2005 BMW 325I problems
The 2005 BMW 325I has 81 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (41%) concerns air bags. Next are lighting (22%) and electrical system (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 81 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 41% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 80,000 miles 46 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 | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 7 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 11 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 46 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 80,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 4 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 9 model years of the BMW 325I with enough data (18 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 BMW 325I. The contact stated that the exterior tail lights burned out. The contact was changing the bulbs twice when the bulb and the wires burned her fingers. The wires and the housing had become so hot that it also burned a hole surrounding the bulb. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 11v438000 (exterior lighting: tail lights) but the contact was advised by the dealer that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified.
When backing out of a parking spot, my vehicle struck a cement structural supporting column. I put on brakes to stop the car. The impact was later found to be minimal (dent). Shortly afterwards, the engine sound increased as though the foot pedal had been pushed down full throttle. My foot was not on the throttle. During this time, intermittent clicking sounds were heard, the vehicle then engaged into forward and drove itself, at full force, and hit the wall of the parking structure. The airbag deployed.
I was attempting to park my car at my employer's garage. I was turning my wheel to park in a space, my foot was off the gas pedal and moving very slowly, when my car seemed to jerk forward and all of a sudden it went forward at full speed. It accelerate all of sudden and smashed into the wall. I had my foot on the brake pushing down as hard as I could, but to no avail. It happened very quickly and the aftermath resulted in my airbag deploying and causing lacerations, burns to my arm, smoke and causing me to choke.
Tl* - the contact called regarding a 2005 BMW x3 2.5I. She noticed the vehicle would start vibrating while driving at any speed, and the brakes would make an awful noise when applied. She also stated that radio/tapedeck/cd overheated when playing cds. The contact stated that the vehicle had about 12,000 miles when brake problem started. She stated that she took vehicle to dealership, and they found nothing wrong with the vehicle, but they replaced 2 electrical modules and the brake assist.
Problem with electrical system. Left rear brake, tail and turn indicator lights would go on/off. I replaced the bulbs, but there was a loose wire someplace. If the wires/connectors were wiggled, the lights would come on until a bump in the road or I closed the trunk. I reported this to BMW and but my VIN number was not on the recall list, even though I had the same symptoms. BMW did repair the problem as a one time good will gesture. Additional vin's may need to be added to the recall.