2001 BMW 325CI Owner Complaints

FAULTY DMTL NOW NEEDS A THIRD COMPONENT AT 49,000. MILES. JUST REPLACED DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS IN TRUNK THAT CAUSED SOME LIGHTS TO FAIL AND BURNT UP A RELAY FAULTY DESIGN. TRANSMISSION CABLE GETS STUCK WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF DRIVE & N. NEEDS CABLE RE ALIGNED OR REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 49,000. MILES VERY DANGEROUS. DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAS FAILED .AGAIN. SOME HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OTHERS AFFECT PASSENGERS SAFTEY.

NHTSA ID

11302982

Incident

Aug 2, 2002

Mileage

36,596 mi

FUEL TANK STRAP BRACKETS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF AT THE WELD POINTS. FUEL TANK HANGING OFF BOTTOM OF CAR

NHTSA ID

11292255

Incident

Dec 29, 2019

Mileage

151,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A CARD IN THE MAIL FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA INFORMING ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG FOR MY 2003 BMW X5. WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN AMARILLO TEXAS, AUTOPLEX BMW, WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER KENDRA THAT WE ARE WELCOME TO BUY NEW CARS FROM THEM BUT THEY WILL NO LONGER HONOR WARRANTY OR RECALL. WORK FOR ANYONE WITH THE LAST NAME (XXXX) OR WHO IS RELATED TO OR AFFILIATED WITH DR. (XXXXX). IS THERE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE WITH THIS MATTER?3 THE RECALL STATES THAT THE INFLATOR COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF UN RESOLVED, DOES THE BMW DEALER HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PERFORM THE RECALL, JEPRODIZING MY SAFETY FOR WHATEVER PERSONAL VENDETTA THEY HAVE AGAINST DR. (XXXX), MY SON? (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11206992

Incident

May 8, 2019

Mileage

145,000 mi

2001 BMW 325 CI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND HIT THE CONSUMER IN THE HEAD CAUSING BRAIN INJURY AND EYE IRRITATION. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER PAID OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE AIR BAG REPLACED DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL. THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS DEEMED TO BE A SAFE AIRBAG. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REFUNDED THE COST OF REPLACING THE AIRBAG. *JS

NHTSA ID

11053128

Incident

Mar 13, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11019627

Incident

Aug 24, 2017

Mileage

180,000 mi

I [XXX] AND [XXX] WERE ON A LOCAL BACK ROAD IN OUR TOWN WHEN MY REAR FRAME MEMBER ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAD SNAPPED AND PULLED US INTO THE ONCOMING SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A LARGE DITCH WHERE WE TOOK OUT A FENCE POST AND CLIPPED A FIBER OPTICS LINE INDICATOR POST THEN INTO A COLBERT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON MY FRONT WINDOW POST NOR ON MY DOOR THE FRONT DRIVER STEERING WHEEL AND PASSENGER DASH BOARD AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER I [XXX] HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND AFTER PASSENGER [XXX] HIT THE DASH BOARD. AFTER DEPLOYMENT THE AIRBAG MODULE STARTED SPARKING THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE WE BOTH PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE THEN PATIENTLY WAITED FOR THE LOCAL MCCOMB MS POLICE TO ARRIVE THEN WE CALLED THE LOCAL WRECKER SERVICE TO PULL OUR BMW FROM THE DITCH THEN HAD IT HAULED TO THE LOCAL WRECKER YARD FOR PICKUP AT A LATER DAY FOR A FEE FOR STORAGE AND INITIAL TOW. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE REAR FRAME WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING FLAW OR DUE TO A PRIOR OWNER BUT THAT WAS WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAGS ON THE OTHER HAND DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE PROPER TIME CAUSING US TO BECOME SLIGHTLY INJURED BUT NOT HOSPITALIZED BUT MOST DEFIANTLY DAZED AND CONFUSED FOR THE MOST PART....I ALSO HAVE MORE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT REPORT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11018981

Incident

Dec 4, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). 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 CONTACT SPOKE TO CERRITOS AUTO SQUARE (18827 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703 AND SHELLY BMW 6750 AUTO CENTER DR, BUENA PARK, CA 90621) WHO STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THEY WOULD CALL BACK THEN THEY BECAME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO SHELLY BMW AND CERRITOS AUTO SQUARE ABOUT THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11004644

Incident

Jan 15, 2017

Mileage

105,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE GAS STRAP COME OFF RANDOMLY FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10947877

Incident

Jan 26, 2017

Mileage

90,536 mi

GM5 MODULE WHICH CONTROLS DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS. INTERMITTENT FAILURE PREVENTS UNLOCKING DOOR LOCKS OR OPERATING WINDOWS.

NHTSA ID

10920310

Incident

Oct 30, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE GRABBED HARD. THE CAR VEERED INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE BEFORE THE STABILITY CONTROL FAILED (TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON) AND I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AND IT IMMEDIATELY DID IT AGAIN AS SOON AS I WAS MOVING. TO TEST, I DROVE AROUND FOR 2 DAYS WITH THE STABILITY CONTROL TURNED OFF (LONG PRESS ON DSC BUTTON) WITH NO ISSUES. I THEN LEFT THE STABILITY CONTROL ON AND THE ISSUE OCCURRED WITHIN 5 MILES OF CAREFUL DRIVING. MY DIAGNOSIS IS THE YAW SENSOR HAS FAILED. THIS IS SUPPORTED BY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND SIMILAR OCCURRENCES LISTED IN THE BMW FORUMS.

NHTSA ID

10845771

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

187,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED 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 NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10724801

Incident

Jun 11, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10694623

Incident

Nov 15, 2014

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10680805

Incident

Feb 3, 2015

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

NHTSA ID

10672686

Incident

Sep 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V0428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10652046

Incident

Nov 3, 2014

I WAS DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A METAL SCRAPING NOISE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED FUEL TANK STRAP WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE FUEL TANK WAS HANGING WITHIN INCHES OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10638838

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

Mileage

60,470 mi

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, I SUDDENLY HEARD A DRAGGING, SCRAPING NOISE THAT APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. MY INITIAL THOUGHT WAS THAT SOMETHING WITHIN THE SPARE TIRE WELL HAD BECOME LOOSE. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FURTHER WITH NO ABATEMENT OF THE NOISE, I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A SERVICE STATION WITH A MECHANIC. AFTER CHECKING THE TRUNK, THE CAR WAS ELEVATED AND A WELDING FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL STRAP BRACKET WAS NOTED. THE SOUND CAME FROM THE TANK STRAP BEING DRAGGED ALONG THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD DROPPED FROM WHAT THE MECHANIC STATED WAS ITS ORIGINAL "SEAT." THE MECHANIC SECURED THE CABLE AND TANK WITH STEEL TWINE, GAVE ME THE FAILED BRACKET, AND INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ASAP. I TOOK THE CAR AND THE BRACKET TO DEALERSHIP ON 07/03/14. RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT THE STRAP BRACKET HAD INDEED FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10608320

Incident

Jul 2, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT REMAINED INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE UPON ENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10546437

Incident

Sep 28, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY VEHICLE ONE DAY DECIDED TO STOP GOING IN REVERSE. IT ACTS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH THE DISPLAY SHOWS IT IS IN REVERSE. NOTHING OF MY DOING WOULD CAUSE THIS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE. I DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THAT BMW OUTSOURCED THEIR TRANSMISSION TO FRANCE THROUGH GM FROM THE YEARS OF 1999-2003. THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS THROUGH GM WERE RECALLED HOWEVER BMW BEING A THIRD PARTY NEVER TOOK RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE SORTED THROUGH HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF CONSUMER REPORTS STATING DIFFERENT MILEAGES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING OR DID EXPERIENCE THE "NO REVERSE" PROBLEM. IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT DRIVING HABITS AND IT IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE THAT BMW DENIES ANY PART OF. I MAY BE FACING SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS (ALONG WITH MANY OTHER DISGRUNTLED BMW OWNERS) FOR DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. PLEASE ASSIST US CONSUMERS IN HOLDING BMW RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. THEY CUT A CORNER AND IT IS THE CONSUMER THAT IS PAYING FOR IT. IMMORAL, UNETHICAL, UNSAFE AND CERTAINLY POOR BUSINESS TACTICS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513696

Incident

May 22, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE RADIATOR CAP AND THE THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAN CLUTCH, THE AUXILIARY COOLING SYSTEM, AND THE ELECTRICAL FAN CENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ID

10499285

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL CONNECTORS WERE FOUND TO BE MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10478310

Incident

Mar 15, 2010

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET I BEGIN HEARING A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING DRAGGING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND OBSERVED THAT THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE GAS TANK UP, WAS HANGING DOWN FROM ONE END. I THEN DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE TO AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WELD ON THE FRONT BRACKET OF THE GAS TANK STRAP HAD BROKEN AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THIS CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO SAG TO WITHIN ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT WELL. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467164

Incident

Jul 23, 2012

Mileage

126,342 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325 CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE TAIL LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE BULB WIRE CONNECTOR WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10467081

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

Mileage

167,000 mi

VARIOUS TIMES I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH MY TAIL LIGHTS. I GET WARNINGS ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL BUT WHEN I CHECK THE BULBS THEY ARE NOT BURNED OUT. ON OCTOBER 17, 2011, LOS ANGELES POLICE PULLED ME OVER NOTIFYING ME THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. WE CHECKED THE BULBS AND FUSES BUT THEY WERE OK. WE FOUND THAT WHEN YOU SLIGHTLY TOUCH THE HARNESS OF THE TAILLIGHT SOCKET THAT IS INSIDE THE BODY PANEL, THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL CAR, BMW E46. ON SATURDAY JANUARY 21 I WENT TO SANTA MONICA BMW. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A COMMON ISSUE. TODAY I JUST LEARNED ABOUT RECENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000. THIS RECALL ADDRESSES THE ISSUES I HAVE BEEN HAVING. HOWEVER, IT IS ONLY FOR MODELS MANUFACTURED AFTER SEPTEMBER 2001. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN JULY 2001 BUT USES THE SAME HARNESS AND BODY PANEL ASSEMBLY THAT HAS PROMPTED THE RECALL FOR MODELS BUILT IN SEPTEMBER 2001. THUS, I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10445489

Incident

Oct 17, 2011

2001 BMW 325CI REAR SUB FRAME DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10410773

Incident

Jul 1, 2011