2003 BMW 325I problems
The 2003 BMW 325I has 261 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (24%) concerns air bags. Next are lighting (20%) and electrical system (16%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 261 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 8 and 11
- Injuries and deaths
- 15 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 74,000 miles 179 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 | 31 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 21 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 20 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 29 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 23 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 24 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 16 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 11 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 179 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 74,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 92,000 miles (17 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 8 complaints mention a crash; 11 complaints mention a fire; 15 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 9 model years of the BMW 325I with enough data (83 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 7 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.
I was driving through an intersection at approximately 15 MPH when I was struck in the driver and passenger doors by a vehicle who was running a red light. The other driver did not see me and struck me at full speed, probably around 45 MPH. My vehicle was hit so hard that it spun around and slid about half a block. None of the airbags, including the side impact airbags, deployed, and the engine did not shut off. The car was deemed a total loss by my insurance company.
Consumer's vehicle was rear ended. Upon impact,it hit the vehicle in front, and air bags did not deploy, but there was a foul odor inside the vehicle.
The warning light for my passenger side tail light has been going on and off for months as if there is a short in it. It stayed on permanently this month, showing a dimmer light than the working side tail light, so I had it checked when I had the oil changed at my BMW mechanic. He informed me there was a recall for tail light assemblies for my vehicle and told me to call the dealer to check the VIN number.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 BMW 325I. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side tail light failed. The contact replaced the bulb more than once but the failure recurred. The contact then learned of NHTSA campaign id number: 11v438000 (exterior lighting: turn signal). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure and current mileage was 125,000.