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2002 BMW 325xiProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 68 owner complaints about the 2002 BMW 325xi, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-428 the manufacturer reports only 29% of affected cars repaired.

2002 BMW 325xi
50
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the 325xi median · #3 of 6 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Lowest repair rate 29%Owner complaints686 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage72kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 26, 2022. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2002 BMW 325xi has problems

68 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
Electrical system150
Engine150
Air bags133
Exterior lighting101
Suspension90
Steering70
Tires50
Power train40
Engine and engine cooling30
4 other systems60

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

2002 BMW 325xi recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

42%repaired · 2021 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 20V-018 · Jan 15, 2020 · 292,948 vehicles · 123,637 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

29%repaired · 2016 Q1

Air bags

Do not drive

Recall 14V-428 · Jun 11, 2018 · 574,007 vehicles · 163,619 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

32%repaired · 2017 Q4

Driver side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 15V-318 · May 28, 2015 · 419,235 vehicles · 133,934 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Air bags

Do not drive

Recall 13V-172 · May 2, 2013 · 43,204 vehicles

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
–no report yet

Exterior lighting: brake lights

Recall 11V-438 · Aug 26, 2011 · 241,000 vehicles

Risk. INTERMITTENT LIGHT OPERATION REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Disc: rotor

Recall 02V-088 · Mar 18, 2002 · 799 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENED, THE WHEEL WOULD CONTINUE TO TURN, BUT THE DISC WOULD STOP, AND THERE WOULD BE NO BRAKING CAPACITY AT THAT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.

Best & worst years

2002 vs. every other 325xi year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 325xi median. How we score

'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2002 BMW 325xi, and the recalls they led to.

  1. REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONDP09002 · closed Aug 6, 2009
    No recall
  2. Rear Lamp IlluminationEA09019 · closed Sep 28, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-438
  3. REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONPE09036 · closed Dec 22, 2009
    Led to recall 11V-438
In owners' words

What 325xi owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHILE DRIVING OUR CAR THE DASH LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THE CAR WILL LOOSE ALL POWER. WE HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF WAIT A MINUTE WITH KEY COMPLETELY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR THEN ALL LIGHTS ARE OFF AND CAR IS COMPLETELY DRIVABLE. THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY NO MATTER…
Complaint 10991270 · May 23, 2017 · 160,000 miles
LOCKS OCCUPANTS IN CAR AND CANNOT ELECTRICALLY OR MECHANICALLY UNLOCK. MANY BMW OPERATORS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM ON INTERNET BUT NO RECALL EXISTS FOR DEALERSHIPS TO REPAIR/REPLACE. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY, ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY, TURNING OR ANYTIME THE SYSTEM LOCKS…
Complaint 10955667 · Feb 20, 2017 · 89,000 miles
FINAL STAGE UNIT (AKA BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR) KEEPS FAILING AND SHORTING OUT INTERNALLY CAUSING ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS AND RELATED OBD2 WARNINGS AS WELL AS BATTERY DRAIN. I HAVE REPLACED THIS PART 5 TIMES AND 2 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS.
Complaint 10822057 · Jan 25, 2016

Own a 2002 325xi?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.