2001 BMW 325 Owner Complaints

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE CAR SUDDENLY VEERED LEFT AND THE ABS ENGAGED AND SLOWED THE CAR SUDDENLY TO ABOUT 40 MPH. MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT WAS THAT I HAD BLOWN A TIRE, BUT THEN RECOGNIZED THE ABS WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO JUDDER. THE DSC AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON. THE MIL LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT DIAGNOSED A FAULTY ROTATIONAL RATE SENSOR (YAW). THE SYSTEM RECOGNIZED THAT IT RECEIVED ERRONEOUS DATA, BUT I BELIEVE FAILED IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY SOON TO BE 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND CRINGE TO THINK HOW SHE WOULD'VE REACTED TO THIS SITUATION. THIS FAILURE PUT THE CAR IN THE PRECISE SITUATION WHERE YOU WOULD WANT THE DSC TO BE WORKING.

NHTSA ID

10780726

Incident

Sep 18, 2015

Mileage

180,000 mi

HAD JUST PARKED THE CAR AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD IS BURNED. SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS CAUGHT THE HOLE THING.

NHTSA ID

10748951

Incident

Aug 14, 2015

Mileage

240,003 mi

DAUGHTER DRIVING CAR, DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL(DSC) LIGHT CAME ON AND INDIVIDUAL BRAKES STARTED APPLYING THEMSELVES UNCOMMANDED. DROVE TO A LOCAL IMPORT SHOP THAT VERIFIED A BAD YAW SENSOR. PART IS $1300.00 PLUS $300.00 LABOR. PART IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM BMW WHO HAS SUPERSEDED THE PART NUMBER 3 TIMES. I WENT TO A SALVAGE YARD THAT HAD 13 CARS THAT HAD THE SAME PART NUMBER EFFECTIVITY AND ALL OF THE CARS HAD THE YAW SENSORS REMOVED. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND VERY DANGEROUS UNLESS YOU DISABLE THE DSC SYSTEM WHICH ALSO DISABLES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. BELOW IS JUST ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES OF ANOTHER OWNER THAT EXPERIENCED THIS PART FAILURE. STARTED THE CAR THIS MORNING AND DROVE IT FOR APPROX 15 MILES, NO WARNING LIGHT AND EVERYTHING APPEARED OK. DOING THE NATIONAL SPEED LIMIT WHEN HOLY COW, THE DSC KICKS IN AND THE CAR PULLS VIOLENTLY TO ONE SIDE THEN THE OTHER TALK ABOUT HEART MISSING A BEAT, NEARLY IN THE CENTRAL RESERVATION ON THE A52. I WILL BE GETTING THE FAULT CODES READ IN THE WEEK AND WILL DEFINITELY BE SWITCHING OFF THE DSC IN FUTURE UNTIL FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10746882

Incident

Jul 8, 2015

Mileage

165,000 mi

SPECIFIC MONITOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON EVEN AFTER BEING CHECKED AND CLEARED. AN ASTERISK TYPE ICON SHOWS UP NEXT TO THE PRND PANEL AND SLOWS DOWN VEHICLE WHERE AS YOU NEED TO PUT MUCH PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO MOVE SLIGHTLY,PULLING OVER AND SHUTTING OFF ENGINE FOR 2 MINS REMOVES THE ICON AND ISSUE, BUT MOSTLY THESE ARE UNPREDICTABLE OCCURRENCES.THE BODY OF CAR ICON LIGHTS STAY ON INDICATING THE CARS BACK LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING, EVEN AFTER FIXING LIGHTS. THE CAR'S RECALL #14V428 ; PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AS OF YET. CURRENTLY ALL WINDOWS ARE JAMMED THE MOTOR HUMS BUT WINDOWS DO NOT OPEN UNLESS PUSHED ON, 3 OF 4 DON'T EVEN DO THAT..

NHTSA ID

10734983

Incident

Mar 30, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10664836

Incident

Dec 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL REPAIR. IT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WAS INSTALLED WITH A TAKATA AIR BAG. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS A SAFETY CONCERN AND MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IN A HUMID STATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10664553

Incident

Dec 16, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAG) EXCEEDED THE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND DECLINE TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIME FRAME FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. UPDATED 12/01/14*LJ *JS

NHTSA ID

10649815

Incident

Sep 16, 2014

ABS SPEED SENSORS FAILED. BRAKES FUNCTION BUT CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

NHTSA ID

10648970

Incident

Oct 19, 2014

Mileage

149,500 mi

REAR LEFT TURN SIGNAL BLINKING FAST INDICATING BAD BULB BUT ALL BULBS ARE GOOD. REAR LEFT TURN SIGNAL BULB HAS A LOWER LUMINOUS INTENSITY THAN THE OTHER BULBS. REPLACING THE BULB WITH A NEW BULB MAKES NOT DIFFERENCE. RIGHT TURN SIGNAL INTERMITTENTLY BLINKS FAST INDICATING A BAD BULB BUT ALL BULBS ARE WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448462

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

104,100 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325 WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED WHENEVER SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. A LOCAL MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE A PART OF THE RECALL SINCE THE LATER MODEL 3 SERIES HAS THE SAME PLATFORM AS THE 2001 MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ID

10300335

Incident

Sep 13, 2009

Mileage

87,000 mi

2001 BMW 325I WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR PREVIOUS SIGNS LOST ITS REVERSE GEAR WITH NO WARNING FOR MY COLLEGE AGE STUDENT AT A DEAD END ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290524

Incident

Oct 25, 2009

Mileage

219,000 mi

RECALL DATE: 09-28-2001 UNITS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED: 1,550 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V138000 DEFECTIVE PART OR COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A RECALL THAT BEGAN DURING SEPTEMBER 2001 (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V20 ). THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME 03-2004 WITH THE ABOVE PROBLEMS DOCUMENTED BY SEVERAL SERVICE REPAIR SHOPS. I BEGIN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR THE NEXT MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN OVERHEATING BECAUSE OF THE FAN MOTOR NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I WAS NOT ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR OF NHTSA RECALLS FOR SAFETY ISSUES AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LAST YEAR THE CAR OVERHEATED AND BMW IN DULUTH, GA ADVISED ON MY SERVICE ORDER VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE REPAIRS ONLY TO KNOW HAVE A COMPLETELY DAMAGED ENGINE AND FILED TRANSMISSION AS OF 6-11-09. AFTER RESEARCHING THE MATTER I AM CONTACTING YOUR AGENCY FOR ASSISTANCE THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING AND NOW IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALONG WITH THERMOSTAT, AIR INJECTIONS, SPARK PLUGS AND OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. IT HAS BEEN NOTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10273937

Incident

Jun 11, 2009

Mileage

145,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER CAME TO A STOP SIGN. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED CONSUMER HEARD A CLANKING SOUND. CONSUMER SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING BROKE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10034574

Incident

Aug 10, 2003

Mileage

54,900 mi

THE ENGINE OVER HEATED AND STALLED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CURB, THE DEALER STATED THE EXHAUST VALVES OF THE ENGINE WERE BENT, AND THE CAM SHAFT HAD PROBLEMS, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT, CONSUMER BELIEVED THE INSTALLATION OF THE CAM SHAFT, CAUSED THE EXHAUST VALVES TO BECOME BENT.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10010007

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING INJURY TO PASSENGER. *MR

NHTSA ID

8020428

Incident

Mar 14, 2002

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018126

Incident

Aug 29, 2002

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASION FOR AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE REPEATED OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. *MJ

NHTSA ID

566507

FRONT RIGHT COLLISION AT 25-30 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES TO FACE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS OVER $ 20000.00.*AK *TT

NHTSA ID

8009100

Incident

Apr 5, 2002

I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY CAR FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE "DEAD CENTER" AS IT ALWAYS IS. I STOPPED THE CAR AT A STORE AND LEFT THE CAR RUNNING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. AS I PROCEEDED BACK TOWARD THE INTERSTATE THROUGH SOME STOP AND GO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IN THE "RED ZONE" AND THE RED INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ENTRANCE RAMP, KEPT THE CAR IDLING AND CRANKED THE HEAT UP. THE GAUGE WENT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. I STOPPED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE, STARTED IT, AND THEN ACCELERATED TOWARD ANOTHER EXIT IN ORDER TO BE IN A SAFER PLACE. THE GAUGE WENT DIRECTLY BACK TO "DEAD CENTER" SO I CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE GAUGE STAYED THERE FOR THE NEXT 2 HOURS. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE MID-60S AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON BEFORE AND AFTER THIS INCIDENT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE FOLLOWING DAY IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC, BUT I NOTICED THE GAUGE RISING THIS TIME. I SHUT OFF THE AIR CONDITIONING AND ENGINE FOR A FEW SECONDS, TURNED THEM BACK ON AND AT THE SAME TIME ACCELERATED TO A CRUISING SPEED. THE GAUGE RETURNED TO "DEAD CENTER" AND STAYED THERE FOR THE NEXT 20 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. WHEN I RETURNED HOME FROM MY TRIP, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE AUXILIARY COOLING FAN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART, AND BMW HAS SENT VERY FEW OR NO LETTERS TO CUSTOMERS BECAUSE A TRULY COUNTERMEASURED PART IS NOT AVAILABLE YET. I FEAR THAT THE NEW FAN INSTALLED IN MY CAR COULD VERY WELL BE A SUSPECT PART AND MAY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE, AS REPORTED BY OTHER CUSTOMERS AT NHTSA.GOV AS WELL AS OTHER WEB SITES. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED, BUT A FEW MONTHS AGO, I HAD THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED FOR A "STICKING" CONDITION THAT WAS CAUSING THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY REPLACED THE FAN FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR THE RECALL. 2001 BMW 325I MANUAL TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ID

754347

Incident

Nov 2, 2001

A BMWXI SPORTS WAGON WITH ONE MONTH SERVICE DEVELOPED A FUEL OVERFLOW ONTO THE CEMENT FLOOR OF A GARAGE ATTACHED TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. THE FUEL GAUGE READ ZERO WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON.EVEN THOUGH THE TANK HAD JUST BEEN FILLED. THE WIRES FROM THE FUEL TANK (SENDER) TO THE GAUGE IN THE PASSANGER COMPARTMENT WERE SEVERED ABOVE THE TANK BY RODENTS WHO HAD LEFT THEIR NEST ON THE TOP OF THE TANK. THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE GIVING MICE OR RATS ACCESS THROUGH THE UNDERCARRIAGE. A FIRE DANGER EXISTED IN THE GARAGE AS A DRIVER HAD ATTEMPED TO FILL TWICE TO EXTINGUISH THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE FUEL GAUGE. RESULTING IN THE VOLITAL EXPANSION AND OVERFLOW OF GAS. TOWING SERVICE REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO INSPECT .AND ALLOW TRANSPORT. THUS THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS 1) THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENTIRE CAR NEEDS REPLACING (SOLDER AND TAPE ARE NOT ADEQUATE. 2) THE PORTAL OF ENTRY TO THE WIRING THAT WAS CUT MUST BE CLOSED TO RODENTS. THIS IS SERIOUS, SOLDERED WIRES MAY DEVELOPE COLD NON CONDUCTING JOINTS IN THE TEMPERATURE CYCLE, THUS CAUSING ANOTHER SPILLAGE OF GAS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AT HOME AND EVEN DESTRUCTION OF A HOUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

752738

Incident

Aug 30, 2001

DAY AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED, ALLOWING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THIS RESULTED IN A FIRE, 8" FLAME IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ENGINE COOLING FAN. HOWEVER, FAN FAILED AGAIN, AND ENGINE COOLANT WAS FOUND TO BE ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT , UNKNOWN IF A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE SECOND INCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

896968

Incident

Jun 5, 2001

THIS IS THE THIRD COOLING FAN TO FAIL IN THIS CAR. WHEN THE FAN FAILS THE CAR BECOMES INOPERABLE AND BOILS OVER QUICKLY.THE LAST FAN WAS THE "SECOND GENERATION" FAN AND WAS A REPLACEMENT DESIGN FOR THE ORIGINAL FAN DESIGN. NOW I AM TOLD THERE IS A "THIRD GENERATION" FAN BEING BUILT. THE CAR NOW QUALIFIES AS A "LEMON" UNDER WASHINGTON STATE LAW. THERE STILL IS NO RECALL NOTICE TO CONSUMERS DRIVING THESE CARS. LAST BREAKDOWN WAS LATE AT NIGHT IN AN UNSAFE AREA. THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT TO NHSTA.*AK

NHTSA ID

752113

Incident

Sep 4, 2001

OVERHEATED IN ITS FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH LIGHT STOP & GO TRAFFIC. NO RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW, SUPPOSEDLY BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF REPLACEMENT FAN UNITS.

NHTSA ID

750310

Incident

Aug 5, 2001

I DISCOVERED A 2-INCH BUBBLE IN THE SIDE OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A SNAPPED BELT THAT IS ALLOWING AIR TO ESCAPE THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE HAS 3700 MILES ON IT, AND I HAVE NEVER RUN OVER SO MUCH AS A LARGE POTHOLE. NEVERTHELESS, THE DEALER AND LOCAL TIRE COMPANIES WHO DEAL IN CONTINENTAL TIRES HAVE REFUSED TO HONOR ANY WARRANTY, CLAIMING THAT THE PROBLEM IS A ROAD HAZARD. IF THE TIRE IS SO POORLY DESIGNED OR MANUFACTURED THAT NORMAL, ON-STREET DRIVING CAUSES A BELT TO SNAP WITH LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON THE TIRE, SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH ITS MANUFACTURE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 205/55 R16)

NHTSA ID

750083

Incident

Aug 3, 2001

DEFECTIVE COOLANT FAN CAUSED OVERHEATING AT LESS THAN 1000 MILES AND WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. DEALER SAID BMW WAS AWARE THAT THERE WERE DEFECTIVE FANS AND REPLACED THE FAN WITH THE SAME TYPE OF DEFECTIVE FAN. ON 7/29/01 WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC THE CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN AND THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. AS TRAFFIC MOVED, CAR COOLED BUT ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT STAYED ON. CAR TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT FAN. *AK

NHTSA ID

749438

Incident

Jul 29, 2001