2005 BMW 325i complaints

EXTERIOR BRAKE AND TAILIGHT FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATED GROUND TERMINAL. NHTSA ACTION # EA09019. *TR

REAR LEFT TAIL LIGHT AND BLINKER NOT WORKING. WIRE IS BURNED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS FOR THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND THE TAIL LIGHT WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. LEFT REAR BRAKE, TAIL AND TURN INDICATOR LIGHTS WOULD GO ON/OFF. I REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE SOMEPLACE. IF THE WIRES/CONNECTORS WERE WIGGLED, THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON UNTIL A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR I CLOSED THE TRUNK. I REPORTED THIS TO BMW AND BUT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS. BMW DID REPAIR THE PROBLEM AS A ONE TIME GOOD WILL GESTURE. ADDITIONAL VIN'S MAY NEED TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL. *TR

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. *TR

REAR VIEW MIRROR FAILED. CORROSIVE FLUID LEAKED OUT MELTING PLASTIC SHIFT CONSOLE AND STAINING PASSENGER SEAT. REAR VIEW MIRROR NOW DISTORTED AND UNUSABLE. AUTO NIGHT DIMMING NOT OPERATIONAL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 72 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CRASH TEST SENSOR HAD ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BUT WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN WITH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000.

REAR TAIL LAMP ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE GO OUT AND COME OUT INTERMITTENTLY. STARTED AT 80,000 MILES AND HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE NOW AT 110,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND BLINKER LIGHTS WERE FAILING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BULBCARRIERS, CONNECTORS, AND WIRING WERE BURNED OUT. THERE WERE NO GROUND WIRES PRESENT WHICH WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,380 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 03/31/11*LJ UPDATED 05/09/11

INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYS PICTURE OF CAR IN ORANGE, ALONG WITH LEFT, RIGHT OR BOTH TAIL LIGHTS. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT RECENTLY BECAME PERMANENT. LEFT TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR ALSO FLASHES QUICKLY. LEFT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT OPERATING (NO TAIL, BRAKE LIGHT OR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT). *LN

I HAVE A 2005 BMW 325I AND RECENTLY BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF MY TURN SIGNAL. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD TODAY IT FAILED TO OPERATE AND I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A SCHOOL BUS FULL OF CHILDREN ON THE ROAD...THE BUS HAD TO SLAM ON ITS BREAKS AVOIDING MAJOR CATASTROPHE BY INCHES. WE STOPPED AND MADE SURE ALL OF THE CHILDREN WERE OKAY AND WENT OUR SEPARATE WAYS. I HAD SWITCHED THE BULBS OUT JUST LAST WEEK ON VEHICLE AND RECHECKED THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I DISCOVERED CHARRED WIRING AND A CHARRED WIRING PLUG. I CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE REGARDING THE DESIGN OF THE TAIL LIGHT WIRING BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL IN PLACE...THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY FOR BMW'S DESIGN FLAW WITH THEIR LIFE...20 CHILDREN AND MYSELF ALMOST DID TODAY. THE SERVICE BULLETIN BMW ISSUED ON THIS IS #630306. I ASK THE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY. *TR

EACH TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR AT LEAST 6 HOURS. THE CAR STARTS BUT DOES NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE. THE CAR WILL ROLL BACK DUE TO A SLOPE OF SURFACE BUT WHEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE IT ONLY ROLLS FORWARD BUT DOESN'T ENGAGE. I CONTINUE TO PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT FINALLY "LURCHES" FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED 7 TIMES RANDOMLY OVER THE PERIOD OF ONE YEAR. THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS CHECKED IT TWICE AND KEPT IT A WEEK LAST MONTH. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE IT SO THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. I AM AFRAID THIS PROBLEM WILL PUT ME OR OTHERS IN DANGER IF I CAN'T MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. *TR

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY CAR AT MY EMPLOYER'S GARAGE. I WAS TURNING MY WHEEL TO PARK IN A SPACE, MY FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND MOVING VERY SLOWLY, WHEN MY CAR SEEMED TO JERK FORWARD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WENT FORWARD AT FULL SPEED. IT ACCELERATE ALL OF SUDDEN AND SMASHED INTO THE WALL. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PUSHING DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD, BUT TO NO AVAIL. IT HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY AND THE AFTERMATH RESULTED IN MY AIRBAG DEPLOYING AND CAUSING LACERATIONS, BURNS TO MY ARM, SMOKE AND CAUSING ME TO CHOKE. *TR

WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, MY VEHICLE STRUCK A CEMENT STRUCTURAL SUPPORTING COLUMN. I PUT ON BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. THE IMPACT WAS LATER FOUND TO BE MINIMAL (DENT). SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE SOUND INCREASED AS THOUGH THE FOOT PEDAL HAD BEEN PUSHED DOWN FULL THROTTLE. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE THROTTLE. DURING THIS TIME, INTERMITTENT CLICKING SOUNDS WERE HEARD, THE VEHICLE THEN ENGAGED INTO FORWARD AND DROVE ITSELF, AT FULL FORCE, AND HIT THE WALL OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WERE NOTIFIED. A TECHNICAL ENGINEER FROM BMW INSPECTED MY VEHICLE ON 4-2-2008. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TEST DRIVEN DUE TO ITS DAMAGES. THE RESULTS FROM WHAT WERE INSPECTED BY BMW REVEALED NO DEFECTS OR VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS. I WAS INFORMED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TOTALED I INCURRED A BROKEN RIB AND MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2005 BMW X3 2.5I. SHE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD START VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE AN AWFUL NOISE WHEN APPLIED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT RADIO/TAPEDECK/CD OVERHEATED WHEN PLAYING CDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 12,000 MILES WHEN BRAKE PROBLEM STARTED. SHE STATED THAT SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY REPLACED 2 ELECTRICAL MODULES AND THE BRAKE ASSIST. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE VIBRATING AND BRAKES SQUEAKING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHCILE TO A DEALERSHIP A SECOND TIME, AND THEY ROTATED ALL FOUR TIRES . THE CONTACT STATES THAT THIS DIDN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON 12/08/2006 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AXLE SHATTERED, AND THAT THE AXLE WAS GOING BAD DURING THE ENTIRE TIME SHE'S WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VIBRATING. BMW HAS INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE SHATTERED AXLE, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

I HAVE A 2005 BMW 325I THAT CAME WITH 4 CONTINENTAL CONTISPORT TIRES. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 24 MONTHS OLD AND 3 HAVE BLOWN ON ME. THE LATEST HAPPENED TODAY WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE REAR RIGHT TIRE RIPPED APART ON THE INNER TREAD AREA FORCING ME TO PULL OVER. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR BUT AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE TIRE WAS 90% REMOVED FROM THE RIM WITH THE OTHER 10% OF THE RUBBER STILL ON THE BACK END OF THE RIM. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 9 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A BLOWOUT WITH ANY OF THE PREVIOUS 4 CARS I OWNED. THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND I AM FORCED WITH REPLACING ALL THE TIRES TO A DIFFERENT VENDOR. BMW WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE ISSUE AS THEY SAY IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM HOWEVER BOTH BMW AND CONTINENTAL SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAULTY TIRES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS I FOUND FOR THESE TIRES ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AS WELL. *JB

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY EXIT RAMP, NEAR NOON TIME IN A SUNNY ~80 F WEATHER. DURING THE DRIVING, ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD SUDDENLY STARTED TO FLASH, ACCOMPANIED WITH BEEPING WARNING SOUND. THE WHOLE FLASHING AND BEEPING LASTED FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL, HOWEVER. AFTER THE INCIDENT, CAR'S MEMORY OF CLOCK TIME AND TRIP ODOMETER WERE LOST. MADE A CHECK IN LOCAL BMW DEALER. THE LOCAL DEALER COULD NOT RETRIEVE ERROR CODE FROM THE ON BOARD COMPUTER, AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE SYMPTOM DURING THE CHECK. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 2MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE LURCHING FORWARD INTO A TREE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, BUT NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. A MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPAIRED THE BODY DAMAGE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATION.

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDEWALL. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND CHANGE THE TIRE. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER. *AK

DT: VEHICLE HAS FEATURE CALLED SOFT STOP WHICH TRIES TO SMOOTH OUT THE BRAKING AND KEEPS THE VEHICLE FROM JERKING AT THE WHILE BRAKING TO A FULL STOP. DEALER IN HONOLULU SAID THAT IT TOOK PRESSURE OFF THE REAR BRAKES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP IT WOULD STOP ONCE THEN TRAVEL A FOOT FARTHER THEN STOPPING AGAIN. CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS THE SOFT STOP FEATURE THAT CAUSED THIS MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN VEHICLE YESTERDAY WHEN A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM STOPPED QUICKLY AND HE WAS FORCED TO STOP QUICKLY, WHEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STOPPED IT WENT ANOTHER FOOT FORWARD AND STOPPED AGAIN JUST INCHES FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND THEY HAVE NOT HELPED HIM WITH PROBLEM. BMW 325I, E90 2006. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 300 MILES. *AK

THE DRIVER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AT THE DEALER. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE MECHANIC PLACED THE VEHICLE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND THE CODES REGISTERED ON THE MACHINE. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB