vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

Bmw 325I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,350 owner complaints analyzed

22 distinct recall campaigns

80,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1987 to 2012 model years. Data snapshot: . 856 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 448 of 1,350 complaints (33.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior14710.9%
Electrical and battery issues1279.4%
Steering behavior765.6%
Transmission and shifting503.7%
Engine operation433.2%
Fuel system concerns251.9%

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.

Air Bags
448
Electrical System
182
Exterior Lighting
169
Engine
74
Latches/Locks/Linkages
69
Steering
56
Air Bags:Frontal
47
Unknown Or Other
42
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags448
Electrical System182
Exterior Lighting169
Engine74
Latches/Locks/Linkages69
Steering56
Air Bags:Frontal47
Unknown Or Other42

Air Bags: 448; Electrical System: 182; Exterior Lighting: 169; Engine: 74; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 69; Steering: 56; Air Bags:Frontal: 47; Unknown Or Other: 42

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
93
25,000 to 49,999
105
50,000 to 74,999
183
75,000 to 99,999
178
100,000 to 149,999
202
150,000 and above
95
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00093
25,000 to 49,999105
50,000 to 74,999183
75,000 to 99,999178
100,000 to 149,999202
150,000 and above95

Under 25,000: 93; 25,000 to 49,999: 105; 50,000 to 74,999: 183; 75,000 to 99,999: 178; 100,000 to 149,999: 202; 150,000 and above: 95

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (202). 494 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.

1995
2
1996
3
2000
24
2001
22
2002
35
2003
35
2004
45
2005
24
2006
39
2007
25
2008
43
2009
50
2010
96
2011
139
2012
112
2013
79
2014
103
2015
117
2016
136
2017
73
2018
49
2019
28
2020
17
2021
11
2022
20
2023
7
2024
6
2025
8
2026
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19952
19963
200024
200122
200235
200335
200445
200524
200639
200725
200843
200950
201096
2011139
2012112
201379
2014103
2015117
2016136
201773
201849
201928
202017
202111
202220
20237
20246
20258
20262

1995: 2; 1996: 3; 2000: 24; 2001: 22; 2002: 35; 2003: 35; 2004: 45; 2005: 24; 2006: 39; 2007: 25; 2008: 43; 2009: 50; 2010: 96; 2011: 139; 2012: 112; 2013: 79; 2014: 103; 2015: 117; 2016: 136; 2017: 73; 2018: 49; 2019: 28; 2020: 17; 2021: 11; 2022: 20; 2023: 7; 2024: 6; 2025: 8; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 147 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 127 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 76 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 10153401 · 2006-03-22 (March 22, 2006)

MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT JUST CAME ON ONE DAY, THEN I STARTED FEELING AND HEARING LIKE A THUMP OR BOUNCE IN THE RIGHT PASSENGER TIRE/WHEEL. HAD TIRE CHECKED NOTHING WRONG , NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKES ? *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10153401 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8011789 · 2002-06-13 (June 13, 2002)

WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER CAME TO A STOP WHEN VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR.*AK *MJ

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8011789 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 861286 · 2000-05-02 (May 2, 2000)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AFTER COMING OUT OF A CAR WASH. WATER GOT INTO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER COST OF APPROXIMATELY $900 OR MORE. AN ADDITIONAL $200 OR MORE WOULD BE CHARGED TO INSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT REOCCUR. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 861286 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 977286 · 1996-01-03 (January 3, 1996)

BLINKER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES IT HAS DRAINED BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES WHERE SHE HAD TO LEAVE HER CAR. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT IMPORTANT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 977286 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 9000725 · 2000-04-26 (April 26, 2000)

STEERING LOCKS UP INTERMITTENLY IN THE START POSITION, WINDOWS AND SUNROOF INOPERATIVE, GAS INTERMITTENLY GIVES INCORRECT READING OF FUEL

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9000725 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10334171 · 2010-06-01 (June 1, 2010)

1- STEERING SHAKES A LOT AT SPEED 45 AND OVER AND UNEVEN WEAR ON BOTH FRONT TIRE. 2- THE SHOP LIFTED UP THE CAR AND SAID THAT BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME THAT HOLDING THE SWAY BAR ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE BUT TO GO TO THE DEALER. 3- WELL THE DEALER WAS NOT CO-OPERATIVE ON THE ISSUE AND WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE FIX. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 189,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334171 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8011788 · 2002-06-13 (June 13, 2002)

WHILE SHIFTING GEAR TO DRIVE AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UP TO 60 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8011788 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10103922 · 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)

DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF 1ST GEAR WITH ENGINE LOAD. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10103922 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8006006 · 2002-03-20 (March 20, 2002)

VEHICLE WILL STALL IN RAIN. DEALER DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER MODULE GOT WET AND VEHICLE WILL EITHER STALL OR NOT START. COMPUTER MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8006006 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10266446 · 2009-04-23 (April 23, 2009)

TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO BMW - TO HAVE (THROTTLE RECALL ) WORK PERFORMED. APPARENTLY, IT WAS NOT DONE OR IF IT WAS DONE, WAS NOT TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND NOW, THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP FORWARD, WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, BMW HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE SHORT IN THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE 'CHECK 1 REAR BRAKE LIGHT' WILL ILLUMINATE - FOR ABOUT 5 - 7 MINUTES. AIRBAG LIGHT WILL ALSO COME ON WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. NOW THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC, RPM' IS FINE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR …

Owner-reported narrative. 196,061 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266446 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10134019 · 2005-08-24 (August 24, 2005)

PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH OF PURCHASE DATE (. CAR BOUGHT USED, FROM MECHANIC/BMW AUTHORIZED REPAIR SERVICE (SAME MECHANIC IN FOLLOWING NARRATIVE). NOTICED 1): COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON; COOLANT LEVEL SLIGHTLY LOW; TOLD PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE COMPUTER CHIP, TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN BECAUSE LIGHT COMING ON MORE OFTEN, COOLANT LEVEL LOW TO EMPTY IN OVERFLOW AFTER MEDIUM-LONG DISTANCE DRIVE (75 - 100 MILES); TOLD TO JUST KEEP PUTTING COOLANT IN OVERFLOW, NOTHING WAS WRONG; ASKED M…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10134019 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10042297 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)

THE SEALS ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK LEAKED GAS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD ONLY HAPPEN IF THE SENDING UNIT SEALS ARE DEFECTIVE. *SC THE DEALER FOUND THAT A HOSE AND SENDING UNIT SEALS WERE LEAKING FUEL ON TOP OF THE TANK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042297 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1999
1
2000
2
2001
6
2002
6
2003
7
2004
4
2005
4
2006
7
2007
3
2008
3
2009
3
2010
3
2011
3
2012
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19991
20002
20016
20026
20037
20044
20054
20067
20073
20083
20093
20103
20113
20120

1999: 1; 2000: 2; 2001: 6; 2002: 6; 2003: 7; 2004: 4; 2005: 4; 2006: 7; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 0

Year-by-year records

Bmw 325I model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
198740Not available
1988500
1989700
1990300
1991200
1992244+4
1993183-1
19941430
1995242-1
199901Not available
200012+1
20011516+4
200216260
20031997+1
20041474-3
20057140
20065157+3
200713-4
2008130
2009030
2010030
2011130
201210-3