RoadVitals

2001 BMW 325CI Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Feb 19, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 49 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 BMW 325CI submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Feb 19, 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
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE FAN MOTOR. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, WHICH CAUSED THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING ALONG WITH A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FAILURE IS NOT COVERED UNDER HER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID
10256357
Incident
Jan 18, 2003
Mileage
22,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 17, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325CI. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 AND HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,100.

NHTSA ID
10242684
Incident
Sep 17, 2008
Mileage
84,100 mi
Engine
Filed May 15, 2008

CAR DIES IN INTERSECTIONS ON "COLD STARTS" OCCURS ON ALL COLD STARTS AND WHEN BACKING OUT GARAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227933
Incident
Mar 14, 2008
Mileage
53,207 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2005

DT: ON MAY 20, 2005 AT ABOUT 5 PM EASTERN TIME THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM WITH 2001 BMW 325 , VIN [XXX]. VEHICLE HAD 25, 000 MILES AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. WHILE DRIVING HOME VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD IN CAMBRIDGE, MA., AFTER STALLING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND AFTER WAITING ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE VEHICLE STARTED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAKE ITS WAY HOME. AN INDEPENDENT BMW MECHANIC USED COMPUTER ANALYZER TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE CAM SHAFT SENSORS. MECHANIC REPLACED INTAKE AND EXHAUST SENSORS. THE COST FOR REPAIR WAS $300. MECHANIC STATED THAT THESE CABLES FAIL OFTEN. SINCE REPAIR WAS DONE. THERE HAS BEEN NO OTHER PROBLEM WITH STALLING. VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY SERVICED. IT SEEMED STRANGE AND DANGEROUS THAT A SIMPLE CABLE WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND NOT START UP RIGHT AWAY.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10129482
Incident
May 20, 2005
Mileage
25,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 14, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR FLASHES "-40 DEGREES." THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER , WHO STATED THAT SENSOR IS LOCATED IN THE FRONT UNDER THE BUMPER, AND IS OFTEN HIT BY DEBRIS THAT CAUSES THE SENSOR TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER WILL FIX THE SENSOR AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

NHTSA ID
10027144
Engine
Filed Jul 6, 2001
Fire reported

CONSUMER STATES UPON PARKING VEHICLE, HE NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS SHORTLY PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THAT THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN SHORTED OUT AND ITS SPEED PROBABLY KNOCKED OUT THE SENSOR THAT TRANSMITS INFORMATION TO THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS.JB

NHTSA ID
561913
Incident
May 9, 2001
Engine
Filed Jun 19, 2001
Fire reported

CONSUMER STATES UPON PARKING VEHICLE, HE NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THAT THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN SHORTED OUT AND ITS SPEED PROBABLY KNOCKED OUT THE SENSOR THAT TRANSMITS INFORMATION TO THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS.*JB

NHTSA ID
561697
Incident
May 9, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Airbags13

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .