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BMW 325iYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,359 NHTSA owner complaints across 18 model years, the BMW 325i years to avoid are 2006, and the strongest years are 1992, 1995, 2004 and 2005. The 325i has 22 safety recalls on record.

BMW 325i
Years to avoid'06Based on weighted complaintsBest years'92 '95 '04 '05Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,359Top: Air bagsSafety recalls221992–2012 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

BMW 325i 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 325i median. Tap a year for its full report.

'92'93'94'95'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2012Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2011Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls2010Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2009Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2008Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls2007Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls2006Avoid25/100515 complaints · 7 recalls2005Best69/10071 complaints · 4 recalls2004Solid52/100147 complaints · 4 recalls2003Solid44/100199 complaints · 7 recalls2002Solid47/100162 complaints · 6 recalls2001Solid48/100151 complaints · 6 recalls2000Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1999Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1995Best83/10031 complaints · 2 recalls1994Not rated–/10017 complaints · 3 recalls1993Not rated–/10021 complaints · 3 recalls1992Best81/10040 complaints · 4 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common BMW 325i problems

All model years combined: 1,359 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 bags50746
Electrical system21736
Exterior lighting19326
Engine and engine cooling947
Latches/locks/linkages772
Engine7415
Power train635
Visibility614
Steering603
21 other systems36448
22 recalls

BMW 325i recalls

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

19%Air bags: frontal24V-513 · 2006–2011 · Jul 3, 2024 · 394,029 vehicles42%Passenger side: inflator module20V-018 · 2000–2005 · Jan 15, 2020 · 292,948 vehiclesDo not drive77%Driver side: inflator module20V-017 · 2006–2011 · Jan 15, 2020 · 59,965 vehicles9%Driver side: inflator module19V-853 · 1999–2001 · Nov 26, 2019 · 74,185 vehicles31%Emission control: crankcase (pcv)19V-273 · 2006 · Apr 4, 2019 · 184,505 vehicles29%Air bags14V-428 · 2001–2006 · Jun 11, 2018 · 574,007 vehiclesDo not drive50%Electrical system: wiring17V-676 · 2006–2011 · Oct 25, 2017 · 702,965 vehicles30%Sensor: occupant classification17V-428 · 2006 · Jul 6, 2017 · 2,158 vehicles32%Driver side: inflator module15V-318 · 2002–2005 · May 28, 2015 · 419,235 vehiclesDo not drive45%Sensor: occupant classification13V-564 · 2006 · Nov 12, 2013 · 76,565 vehicles–Air bags13V-172 · 2002–2003 · May 2, 2013 · 43,204 vehiclesDo not drive–Exterior lighting: brake lights11V-438 · 2002–2005 · Aug 26, 2011 · 241,000 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 22 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

7 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 325i

  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. Rear Lamp IlluminationEA09019 · 2002–2005 · closed Sep 28, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-438
  4. REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONPE09036 · 2002–2005 · closed Dec 22, 2009
    Led to recall 11V-438
  5. REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONDP09002 · 2002–2005 · closed Aug 6, 2009
    No recall
  6. BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATIONEA08001 · 2006 · closed Dec 31, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-384
  7. MSTR CYL FAILS TO RELEASEEA90002 · 1985–1987 · closed Oct 30, 1990
    No recall