Menu

BMW 325ciYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 247 NHTSA owner complaints across 7 model years, no BMW 325ci year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. The 325ci has 9 safety recalls on record.

BMW 325ci
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2001, 2004Best years'02 '03 '05 '06Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints247Top: Air bagsSafety recalls92000–2006 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

BMW 325ci years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 325ci median. Tap a year for its full report.

'00'01'02'03'04'05'06
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2006Solid51/10036 complaints · 2 recalls2005Solid49/10031 complaints · 2 recalls2004Caution34/10068 complaints · 2 recalls2003Solid58/10027 complaints · 5 recalls2002Solid52/10030 complaints · 3 recalls2001Caution36/10049 complaints · 5 recalls2000Not rated–/1006 complaints · 3 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common BMW 325ci problems

All model years combined: 247 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags1325
Electrical system244
Exterior lighting214
Power train161
Engine and engine cooling143
Suspension92
Structure80
Engine71
Fuel system, gasoline61
14 other systems426
9 recalls

BMW 325ci recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

42%Driver side: inflator module21V-401 · 2000–2001 · May 27, 2021 · 4,511 vehicles42%Passenger side: inflator module20V-018 · 2000–2006 · Jan 15, 2020 · 292,948 vehiclesDo not drive9%Driver side: inflator module19V-853 · 2000–2001 · Nov 26, 2019 · 74,185 vehicles32%Driver side: inflator module15V-318 · 2002–2006 · May 28, 2015 · 419,235 vehiclesDo not drive–Air bags13V-172 · 2002–2003 · May 2, 2013 · 43,204 vehiclesDo not drive–Visibility: power window devices and controls03V-160 · 2003 · Apr 29, 2003 · 13,100 vehicles–Vehicle speed control03V-124 · 2003 · Mar 31, 2003 · 1,056 vehicles–Cooling system: fan02V-138 · 2001 · May 16, 2002 · 1,550 vehicles–Cooling system: fan01V-206 · 2001 · Jun 21, 2001 · 76,469 vehicles
4 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 325ci

  1. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · 2004–2006 · still open
    Led to recall 14V-668
  2. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · 2004–2006 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 13V-172
  3. BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATIONEA08001 · 2006 · closed Dec 31, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-384
  4. DELAYED TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENTDP04001 · 2004 · closed May 27, 2004
    No recall