BMW 325i Complaints (2003)
199 consumer complaints on file.
- #10443539January 12, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TAIL LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL ON THIS MODEL. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BMW, AND THEY SAID THAT EVENTHOUGH A RECALL EXISTS FOR 2003 BMW 325I MODELS FOR TAIL LIGHT FAILURE (ID NO. 11V4380000), MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT CORRESPOND TO PRODUCTION RUN FAILURES UNDER RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10443199January 9, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHT WIRES WERE BURNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10443230January 9, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET FAILS ON BMW CARS. IT IS A MESH GASKET BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE BLOCK WHERE THE OIL ENTERS/EXITS THE FILTER. THE REPAIR IS ABOUT $600 AND FAILS FREQUENTLY ON THESE CARS. IT CAUSES OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE BLOCK AND GIVES A STRONG BURNING OIL SMELL. OIL CAN ACCUMULATE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE LEAK. OIL BLOWS AND COVERS THE OIL FILTER HOUSING AND THE INSIDE OF THE HOOD WITH A SPRAY OF STICKY OIL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10443231January 9, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE VAPOR SEPARATOR, HOSES, DIPSTICK, AND VANOS LINE REPLACEMENT. THIS PART SEPARATES THE WATER VAPOR FROM THE OIL TO REMOVE CONDENSATION SO IT DOESN'T CIRCULATE INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH A FAULTY VAPOR SEPARATOR AND CAN CAUSE ENGINE VAPOR LOCK IF IT FAILS. THE REPAIR WAS ABOUT $1,400. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10441640December 29, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
XENON HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS ARE MELTING/BURNING CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN LIGHT OUTPUT. VERY SIMPLE PROBLEM FOR WHICH THERE IS NO FIX OTHER THAN TO PURCHASE NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLES FOR $2,000. SEEMS TO AFFECT ALL XENON HEADLIGHTS PRODUCED BY ZWK FOR THE 2002-2004 3 SERIES BMW. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10440210December 16, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL WIRING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS BURNED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE QUALIFIED FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TAIL LIGHTS), BUT THE CONNECTOR WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10439291December 11, 2011LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOORS WILL NOT OPEN BECAUSE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK. KEY FOB BUTTON WILL NOT UNLOCK ANY DOORS 90% OF THE TIME. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN ONLY GET IN CAR ON DRIVERS SIDE WITH MANUAL OPERATION OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK (STICKING KEY IN LOCK AND TURNING). ONCE IN CAR, 90% OF TIME I STILL CANNOT UNLOCK ANY OTHER DOORS, EVEN BY PULLING ON DOOR HANDLE (WHICH WOULD ORDINARILY UNLOCK THE DOOR). THE INTERIOR BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WILL NOT WORK. ON FRIDAY, 12/9/11, I COULD NOT EVEN GET OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. (CAR IS SET TO AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE ALL LOCKS ONCE I START DRIVING) I HAD TO ROLL WINDOW DOWN AND REACH OUT AND UNLOCK DOOR WITH KEY. WHEN MY SON AND DAUGHTER DRIVE WITH ME, THEY HAVE TO GET IN AND OUT OF CAR EITHER BY CRAWLING ACROSS DRIVER'S SEAT OR GO THROUGH A WINDOW OPENING. MY WIFE CANNOT RIDE IN THIS CAR NOW BECAUSE SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT. DUE TO THIS DEFECT, PASSENGERS ARE TRAPPED IN CAR. ALSO, ENTRY INTO VEHICLE IS DELAYED (BECAUSE FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK DOORS) WHICH ALSO POSES SAFETY RISKS WHEN PARKED AT NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGES. THERE ARE FIVE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE ON THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10439295December 11, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY 2003 BMW 325I WILL NOT UNLOCK. I CANT GET INTO THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED THE KEY AND THE FOB AND THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. I HAD TO BREAK THE WINDOW TO GET INTO THE CAR ONLY TO FIND OUT THE DOORS STILL WILL NOT UNLOCK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE YOU CANT UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING AND A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10439059December 8, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TURN SIGNAL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,600.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10438169December 2, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT TAILLAMP FAILURE AND LEFT TAILLAMP INTERMITTENT OPERATION. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIR: RIGHT REAR TAILLAMP CONNECTOR AND BULB CARRIER CORRODED. DEALER REPLACED PIGTAIL HARNESS AND BULB CARRIER WITH UPDATED DESIGN: SOCKET HOUSING, TERMINAL, CONTACT, CABLE CONNECTOR, HOSE, INSULATION HOUSING, FLAT CONTACT, CABLE SOCKET AND BULB SOCKET. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10434793November 7, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE SIMILAR DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TAIL LIGHTS). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432782October 25, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TAIL LIGHTS) BY HIS MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE VEHICLE WAS 90,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430854October 19, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS BURNED THROUGH THE HOUSING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: TAIL LIGHTS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,250.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430049October 13, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,346 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430140October 13, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE REAR STOPLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS HAVE FAILED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425820September 16, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
XENON LIGHTS WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER THE 50,000 MARK. SHORTLY AFTER CAR KEPT GOING INTO FAIL SAFE MODE, KEPT GETTING LOW VOLTAGE READINGS ON DIAGNOSTICS. ONE BMW DEALERS KEPT TELLING ME I NEEDED TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION. ALL THEY WOULD DO IS PLUG THE CAR INTO THE COMPUTER AND SEE THE TRANNY READING ON THE SCANNER. THE REASON THERE WAS A TRANNY READING WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IN FAIL SAFE MODE. I EVENTUALLY HAD THE TRANNY REBUILT AND I STILL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULD CYCLE THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR AND CAR WOULD DRIVE FINE. IT KEEPS GOING INTO FAIL SAFE MODE EVERYTIME I START THE CAR. ITS HARDER TO GET IT OUT OF FAIL SAFE MODE IN THE WINTER WITH COLDER STARTS. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10413057July 15, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE BRAKES AND THE ROTORS FAILED. THE BRAKE SENSOR LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED TO WARN THE DRIVER THAT THE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE DEALER WAS UNSURE AS TO WHY THE WARNING LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10411461July 8, 2011AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY 2003 BMW 325I SEDAN WAS T-BONED ON DRIVERS SIDE DOORS, AND SENT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND SMASHED INTO UTILITY POLE ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BEND THE FRAME. NO SIDE OR CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. OTHER DRIVER RAN A RED LIGHT AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND NEVER HIT THE BRAKES. MY HEAD SLAMMED TO THE TOP OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR WHERE AN AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE BEEN, CAUSING SWELLING AND NUMBNESS TO THIS DAY. THE DOOR SLAMMED INTO MY ENTIRE LEFT SIDE WHERE THE AIR BAG IN THE DOOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE CAR IS TOTALED. BMW IS SENDING AN ENGINEER TO EXAMINE THE CAR IN A FEW DAYS. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10410568July 5, 2011LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK IN MY 2003 325I 4 DOOR SEDAN. APPARENTLY, A MODULE GOES BAD AND COULD TRAP PEOPLE IN THE CAR WITH NO WAY TO GET OUT. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405650June 8, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GROUND WIRE ON REAR LIGHT WIRING HARNESS HAS BURNT THROUGH DAMAGING PLUG AND SOCKET. POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. UPDATED 09/07/11 *BF *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0