2003 Bmw 325i problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (54) · Exterior Lighting (37) · Electrical System (14)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Bmw 325i model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
126 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2020-01-15 · campaign 20V018000 · 292,948 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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 d
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags 2018-06-11 · campaign 14V428000 · 574,007 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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 i
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.
Fix: 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 CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2015-05-28 · campaign 15V318000 · 419,235 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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 vehicle
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 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 r
Air Bags 2013-05-02 · campaign 13V172000 · 43,204 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the 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, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW intends to issue initial notifications to owners informing them of the safety defect in June 2013. Once replacement parts are available, estimated for July, BMW will notify owners again to contact their dealers and schedule a replacement of the passenger air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Exterior Lighting:turn Signal 2011-08-26 · campaign 11V438000 · 241,000 vehicles
Defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 325I, 325XI, 330I, AND 330XI VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2001, THROUGH MARCH 1, 2005. OVER TIME, RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY CAUSE ONE OR MORE REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS (TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND/OR TURN-SIGNAL), WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S BODY PANEL, TO STOP WORKING.
Risk: INTERMITTENT LIGHT OPERATION REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
Service bulletins (23)
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.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls 2024-01-16 · B510819 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar 2021-04-01 · B340414 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
diagnosis of compound brake system complaints in m vehicles: 1. visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees f) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2020-11-01 · B651820 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service action - head air bag holder retrofit: a rattle noise may develop from the head air bag (its) gas generator contacting adjacent component. this noise can be heard while driving on an uneven roadway.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2020-09-01 · B160317 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
e46 sulev/pzev: fuel tank disposal procedure: e46 m56 vehicles, in addition to meeting the sulev (super ultra low emission) tailpipe emission standard, also conform to the zero evaporative emissions (pzev) regulations. in order to meet these strict standards, the sulev's fuel tank is a completely se
Air Bags 2019-04-01 · B013118 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
takata air bag recall-related short-term alternate transportation and consequential repairs this service information bulletin supersedes si b01 31 18 dated october 2018.
Air Bags 2019-04-01 · B013118 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
takata air bag recall-related short-term alternate transportation and consequential repairs this service information bulletin supersedes si b01 31 18 dated october 2018.
Showing the 6 most recent of 23 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-07-01 · Electrical System · 🔥 fire“on june 28,2024, after parking and turning off the ignition switch, the dash started smoking and within minutes the whole dash and front of car were on fire. the car almost completely burned to the ground before the fire department could get there. the car was recently serviced at a bmw for an air bag recall. heater ducts were loose when returned. …”
2022-01-08 · Exterior Lighting“the xenon projector bowls in the headlight assembly on both sides of the vehicle have slowly been burning. the bowl is made of plastic and with the heat of the xenons burns the plastic creating not only a fire hazard but also greatly reduces the effectiveness of the headlight beam, rendering it almost useless. this is specific to the oem manufactur…”
2021-02-12 · Electrical System · 120,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owned a 2003 bmw 325i. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it caught on fire. the fire department extinguished the fire. the contact stated that the fire arsonist investigator filed a report and provided a case number. the vehicle was not towed to a dealer and was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware o…”
2020-07-01 · Structure:body · 130,000 mi“the door locks stop working periodically where only the drivers door will unlock with the key. at that time, the rear and passenger doors will not unlock with the remote or the button in the center console or by pulling on the door release inside the doors. the bmw usually unlocks the door with the first pull and then opens with the second, but w…”
2019-12-18 · Power Train · 146,000 mi“driving on 12/12/2019 on interstate highway about 65mph, going straight, when all of a sudden rear wheels (this is rwd - 2003 bmw 325i) locked up completely - the vehicle went forward at about 45 degrees sideways before it straightened out when the speed dropped. thankfully i did not hit anybody, and no one hit me although there was quite a bit of …”
2019-11-21 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i own a 2003 sulev bmw and it needs a fuel pump. this only can be repaired by a dealership due to the fact it has a sealed fuel tank. the cost can be 6 to 8000.00 dollars. i was told there is an extended warranty for a sulev car. 150000 mi or 15 years. i called bmw and they never heard of that warranty. can you please help. thank you…”
2019-07-15 · Exterior Lighting“the purpose of this request is to get bmw to honor a remedy for taillight defect caused as a manufacturing defect. my taillight grounding wires are causing a short on turning signals. further research indicated this has been reported nhtsa campaign id number: 11v438000. affected vehicles 325i - 2002-2005 bmw will not honor its proposed remedy …”
2019-07-04 · Exterior Lighting“my rear window and the rooftop dont work i can hear the motors but nothing happens a technician explain that the regulator and lines are broken its a common thing on my model he specified.…”
2019-06-20 · Electrical System · 174,000 mi“both back windows on my 2003 bmw 325i will not go up. garage says both regulators and actuators must be replaced. researching the internet shows this to be a common failure on this model and it is considered a safety hazard.…”
2018-04-25 · Air Bags“i had my airbags replaced but the man sitting in the seat is on with a airback in his lap i was told that the mrs control needs to be replaced, and at the dealership they said that the bad airbags may have caused this issue, i want to know if bmw is goinn to take care of this, because none of the air bags work without the mrs module i have no pr…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.