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2004 BMW 325xiProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 55 owner complaints about the 2004 BMW 325xi, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-428 the manufacturer reports only 29% of affected cars repaired.

2004 BMW 325xi
49
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the 325xi median · #2 of 6 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 29%Owner complaints5514 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage95kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 20, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2004 BMW 325xi has problems

55 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 bags306
Exterior lighting90
Power train70
Electrical system50
Engine43
Latches/locks/linkages30
Seat belts20
Vehicle speed control21
Structure21
5 other systems51

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

4 recalls

2004 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

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 →

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

2004 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
6 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2004 BMW 325xi, and the recalls they led to.

  1. DELAYED TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENTDP04001 · closed May 27, 2004
    No recall
  2. REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONDP09002 · closed Aug 6, 2009
    No recall
  3. Rear Lamp IlluminationEA09019 · closed Sep 28, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-438
  4. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · still open
    Led to recall 14V-668
  5. REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONPE09036 · closed Dec 22, 2009
    Led to recall 11V-438
  6. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 13V-172
In owners' words

What 325xi owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact’s girlfriend owns a 2004 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V018000 (Air Bags). The contact’s girlfriend took the vehicle to the local dealer for the recall repair. After the vehicle was repaired and the vehicle was retrieved, the air bag warning…
Complaint 11424673 · Jul 13, 2021 · 89,000 miles
The contact owned a 2004 BMW 325XI. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the passenger’s side causing the passenger’s side mirror to detach from the vehicle. The contact loss control of the vehicle and crashed into the median. The vehicle rolled and…
Complaint 11419329 · Jun 2, 2021 · 100,000 miles
OK. THIS CAR WAS BROUGHT IN ON 2/12/19 TO THE BMW DEALER IN APPLETON, WI. AFTER THAT BMW HAS CALLED ME 3 TIMES CLAIMING HE WASN'T FIXED. THEY WERE GOING TO CALL THE DEALER. NOW I HAVE REC'D A LETTER FROM THE DMV STATING IT WASN'T FIXED. I FAXED THE INVOICE DATES 2/12/19 TO BMW TODAY. I GIVE UP. THE…
Complaint 11241467 · Aug 3, 2019

Own a 2004 325xi?

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