KnownCarProblems2004 BMW 325i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 147 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 BMW 325i, most often about the air bags (42% of complaints, typically around 114,000 miles). It is 5th of 11 325i model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory3 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 325i problems
Air bags
62 complaints · 42%Half of these problems showed up before 114,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window.
I was driving by myself on the freeway and a rubble the size of a basketball was rolling towards my path. I do not know if it fell from a construction vehicle or it already hit another car and that the rubble just ricochet towards me. Anyway I was going 65 miles per hour and was in the middle lane and there were cars…
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to a the dealer where it was…
Lights
44 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 79,000 miles. Parts named most often: brake lights, tail lights.
I have a major BMW problem. It currently has a service bulletin # si b 63 03 06 lights but BMW will not fix this out of warranty even though they knew about this when my car was under warranty and I was supposed to get full services. I want a formal investigation.
Rear turn-signal indicators began failing to operate, especially in hot, humid conditions. Inspection of wiring harness revealed evidence of wiring-connection degradation by heat or corrosion. The car has not been damaged or flooded in any way. It is kept in a garage. Since both rear blinker assemblies have been…
Electrical
21 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
Tl contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the faulty lamp warning indicator would intermittently illuminate on the instrument panel. The electrical harness that plugs into the rear of the lamp harness for the exterior lighting had a faulty ground in the connector. The dealer stated that the wires could…
Rear turn-signal indicators began failing to operate, especially in hot, humid conditions. Inspection of wiring harness revealed evidence of wiring-connection degradation by heat or corrosion. The car has not been damaged or flooded in any way. It is kept in a garage. Since both rear blinker assemblies have been…
Visibility and wipers
10 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: rearview mirrors/devices, power window devices and controls.
The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. While examining the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear view mirror was leaking inside of the glass, distorting the contacts view. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the rear view mirror needed to be replaced due to leaking gas. The vehicle…
The vehicle came equipped from the factory with bi-xenon auto leveling headlights manufactured by zkw. The past couple months, the light output has steadily decreased. Looking at it further, brown scorch marks are visible in the projector when the headlight is on. On the driver's side, there is also distortion in the…
Engine
7 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact was driving 10 MPH when the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who advised that there was a crack in the engine and water was entering the engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure who stated that the dealer needed to replace the…
The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the engine stalled without prior warning. The engine restarted and the vehicle resumed; however within five miles the failure recurred. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an authorized dealer. The technician…
Brakes
5 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock.
Takata recall: I am currently in communication with state farm agent, terry wood [([phone]]. She has assured me that an investigation is underway at this time. We are stating that my BMW's side airbags suddenly deployed and unexpectedly causing me to lose power steering and braking ability. As I approached and entered…
: 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…
Doors and locks
5 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: doors.
The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the doors lock failed. The front passenger door and the rear doors could not be unlocked manually with the key. The contact mentioned that the driver door was the only door that could be unlocked manually with the key. The dealer advised that vehicle general…
The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the doors would not unlock. The contact attempted to unlock the doors manually and by using the key fob but failed to respond. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The failure could not…
Body and structure
4 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the front passenger seat was wet after the vehicle was exposed to rainy conditions. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the front passenger side vapor barrier failed. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage…
I was driving in the center lane and a cement truck was driving in the right lane about one car lengths ahead of me when some fell off of his truck and hit my hood, putting a hole through it. It then hit the passenger side panel, mirror and metal piece between the windshield and the passenger window. I tried for a…
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 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.
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.
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
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 2004 BMW 325i
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW 325i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (62 complaints, typically around 114,000 miles); lights (44 complaints, typically around 79,000 miles); electrical (21 complaints, typically around 82,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 BMW 325i have?
- 4 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 325i?
- It is 5th of 11 325i model years by number of complaints, with 147 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.