left side fuel level sensor due to a failure, the entire pump and housing or delivery unit (suction jet assembly) do not need to be replaced as well. in some cases, epc does not show that the repair kit is
What owners report
2017-11-20 · Air Bags“"takata recall" i am told that part is out of stock and do not know when or if it will be in stock.…”
2017-05-19 · Air Bags · 180,000 mi“takata recall. we are under recall 17v047. for four months, we have been calling and doing on-line chats with bmw of mobile (mobile, alabama). every call or chat ends with them asking for our phone number and email address. they say they will contact us shortly with info on when or if the recall can be done. they have never once called or emai…”
2017-04-30 · Electrical System · 10,000 mi“can not unlock car in any way. the relays in the gm5 module which give power to the actuators become weak and can not open car. car can not be opened with car key as key hole is also electronic. in the end i cant get inside the car.…”
2016-02-01 · Seat Belts · 112,000 mi“while vehicle was in motion on a straight highway, the passenger in the right rear seat leaned forward, extending the shoulder seat belt from its retractor. the right rear seat belt failed to retract when the passenger sat upright and will not retract now that the vehicle is parked on level ground. …”
2015-12-24 · Air Bags“takata recall. my complaint concerns the delay in parts availability to fix driver's side airbag. this is taking way to long and am worried as to possibility of injury, or worse, if involve in an accident. in my opinion "lack of parts" is taking way too long .nothing has happened yet.…”
2014-12-12 · Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls · 55,000 mi“third window regulator broke on my 2002 bmw 325 - three different windows. i finally got sick of it and called bmw north america and they refuse to do anything about it. the windows go down & you can't get them back up. i did an internet search and easily found tons more complaints. obviously this is a defective part that bmw should be forced to m…”
2014-12-02 · Electrical System · 140,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2002 bmw 325. while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the contact discovered that the driver side air bag deployed and evidence of a fire was present. the contact indicated that the dashboard was melted and burn marks were present throughout the cabin of the vehicle. the front windshield was shattered and the ceiling pa…”
2014-09-16 · Air Bags · 80,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owns a 2002 bmw 325. the contact stated that another vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle. the air bags failed to deploy. the contact was unconscious immediately after the impact. the contact was taken to a hospital where he sustained bruising on his neck, the shoulders and a severe concussion. a police report was filed. th…”
2014-07-07 · Latches/Locks/Linkages · 55,000 mi“none of the passenger locks open, automatically or manually. this is a serious safety hazard if there is an accident or fire. no one can get out. *js…”
2014-04-09 · Engine“tl* the contact owned a 2002 bmw 323. the contact stated while making a turn the vehicle would stall without warning. the vehicle was taken a dealership where the technician was unable to diagnose a problem. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. no repairs were made to the vehicle. the failure and current mileage were unknown.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.