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2002 Bmw 325: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

26 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

55,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 26 complaints (19.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation311.5%
Electrical and battery issues311.5%
Transmission and shifting27.7%
Braking behavior13.8%
Steering behavior13.8%

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
5
Electrical System
5
Latches/Locks/Linkages
3
Exterior Lighting
2
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
2
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
Electrical System:Wiring
1
Engine
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags5
Electrical System5
Latches/Locks/Linkages3
Exterior Lighting2
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls2
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module1
Electrical System:Wiring1
Engine1

Air Bags: 5; Electrical System: 5; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 7 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.

2002
2
2003
2
2004
4
2005
3
2010
2
2011
3
2014
5
2015
1
2016
1
2017
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20022
20032
20044
20053
20102
20113
20145
20151
20161
20173

2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 3

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10016839 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)

ELECTRICAL HARNESS FAILURE

Owner-reported narrative. 15,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016839 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10032247 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE REAR LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING, ROAD HAZARD CAUSE. *AK *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 13,275 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032247 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10060156 · 2004-03-02 (March 2, 2004)

MY 2002 BMW 325CI ENGINE STALLED AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT THE FREEWAY. THE DASH LIGHTS LIT UP AND MY ENGINE SHUTOFF. AS I WAS ROLLING TO A STOP (GOOD THING NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME), I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STARTED BACK UP AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH STEPTRONIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME A FEW MONTHS BACK WHEN LEAVING A GAS STATION WHERE I NEEDED TO COME TO A STOP AND PRESSED THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. I DIDN'T THINK OF IT…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,312 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060156 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10061467 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)

VEHICLE CAME OFF THE JACK WHEN NORMAL FORCE WAS APPLIED TO PULL THE WHEEL OFF. ALL THE BOLTS HAD BEEN REMOVED. VEHICLE WAS JACKED UP WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE WHEEL REMAINED ON THE VEHICLE WHICH PREVENTED IT FROM FALLING ON THE CONSUMER. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061467 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10061563 · 2004-03-08 (March 8, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 235,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061563 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10081207 · 2004-07-16 (July 16, 2004)

MY HUSBAND HAS 2 SETS OF TIRES ONE FOR SUMMER AND ONE FOR WINTER. THE SUMMER TIRES ARE THE ONES WITH THE DEFECT. THE TIRES HAVE ONLY BEEN USED FOR 2 SUMMERS AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN A LOT. THE TIRES STILL HAVE ABOUT 60% THREAD ON THEM. RECENTLY WE NOTICED THAT THE TIRES ARE BUBBLED ON THE INSIDE AND PREVIOUSLY ONE CRACKED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I FEEL LIKE THE TIRES SHOULD STILL BE GOOD FOR ANOTHER 2 YEARS, BUT WITH THE BUBBLES I'M AFRAID THEY'LL BLOW UP. THE TIRES ARE DUNLOP W10 18" 235/4018. PLEASE HELP, I'VE LOOKED ON THEIR WEBS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081207 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10107619 · 2005-01-20 (January 20, 2005)

I HAVE A 2002 BMW 325CI WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH ABOUT 22000 MILES. MY CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE IT WAS MOVING. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT AND ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. IT DIDN'T RESPOND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS. I HAD TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE BEFORE IT WILL RUN AGAIN. AND THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND ENGINE OIL LIGHT WENT AWAY. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TO MY CAR TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS ON A FREEWAY AT OVER 65 MPH. I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE PUT MY CAR IN PETER PAN BMW…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107619 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10124498 · 2005-06-07 (June 7, 2005)

DT: WHEN VEHICLE HAD ONLY 33 MILES EVERY SINGLE DUMMY LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND DIED OUT. IT HAD BEEN TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS IN DIFFERENT STATES , AND THEY SAID IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WHILE GOING 65 MPH ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE STOPPED. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND VEHICLE ALMOST HIT SOMEONE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124498 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

17V047000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2017-01-20 (January 20, 2017)

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 replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V698000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2019-10-02 (October 2, 2019)

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 humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗