2001 Bmw 325CI problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
105,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 49 complaints (22.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
Air Bags: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Electrical System: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 10
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 18 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10328885 · 2010-05-04 (May 4, 2010)
PASSENGER SIDE GAS TANK STRAP COMES UNWELDED FORM THE CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 82,360 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10345794 · 2010-07-28 (July 28, 2010)
2001 BMW 325CI, PASSENGER SIDE FUEL TANK STRAP FAILURE AT FRONT WELD SITE CAUSING FUEL TANK TO HANG FROM THE UNDER BODY ONLY SEVERAL INCHES OFF THE GROUND. THE REAR FUEL TANK STRAP REMAINED BOLTED DOWN SO STRAP REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE, DRAGGING ON THE ROAD SURFACE CAUSING A LOUD METALLIC POPPING AND SCRATCHING SOUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THUS ALERTING DRIVER. THE FAILURE SPONTANEOUSLY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL ROADWAY WITHOUT ANY OBVIOUS COLLISION FROM DEBRIS, SIGNS OF EXTERNAL DAMAGE OR EXCESSIVE RUST. THE FRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163823 · 2006-07-28 (July 28, 2006)
I LOST AND ESTIMATED 97% OF BRAKE PRESSURE WHILE COMING TO A STOP FROM APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH TO STOP AT A HIGHWAY RAMP TRAFFIC CONTROL STOP LIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL TOUCHED THE FLOOR AND I PUMPED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES WITH ONLY A MINIMAL RETURN OF BRAKE PRESSURE. I USED THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFT MODE TO PERFORM ENGINE BRAKING TO SLOW THE CAR TO A STOP WITH THE VERY MINIMAL BRAKE PRESSURE AVAILABLE BUT SURPASSED THE STOP LIGHT BY ONE CAR LENGTH. THERE WAS FORTUNATELY NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME AT THE TIME. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE A YELLOW DSC (DYNAMIC …
Owner-reported narrative. 47,638 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10467081 · 2012-07-23 (July 23, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325 CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE TAIL LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE BULB WIRE CONNECTOR WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 167,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190149 · 2007-05-08 (May 8, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TAG LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING. THE TRUNK SENSOR FAILED WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT THE TRUNK WAS CLOSED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE WIRE HARNESS IN THE TRUNK WAS BEGINNING TO FAIL DUE TO CONSTANTLY BEING RUBBED EACH TIME THE TRUNK OPENED AND CLOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256357 · 2009-01-26 (January 26, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE FAN MOTOR. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, WHICH CAUSED THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING ALONG WITH A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FAILURE IS NOT COVERED UNDER HER WARR…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155442 · 2006-04-16 (April 16, 2006)
2001 BMW 325CI; TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING. DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED ON FREEWAY. I NOTE THAT 1999 BMW MODELS HAD TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513696 · 2013-05-27 (May 27, 2013)
MY VEHICLE ONE DAY DECIDED TO STOP GOING IN REVERSE. IT ACTS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH THE DISPLAY SHOWS IT IS IN REVERSE. NOTHING OF MY DOING WOULD CAUSE THIS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE. I DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THAT BMW OUTSOURCED THEIR TRANSMISSION TO FRANCE THROUGH GM FROM THE YEARS OF 1999-2003. THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS THROUGH GM WERE RECALLED HOWEVER BMW BEING A THIRD PARTY NEVER TOOK RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE SORTED THROUGH HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF CONSUMER REPORTS STAT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10513696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129482 · 2005-07-20 (July 20, 2005)
DT: ON MAY 20, 2005 AT ABOUT 5 PM EASTERN TIME THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM WITH 2001 BMW 325 , VIN [XXX]. VEHICLE HAD 25, 000 MILES AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. WHILE DRIVING HOME VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD IN CAMBRIDGE, MA., AFTER STALLING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND AFTER WAITING ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE VEHICLE STARTED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAKE ITS WAY HOME. AN INDEPENDENT BMW MECHANIC USED COMPUTER ANALYZER TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE CAM SHAFT SENSORS. MECHANIC …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11018981 · 2017-08-22 (August 22, 2017)
I [XXX] AND [XXX] WERE ON A LOCAL BACK ROAD IN OUR TOWN WHEN MY REAR FRAME MEMBER ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAD SNAPPED AND PULLED US INTO THE ONCOMING SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A LARGE DITCH WHERE WE TOOK OUT A FENCE POST AND CLIPPED A FIBER OPTICS LINE INDICATOR POST THEN INTO A COLBERT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON MY FRONT WINDOW POST NOR ON MY DOOR THE FRONT DRIVER STEERING WHEEL AND PASSENGER DASH BOARD AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER I [XXX] HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND AFTER PASSENGER [XXX] HIT THE DASH BOARD. AFTER DEPLOYMENT THE AIRBAG MODULE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11018981 at NHTSA ↗