2004 BMW 325I problems
The 2004 BMW 325I has 182 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (34%) concerns air bags. Next are lighting (25%) and electrical system (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 182 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 34% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 13 and 14
- Injuries and deaths
- 9 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 79,000 miles 113 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 | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 27 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 20 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 10 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 17 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 6 |
What the data shows
Of the 113 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 79,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 114,000 miles (17 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 13 complaints mention a crash; 14 complaints mention a fire; 9 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 9 model years of the BMW 325I with enough data (24 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 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.
Total engine failure. Air bag lights illuminated. Air condition failure. Several electrical component failures. Incident occurred at idle speed at stoplight. Currently window system failure due to automobile accident. Window were slow to roll prior to the accident. Reported to BMW denied for warranty coverage. Rear side highway speed contact airbags failed to deploy resulting in medical injury on october 11th 2013. Window now inoperable BMW still fails to acknowledge any responsibility to design flaw.
The vehicle came equipped from the factory with bi-xenon auto leveling headlights manufactured by zkw. The light output of the headlights is below any vehicle that I have encountered on the road. Cars that are over 20 years old have brighter headlights. I have replaced the bulbs and it hasn't helped. Looking at it further, brown scorch marks are visible in the projector when the headlight is on. The rear of the projector is completely brown and burnt. At night, it is becoming very difficult to see.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325I. The contact stated that the driver side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the failure occurred after the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14v428000 (air bags). The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable.