2004 BMW 325CI problems
The 2004 BMW 325CI has 76 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (54%) concerns air bags. After that come transmission (11%) and electrical system (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 76 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 54% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 80,000 miles 39 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 8 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 5 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 11 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 39 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 80,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 1 injury reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 81% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the BMW 325CI with enough data (19 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving my 2004 BMW 325ci sport down the road smelled something burning, looked down my heated seat caught fire, burnt my leg, almost wrecked trying to get off the highway. Now my seat has a huge burnt hole in it and cant use seat heaters. Both passenger and drivers seat are doing the same thing!!!! My car only has 45000 miles on it. This needs to be a recalllll!!!!!
Dt*: the contact owns a 2004 BMW 325ci. While pumping gas into the vehicle the gas tank caught fire. It was determined by the dealership this could have occurred because of static electricity.
Brake failure ( delayed brake engagement) once upon leaving the dealer ship. Again 24 hours later( resulting in a crash) and one week later with 600 miles. Mw claims nothing wrong with vehicle. I traded car in refusing to endanger my live and the lives of others.
Driver side brake lamp has gone out. In researching, found that this is a common problem with this model in the LED tail light and can cause a crash due to other drivers not being able to tell that you are stopping. Found recall information on NHTSA site and contacted BMW. I was informed that my specific VIN was not included in this campaign, yet the problem is the same problem that affects 241,000 other cars.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 BMW 325ci. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the air bag warning indicator illuminated after the seat was adjusted. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the mat was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.