2003 Bmw 325: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
97,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 9 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
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 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Air Bags: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 1; Steering: 1; Structure:Body: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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 10473875 · 2012-09-05 (September 5, 2012)
THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO OPERATE; PROBLEM IS INFLUENCED BY TEMPERATURE EXTREMES (HOT AND COLD); SYMPTOMS VARY FROM REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE DOORS WILL UNLOCK TO A COMPLETE FAILURE OF ALL DOORS TO UNLOCK. WHEN THE PROBLEM MANIFESTS ITSELF, THE CENTRAL ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK BUTTON (MOUNTED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE BESIDE THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH) IS INOPERABLE. BMW CRASH SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDE MECHANICAL DISCONNECT OF DOOR LATCHES WHEN LOCKED; WHEN THIS PARTICULAR P…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504136 · 2013-03-22 (March 22, 2013)
HIGH PRESSURE STEERING PUMP LINE BURST LEADING TO LOSS OF STEERING POWER ASSISTANCE
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10668766 · 2014-12-29 (December 29, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10668766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819409 · 2016-01-11 (January 11, 2016)
I AM CONCERNED I GOT A LETTER ABOUT THE RECALL IN JULY AND IT IS NOW JANUARY AND I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. WHY HAS IT TAKEN MORE THAN 6 MONTHS TO FIX IT. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED BUT THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10819409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10949673 · 2017-02-05 (February 5, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL. AFTER CONTACTING BMW NEAREST DEALER THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION TO TAKE CARE OF THE RECALL. THEY TOOK MY CAR INFORMATION AND SAID WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVE THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10949673 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11054218 · 2017-12-12 (December 12, 2017)
I HAVE HAD BOTH AIR BAGS REPLACED AD THE AIRBAG MAN DOES NOT GO OFF I WAS TOLD THAT THE MRS CONTROL UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE NONE OF MY AIRBAGS WILL WORK UNTIL THE MRS CONTROL UNIT IS REPLACED. I WANT TO KNOW IS BMW GOING TO REPLACE THE UNIT I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG MISHAP CAUSED THE MRS CONTROL UNIT TO GO BAD.
Owner-reported narrative. 601,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11054218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11093479 · 2018-05-12 (May 12, 2018)
DANGEROUS DEATH TRAP!!! I GOT STUCK IN MY CAR BECAUSE THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK. YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IF THE UNLOCK MECHANISM FAILS. THERE ARE MANY COMPAINTS OF THE SAME FOR THE E46 BMW MODELS. WE HAD TO CRAWL OF WINDOWS AND LUCKILY THOSE WORKED. AS DESIGNED, YOU CANNOT OPEN THE DOORS IF ITHE MODULE FAILS AND THERE IS NOT MECHANICAL OVERRIDE TO UNLOCK. THERE IS NOT DOOR KEY FOR PASSENGER DOORS AS WELL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, I AM LOOKING TO GET IT FIXED BUT IT WORKS SOMETIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11093479 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144639 · 2018-11-01 (November 1, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CERTAIN LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE OTHER LIGHTS WERE NOT. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 158,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11144639 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.