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2002 Bmw 325XI: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

68 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

67,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 53 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 68 complaints (22.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues913.2%
Braking behavior45.9%
Transmission and shifting22.9%
Steering behavior22.9%
Engine operation11.5%

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.

Electrical System
15
Engine
15
Air Bags
12
Suspension
9
Exterior Lighting
8
Steering
7
Power Train
4
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System15
Engine15
Air Bags12
Suspension9
Exterior Lighting8
Steering7
Power Train4
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights3

Electrical System: 15; Engine: 15; Air Bags: 12; Suspension: 9; Exterior Lighting: 8; Steering: 7; Power Train: 4; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 3

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
7
50,000 to 74,999
18
75,000 to 99,999
11
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,99918
75,000 to 99,99911
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 6

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 15 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.

2003
3
2004
3
2006
1
2008
1
2009
6
2010
1
2011
7
2012
2
2013
23
2014
4
2015
4
2016
7
2017
5
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20033
20043
20061
20081
20096
20101
20117
20122
201323
20144
20154
20167
20175
20221

2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 6; 2010: 1; 2011: 7; 2012: 2; 2013: 23; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 7; 2017: 5; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 10022417 · 2003-07-10 (July 10, 2003)

THE SEAT BELT LATCH TRIGGERED THE AIR BAG DEFAULT AND THE AIR BAG HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE SERVICE CHECK FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THE SYSTEM WAS CLEARED, DEFAULT/INOPERATIVE AIR BAG OCCURRED WITH THE NEXT SEAT BELT LATCH. (MODEL 325XI) *JB *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022417 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023212 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE-95 IN NEW YORK I FELT A VIBRATION START IN THE BACK OF THE CAR WHICH GREW VERY QUICKLY. I PULLED OVER TO FIND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FLAT. I FOUND THE TIRE HAD A SLIT IN THE SIDE WALL HALF WAY AROUND THE TIRE WITH A GAP BETWEEN THE TREAD AND THE BODY CORE OF THE TIRE. IT APPEARS THAT THE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE FORM THE TIRE. I CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURES REGULARLY AND KEEP THEM AT THE MANUFACTURES RECOMMENDED PRESSURES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 12,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023212 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050114 · 2003-12-04 (December 4, 2003)

VEHICLE HAD 2 GOODYEAR TIRES, WHERE THE SIDEWALL HAD BLOWN OUT WHILE DRIVING AT A MODERATE SPEED. OLD TIRES WERE THROWN OUT, THEREFORE THE D.O.T. # FOR THE TIRES WERE UNAVAILABLE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. 10,275 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050114 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10075573 · 2004-06-02 (June 2, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DRIVER RAN OVER PIECES OF DEBRIS ON THE HIGHWAY AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS WENT OFF INADVERTENTLY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES , AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075573 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10079339 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TIRE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED FOUR TIRES BECAUSE OF BLOWOUTS INCURRED WHEN HITTING POTHOLES. (GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A, HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES). *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079339 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10090843 · 2004-09-11 (September 11, 2004)

(1) PARKED AT A LIGHT. (2) LIGHT CHANGED, I ACCELERATED, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, VARIOUS DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, I NURSED THE CAR THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, AND PULLED OVER. TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED, DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. AFTER TALKING WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT I REACHED THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE. WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON BUT ENGINE POWER WAS BACK AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME. (3) DEALER RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH EXPLAINED THE ENGINE FAILURE AS AN ELECTRICAL FAU…

Owner-reported narrative. 75,551 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090843 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10160879 · 2006-06-27 (June 27, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLES TIRES BLEW OUT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DURING ONE OF THE INCIDENCES, THE VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW OUT. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH IN RESIDENTIAL AREA WHEN A POTHOLE CAUSED ANOTHER BLOWOUT. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN NINE TIMES BY AN INDEPENDENT TIRE COMPANY WHO DETERMINED PROBLEMS WERE WITH THE SIDEWALLS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERS AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO RESOLUTI…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160879 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10227750 · 2008-05-14 (May 14, 2008)

THIS IS FOR A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD OR POSSIBLE REAR END ACCIDENT DUE TO A KNOWN FAILURE IN THE TERMINAL BLOCK ON THE TAIL LIGHTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227750 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

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

02V088000 · Service Brakes, Air:Disc:Rotor

Reported: 2002-03-18 (March 18, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A PROBLEM IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS MAY HAVE RESULTED IN THE CREATION OF A CRACK WHERE THE BRAKE DISC AND THE PARKING BRAKE DRUM MEET. FURTHER CRACKING OF THE ROTOR COULD OCCUR DUE TO BRAKING TORQUE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE BRAKE DRUM, CONNECTED TO THE WHEEL HUB, WOULD COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE DISC.

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENED, THE WHEEL WOULD CONTINUE TO TURN, BUT THE DISC WOULD STOP, AND THERE WOULD BE NO BRAKING CAPACITY AT THAT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR BRAKE ROTORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 25, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
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 ↗
13V172000 · Air Bags

Reported: 2013-05-02 (May 2, 2013)

BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the 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, the inflator could rupture with 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 intends to issue initial notifications to owners informing them of the safety defect in June 2013. Once replacement parts are available, estimated for July, BMW will notify owners again to contact their dealers and schedule a replacement of the passenger air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

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 ↗