KnownCarProblems2004 BMW 325ci Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 BMW 325ci, most often about the air bags (60% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles). It is the most complained-about 325ci 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 2004 BMW 325ci problems
Air bags
41 complaints · 60%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325ci. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the air bag warning indicator illuminated after the seat was adjusted. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the mat was faulty. The vehicle was not…
Car has been to the BMW dealership several times regarding the air bag sensor alert. BMW dealership doesn't know what is causing the sensor to come on. I have made several complaints to BMW headquarters regarding this issue. The BMW dealership will clear the alert or attempt to repair it,then within less than 200…
Transmission
9 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 1,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly, manual transmission.
The steptronic transmission will not engauge in "d" for several minutes after sitting overnight. BMW replaced the transmission at 1100 miles and at 300 miles the "new" transmission is doing the same thing. The car goes in "r" and potentially could leave you in traffic without the ability to move out of the way.
On cold starts vehicle does not move when transmission put in drive. It delays for 10 to 15 seconds to one minute. I was told by dealer that it has a defective part and they are currently replacing the transmission. Vehicle has 2000 miles on it. Also had problem with the steptronic transmission. Vehicle will not allow…
Electrical
5 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 83,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition.
At around 20k miles, the smg (sequential manual gearbox w/ paddle shifters) on my '04 325ci began experiencing many of the same problems that I've read about regarding the automatic transmission. After a cold night, the smg would not shift into reverse or drive. It would keep "clunking" over and over, continually…
Driver side brake lamp has gone out. In researching, found that this is a common problem with this model in the LED tail light and can cause a crash due to other drivers not being able to tell that you are stopping. Found recall information on NHTSA site and contacted BMW. I was informed that my specific VIN was not…
Lights
5 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 105,000 miles. Parts named most often: turn signal.
The internal wiring in the adaptive bi-xenon headlights gets brittle and cracks with the risk of short circuits, potential fire and headlight failure.
Driver side brake lamp has gone out. In researching, found that this is a common problem with this model in the LED tail light and can cause a crash due to other drivers not being able to tell that you are stopping. Found recall information on NHTSA site and contacted BMW. I was informed that my specific VIN was not…
Seats
3 complaints · 4%While driving my 2004 BMW 325ci sport down the road smelled something burning, looked down my heated seat caught fire, burnt my leg, almost wrecked trying to get off the highway. Now my seat has a huge burnt hole in it and cant use seat heaters. Both passenger and drivers seat are doing the same thing!!!! My car only…
The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325ci. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the air bag warning indicator illuminated after the seat was adjusted. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the mat was faulty. The vehicle was not…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 BMW 325ci 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: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
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 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 activit
Full defect summary
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.
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
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Delayed transmission engagement
Summary
Ms. Claire m. Tieder of reston, va, submitted a defect petition to the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) by letter dated january 11, 2004, requesting a defect investigation be conducted into delayed transmission engagement on model year 2004 bmw xi vehicles.bmw's response to NHTSA's information request indicated that certain bmw 3-series vehicles equipped with the gm5 transmission may exhibited a forward 'park' to 'drive' engagement delay from2 to 30 seconds.however, the condition can occur only during a vehicle cold start, after the vehicle has been at rest for more than eight hours.drivers experiencing the delay have learned to take precautionary and compensatory measu
Questions about the 2004 BMW 325ci
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW 325ci?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (41 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); transmission (9 complaints, typically around 1,000 miles); electrical (5 complaints, typically around 83,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 BMW 325ci have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 15, 2020 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the BMW 325ci?
- It is the most complained-about 325ci model year since 2000, with 68 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.