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2004 Bmw 325I: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

147 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

80,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 61 of 147 complaints (41.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1510.2%
Electrical and battery issues117.5%
Engine operation74.8%
Steering behavior32.0%
Fuel system concerns21.4%
Transmission and shifting10.7%

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
61
Exterior Lighting
43
Electrical System
20
Engine
6
Latches/Locks/Linkages
4
Visibility/Wiper
4
Seats
3
Steering
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags61
Exterior Lighting43
Electrical System20
Engine6
Latches/Locks/Linkages4
Visibility/Wiper4
Seats3
Steering3

Air Bags: 61; Exterior Lighting: 43; Electrical System: 20; Engine: 6; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 4; Visibility/Wiper: 4; Seats: 3; Steering: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
17
75,000 to 99,999
15
100,000 to 149,999
23
150,000 and above
12
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,99917
75,000 to 99,99915
100,000 to 149,99923
150,000 and above12

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 12

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 63 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.

2004
1
2005
3
2006
1
2008
3
2009
5
2010
7
2011
15
2012
17
2013
6
2014
14
2015
24
2016
23
2017
12
2018
3
2019
3
2020
5
2021
3
2022
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20041
20053
20061
20083
20095
20107
201115
201217
20136
201414
201524
201623
201712
20183
20193
20205
20213
20221
20251

2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 5; 2010: 7; 2011: 15; 2012: 17; 2013: 6; 2014: 14; 2015: 24; 2016: 23; 2017: 12; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 5; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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 10083766 · 2004-07-23 (July 23, 2004)

SAND COLOR STRIP THAT MEETS THE DASHBOARD IS IN CONSUMER'S LINE OF VISION.*MR THE CONSUMER LIVES IN AN AREA WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS HOT THEREFORE DECIDED TO PURCHASE HER VEHICLE WITH SAND LEATHER INTERIOR BECAUSE IT WOULD BE COOLER. THE CONSUMER LIKES THE INTERIOR BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE DASHBOARD IS BLACK WITH A SAND COLORED STRIP THAT MEETS WITH THE BLACK DASH. THE TWO COLORS CAUSE A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH RESULTS IN POOR VISIBILITY. DURING BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083766 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10122469 · 2005-05-30 (May 30, 2005)

THE OE BRIDEGSTONE TURANZA ER30 TIRES ON MY 2004 BMW 325I ARE DEFECTIVE ON THE SIDEWALLS. THE SIDEWALLS ARE WAY TOO WEAK TO BE PUT ON THE ROAD. MY SIDEWALLS HAVE A BUBBLE AFTER 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT MY NEW CAR. THIS IS INCREDIBLY A RIPOFF SINCE IF IT CAN'T EVEN LAST A YEAR, THEN IT SHOULD ONLY BE MADE FOR TOYS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122469 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10126924 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE SERVICE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126924 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10145203 · 2005-12-14 (December 14, 2005)

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE THE BRAKES ID NOT COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. WHILE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED THE VEHICLE WILL SLOWLY ROLL. THIS DEFECT IS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID LEAKED IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145203 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10161316 · 2006-07-03 (July 3, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELARATED WITHOUT EFFORT. THERE WAS EMERGENCY BRAKING WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A CONCRETE SUPPORT PARKING STRUCTURE ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALMOST CONTINUED OVER THE EDGE OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE WHICH WAS TWO STORIES ABOVE THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN HOME THE REAR ABS BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE BRAKES LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN WITHOUT APPLYING…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161316 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10216311 · 2008-01-28 (January 28, 2008)

SPEEDOMETER READING OFF BY ~5 MILES PER HOUR - GIVE OR TAKE. TWICE REQUESTED DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT BMW ALLOWS FOR A +/ - 10 MPH DISCREPANCY. THIS SPEED VARIANCE OR INEXACT SPEED INFORMATION COULD MISLEAD DRIVERS AS TO THE APPROPRIATE SPEED IN ICY OR RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS AS WELL AS OTHER INSTANCES WHERE SPEED NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD. DEFECT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AS MIGHT VIOLATE VARIOUS STATE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS AS WELL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216311 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10216707 · 2008-02-01 (February 1, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE. THE CONTACT CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR THAT CAN BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CENTRAL CONTROLLERS FOR THE DOORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST EXCEEDED $1,000. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT OFFERED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE…

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216707 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10233546 · 2008-07-08 (July 8, 2008)

I OWN A 2004 BMW 325I AND MY REARVIEW MIRROR WITH AN AUTODIMMING FEATURE LEAKED ONTO MY CENTER CONSOLE AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF MIRROR FAILURE BEFORE I NOTICED THE BROKEN MIRROR AND SPOTS ON THE SEAT AND CONSOLE. THE FLUID ACTUALLY BUBBLED UP AND ATE THROUGH MY CONSOLE AND CUP HOLDERS AND LEFT PERMANENT STAINS ON THE SEAT. THE DEALER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SO IS MAGNA DONNELLY AS IT HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS CARS AS CAN BE SEEN MY TALKING TO BMW, ACURA, MAGNA DONNELLY AND INTERNET FORUMS. WE SPOKE …

Owner-reported narrative. 117,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233546 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

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

11V438000 · Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights

Reported: 2011-08-26 (August 26, 2011)

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.

Consequence: INTERMITTENT LIGHT OPERATION REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V428000 · Air Bags

Reported: 2018-06-11 (June 11, 2018)

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 internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
15V318000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2015-05-28 (May 28, 2015)

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 vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

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 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 recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V018000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2020-01-15 (January 15, 2020)

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 due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗