KnownCarProblems2002 BMW 325i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 162 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW 325i, most often about the air bags (32% of complaints, typically around 127,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about 325i model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory4 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 325i problems
Air bags
52 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 127,500 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal.
Tl contact owns a 2002 BMW 325i. While driving 45 MPH, the air bags inadvertently deployed. The contact was injured. The dealer could not determine the cause of the deployment. The vehicle is currently at the dealer. The failure and current mileages were 125,000.
On september 7, 2018 I lend my car to my son so he could run some school related errands he needed to attend to. That day he had also taken my daughter with him as they were going to have lunch after he had finished all of the errands he had to do for that day. Around 3:10 p.m. My son got into an accident which had…
Lights
44 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: brake lights, tail lights, headlights, turn signal.
The contact owns a 2002 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the driver side exterior turn signal was corroded and experienced an electrical short. The dealer was contacted who advised that the failure was a defect in design and that they would have to replace the entire housing fixture to correct the failure. The…
The contact owns a 2002 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the tail lights failed to function. The tail light warning light illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Electrical
21 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 93,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, instrument cluster/panel, wiring.
I had gotten rain on my hazard and lock button on my 2002 BMW 325i. At first I had the hazards goings off at night up to fifteen times per night for a week straight. "I had to run outside and hold down the hazard button until the lights turn off. Now the lights just blink throughout the day and night once or twice…
Right rear turn-signal lights operate intermittently--sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I almost got hit by another car from behind when I was changing lanes on the freeway.
Visibility and wipers
17 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, rearview mirrors/devices, sun/moon roof assembly.
On my 325i, I have had three to fix the power window regulator three times for two different windows, today I took it in to fix the problem a fourth time and for the third window. Three of the fixes have been under warranty ' unfortunately the latest one is not covered. Even under warranty, it is inconvenient and this…
Right rear passenger door window failure (stuck down). At dealer now being fixed. On 11/17/2005; left front driver door window failed stuck down. Replaced door regulator. Sun roof window stuck open; replaced window regulator. Unable to secure vehicle (2002 BMW 325i - 4 door) during times of failures and in case of…
Engine
13 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 103,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, cooling system, engine.
The contact owns a 2002 BMW 325i. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the mechanic advised that the vehicle had overheated due to a failure in the fan motor. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign…
Car was driven approximately 50 miles and parked in a restaurant parking lot. Weather was wet and rainy, the defroster was running on the car for most of the trip. After sitting 25-30 minutes a resident near the restaurant called to notify that the car was on fire. Employees of the restaurant attempted to put out the…
Transmission
7 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 92,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
BMW 2002 325 I with 92,000 miles, transmission failure, car will not go into reverse, same situation many people are experiencing with 99-2004 models.
BMW 325 2002 under 100k miles with transmission problem. Jmk springfield BMW said hey could fix for $500 I agreed to go ahead. After the work completion they called me back to tell me problem still exists but they still charged me $540. They say I need to pay another $700 to try the next 'gear selection switch change'…
Body and structure
6 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: body.
Water leaks into the rear driver's side passenger compartment, flooding the carpet underneath the floor mat. Happens nearly every time it rains heavily or when I wash the car. Have already taken car back to dealer for repair. They replaced the left rear door seals, but same water leaks continue to happen.
The plastic clips that operate the sunshade on my 2002 325i have broken four times since I purchased the vehicle in 2003 requiring replacement. The first three times the dealer covered in full under the cpo warranty, which ran out in march 2008. Out of warranty costs are $350 to repair. Tried to get the dealer to…
Brakes
6 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 113,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Tl contact owns a 2002 BMW 325i. While driving 65 MPH, the ABS light illuminated and the speedometer stopped functioning. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted it. After restarting the vehicle, the light was still illuminated and the service engine light illuminated while she was driving home. The vehicle…
The contact owns a 2002 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the ABS and brake warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who performed a diagnostic that located the failure at the steering stability control angle sensor. The mechanic replaced the rear brake light. The steering stability…
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 325i 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
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 [email protected].
Full defect summary
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.
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.
Air bags
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 [email protected].
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: turn signal
Risk: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions. This could cause a vehicle crash without warning.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Suspension
Risk: This could affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both front spring strut upper mounts. Owner notification began march 15, 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.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, during the strut mount manufacturing process, the thrust bearing was not properly positions and secured. If the suspension is fully unloaded, the front strut could separate from the upper mount.
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 325i
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW 325i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (52 complaints, typically around 127,500 miles); lights (44 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); electrical (21 complaints, typically around 93,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 BMW 325i have?
- 6 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 2002 a bad year for the BMW 325i?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about 325i model year since 2000, with 162 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.