KnownCarProblems2002 BMW 325 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW 325, most often about the electrical (23% of complaints, typically around 43,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about 325 model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2002 BMW 325 problems
Electrical
6 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
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…
None of the passenger locks open, automatically or manually. This is a serious safety hazard if there is an accident or fire. No one can get out.
Air bags
6 complaints · 23%Parts named most often: frontal.
A friend sat in the passenger front seat of my car and pulled the seat belt out - a bit further than normal, but not that far (she weighs about 65kg, so she is not obese in any way). The air bag light subsequently came on and would not go off. The repair shop said it was necessary to replace the entire seat belt…
The contact owns a 2002 BMW 325. The contact stated that another vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was unconscious immediately after the impact. The contact was taken to a hospital where he sustained bruising on his neck, the shoulders and a severe concussion. A…
Visibility and wipers
3 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, sun/moon roof assembly.
While driving consumer heard a loud rattling noise coming from the front passenger window. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Third window regulator broke on my 2002 BMW 325 - three different windows. I finally got sick of it and called BMW north america and they refuse to do anything about it. The windows go down & you can't get them back up. I did an internet search and easily found tons more complaints. Obviously this is a defective part…
Doors and locks
3 complaints · 12%Beginning mid-summer 2010, the door locks began working erratically. The situation has progressed and often I must reach through an open window to be able to open the door. The center locking system also does not respond. This ia a potentially serious hazard as a person could become trapped in the locked vehicle after…
Tl contact owns a 2002 BMW 325. The contact stated that the doors have stopped unlocking. The contact had to open the windows from inside of the vehicle and then unlock them since they would not open from the inside of the vehicle. When using the key, the contact was able unlock the drivers side door, but not the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 BMW 325 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Rear lamp illumination
Summary
In a letter submitted to the office of defects investigation (odi) dated august25, 2011, bmwindicated that it will conduct a voluntary recall campaign to remedy the subject vehicles.the issue involves the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel.through normal vehicle use over time, the rear lamps ground wiring and associated 8-pin connector can experience an increase of the resistance at the electrical contact points.this can lead to intermittent or permanent loss of the rear lamp functions which include tail, brake, and turn signal operation.the recall consists of modifying the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel by adding a secondary ground connection in parallel to the existing primary gr
Rear lamp illumination
Summary
Odi has received complaints from consumers stating that their tail light assembly is not properly illuminating.the tail light assembly consists of a turn signal lamp, a tail lamp and a brake lamp.the complainants have indicated that the issue is with an 8 pin connector and associated ground wiring.these components are allegedly overheating and melting due to excessive electrical current that runs through the system.bmw issued a technical service bulletin (tsb) sib-630306 on february 2007 to address the condition by adding supplementary ground wiring to the tail lamp assembly.odi is upgrading to an ea to further investigate the issue.
Rear lamp illumination
Summary
In march 2009, the office of defects investigation (odi) received a petition from mr. Mark peters requesting an investigation of rear lamp failure in model year 2002-2005 bmw 3-series vehicles.an information request letter was sent to bmw in april 2009, and odi received bmw's response in june 2009.the tail lamp assembly contains lighting for the brake lamps, tail lamps, and turn signals.a technical service bulletin (tsb) was issued by bmw in january of 2007 instructing service technicians to examine an 8 pin electrical connector for heat-related damage and to incorporate additional ground wiring to the connector.complainants have alleged that significant thermal damage to the connector and a
Questions about the 2002 BMW 325
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW 325?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (6 complaints, typically around 43,000 miles); air bags (6 complaints); visibility and wipers (3 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2002 BMW 325 have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 2, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the BMW 325?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about 325 model year since 2000, with 26 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other BMW 325 years
- 2001
- 2002