2005 BMW 325Ci

Do not drive

Owners filed 31 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags20
000
Exterior Lighting2
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1
000
Visibility1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Steering1
102
Exterior Lighting › Headlights1
010
Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling1
010
Engine1
010

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module20V018000Do not drive
Filed Jan 15, 2020292,948 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module15V318000Do not drive
Filed May 28, 2015419,235 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. 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.

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.

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder07E023000
Filed Mar 29, 200713,128 vehiclesCardone Industries, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.

Risk. LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 14, 2023MA

RT REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,120. VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION UPON REQUEST.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 27, 2022NY

I was driving one night and the headlight out indicator on the dash lit up showing the passenger headlight to be out. This limited my ability to see the road as I now only had one headlight operational. Upon further inspection, the halogen bulb was found to be in working order, but the wiring harness has lost its insulation. On both the driver and passenger side the insulation on the internal wire harness to the headlights has dried out and fallen off, exposing bare copper making an electrical short highly likely.

EngineFire
Filed Oct 17, 2022MO

On the night of 8/21/22, the fire department was callled to my detached garage when someone saw smoke comimg form the garage. The fire department determined that my car caught fire because of the cooling fan. The car was not running nor was the key in the ignition. The car was started 36 hours prior and had not been driven on a regualr basis for some time. The investigating office mentioned that the fan kept running, over heated causing the car and the contents of the garage to catch on fire.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 2, 2020116,000 milesSC

PLEASE REMOVE THIS VEHICLE FROM THE RECALL LIST FOR TAKATA AIR BAG REPLACEMENT.. I HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG REPLACED IN 2016, AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN WILMINGTON, NC. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE REPLACEMENT WASN'T REPORTED, BUT THAT DEALERSHIP DID HAVE AN OWNERSHIP CHANGE AFTER MY REPLACEMENT. I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE DOZENS OF NOTIFICATIONS FOR THIS RECALL, THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED. I'VE CONTACTED BMW AT LEAST 3 TIMES, BUT SOMEHOW I'M STILL ON THIS LIST. PLEASE REMOVE MY VEHICLE FROM THE RECALL LIST IMMEDIATELY.

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 24, 2019120,000 milesHI

DRIVING VEHICLE AND ALL POWER CUTS OUT ...NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES ...JUST STOPS DEAD ... I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL...BUT OBVIOUSLY HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE...THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS...AND I AM AT THE POINT WHERE I AM AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE IT...

SteeringCrash2 injured
Filed Nov 15, 2018126,000 milesCA

SUSPENSION- SWAY BARS, BUSHINGS, EVERY PART OF SUSPENSION BREAKING. BRAKES-EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. LIGHTING-ISSUES WITH HEADLAMPS. REARVIEW MIRROR-DEFECTIVE, NOT CLEAR ENOUGH TO SEE OUT OF. AIRBAGS-REPLACED, BUT WHEN THE CAR WAS IMPACTED THE ROLL BARS DEPLOYED WHILE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 29, 2017CA

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT SALES LOCATION THAT SOLD THE VEHICLE MADE NO MENTION OF TWO RECALLS PRIOR TO THE CONTACT PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 29, 20178,600 milesFL

HEADLIGHT RIGHT HAND SIDE

Air Bags
Filed Sep 8, 2016AL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/21/16*LJ UPDATED 10/25/16.*JB

Air Bags
Filed Sep 2, 2016MD

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Aug 31, 2016NJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 25, 2016KS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ..UPDATED 06/01/16 *BF UPDATED 06/10/16*LJ....UPDATED 06/15/16 *BF UPDATED 06/20/16.*JB UPDATED 06/27/16.*JB

Air Bags
Filed Apr 14, 2016CA

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/17/2016*LJ UPDATED 06/14/16.*JB

Air Bags
Filed Apr 4, 2016OR

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V31800 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 14, 2015IN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 14, 2015VA

I RECEIVED A WRITTEN RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC, IN JULY 2015 ABOUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN "METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING THE FRONT DRIVER ... [AND] POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH" IF THE AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED. I ASKED THE DEALER TO REMOVE THE FAULTY AIRBAG, LEAVING ME WITH LAP AND SHOULDER RESTRAINT, AND INSTALL THE CORRECT AIRBAG MODULE WHEN IT WAS RECEIVED. I WAS TOLD THAT, BY LAW, AIR BAGS COULD NOT BE REMOVED AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO SO. I FEEL THAT MY REQUEST WAS VALID UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WOULD NOT BE A VIOLATION OF THE LAW UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WAS A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION SINCE, AS OF OCTOBER 14, 2015, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT NEW BAGS WILL BE RECEIVED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE DEALER'S POSITION RESULTS IN MY HAVING TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT COULD KILL ME IN A COLLISION AT NO MORE THAN 25 MPH, THE SPEED I WAS TOLD WOULD CAUSE ANY AIRBAG IN THAT CAR TO DEPLOY. THERE HAS BEEN NO AGREEMENT BY THE DEALER OR BMW USA TO PROVIDE, AT NO COST TO ME, ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR MY NORMAL AND CUSTOMARY USE. MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME HAS PASSED TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM SINCE, EVEN PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL WRITTEN RECALL NOTICE, BMW KNEW THAT SPECIFIC PART TO BE DEFECTIVE AND NOT SUSCEPTIBLE TO SHOP REPAIR. THIS POSITION IS SUPPORTED BY THE FACT THAT AN EARLIER RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND RELATIVELY QUICK REPLACEMENT WAS MADE. I AM NOW GOING ON THREE MONTHS WITH NO ASSURANCE THAT A REMEDY WILL BE PROVIDE

Air Bags
Filed Oct 6, 2015TX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Air Bags
Filed May 3, 201550,000 milesWA

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER A BUMP, THE WIRING HARNESS BELOW THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER SEAT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE SRS SYSTEM AND CAUSING THE SRS ERROR LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND AN ERROR CODE TO BE SAVED, THE SYSTEM MAY BECOME INACTIVE, AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SRS SYSTEM MAY NOT FUNCTION, AND MAY LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THE CONNECTORS NOT COME LOOSE AND DEACTIVATED THE SRS SYSTEM. THIS HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON NUMEROUS E46'S OF VARIOUS YEARS. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Apr 24, 2015CA

IN SEPTEMBER 2014, I RECEIVED AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL FROM BMW USA. [RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 14V-428: FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG]. ACCORDING TO THE NOTICE, THE AIR BAG SUPPLIER ADVISED BMW THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH NECESSITATING DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG, EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE COULD CAUSE RUPTURING OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR, RESULTING IN METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING AND POTENTIALLY SERIOUSLY INJURING THE FRONT PASSENGER OR OTHER PASSENGERS. UNBELIEVABLY, BMW STATED IT DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX IT. HOWEVER, I WOULD BE NOTIFIED "AS SOON AS PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE." AFTER HEARING NOTHING FROM BMW, IN FEBRUARY 2015 I CONTACTED MY DEALER, SAN DIEGO BMW, WHO SAID I NEEDED TO BE ON A LIST SO THEY COULD CALL WHEN PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. I GAVE THE INFORMATION AND AGAIN WAITED. IT IS NOW APRIL 24, 2015. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING MORE FROM BMW AND SAN DIEGO BMW. I WROTE TO BMW AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED LAST MONTH AND OF COURSE, GOT NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT INVOLVE 8 MONTHS OF WAITING. RECENTLY, MY MOTHER IN LAW DIED FROM JUST THIS SITUATION [NOT INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL]. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A CAR COMPANY CAN BE REQUIRED TO RECALL A CAR FOR A SAFETY ITEM AND THEN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET THIS FIXED IN A TIMELY MANNER. THANK YOU. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Apr 9, 2015TX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. ..UPDATED 05/19/15*BF UPDATED 7/6/2015*JS

20 of 31 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200636300Do not drive
2005 — this page31330Do not drive
200468320Do not drive
200327610Do not drive
200230310Do not drive
200149660Do not drive
20006310Do not drive

Compare every 325Ci year →

Reading this record

NHTSA has issued a do-not-drive warning for a recall on this vehicle.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 15, 2020. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.