2001 BMW 325I problems
The 2001 BMW 325I has 196 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (26%) concerns air bags. Next are lighting (13%) and electrical system (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 196 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 26% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 11 and 8
- Injuries and deaths
- 27 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 100,000 miles 104 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 | 7 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 12 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 10 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 14 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 16 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 6 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 10 |
| 200k+ miles | 9 |
What the data shows
Of the 104 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 100,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 98,000 miles (22 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 11 complaints mention a crash; 8 complaints mention a fire; 27 injuries reported; 1 death reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 84% 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 2001 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 9 model years of the BMW 325I with enough data (66 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 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.
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 BMW 325I. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle shifted to the left side of the road and flipped over six times. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle caught fire, which was extinguished by the fire department. The driver sustained a sprain to her neck and back, consistent headaches, and internal bleeding from her gallbladder. The other passenger sustained injuries to the neck and back, but specifics were not available. Medical attention was received.
The seat heater caught fire burning a hole in the seat, singing my jeans and my leg (minor burn, not medically treated), and causing the air bag sensor to melt. BMW has recalled these seats in other models but not this one. I sent the information to BMW and am awaiting a response.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 BMW 325I. While driving 45 MPH, the contact was involved in a crash, which he believed was due to a defect in the vehicle. He stated that the rear driver's side wheel was wobbling and he lost control of the vehicle and struck a concrete divider. The other occupants sustained minor injuries and whiplash. There were no other vehicles involved in the crash. The contact did not know if the vehicle was destroyed at the time of the complaint.
The connectors on the rear tail lights are defective they are burnt and shorted and wire is burnt. In same location. I have to replace the connector, the burnt wire, and the taillight assembly on both sides. Its the same wire (brown #4 I believe).
GM5, and mass airflow sensor not working on my 2001 325I BMW. It shuts off when get a dead stop and about to take off again. The doors will unlock and lock after pressing the buttons multiple times. The remote as well will not unlock or lock the doors everytime. Its at random with no specific pattern.