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2004 BMW 325CI Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
68
Latest Apr 21, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 21, 2004

What this page shows

Our database holds 68 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 BMW 325CI. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 68 · page 1 of 3

Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 21, 2025

The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325 CI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side rear turn signal light became inoperable while attempting to make a turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the rear turn signal light failed to function properly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear tail lamp functions had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.

NHTSA ID
11655866
Incident
Apr 21, 2025
Mileage
250,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 29, 2021

The TAKATA airbags were replaced April 8, 2021, by Reeds Import, Tampa FL. Please save a tree and stop sending recall notices. Thank you. Mark

NHTSA ID
11418962
Incident
Apr 8, 2021
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Mar 3, 2021

AFTER RECALLED AIR BAGS REPLACED, ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER NEW AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND DIAGNOSED AS PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR MAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. JUST RANDOMLY THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I SEE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN BMWS AND THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR OTHER MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
11398889
Incident
Mar 1, 2021
Mileage
75,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 3, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND A STOP, HE NOTICED THAT HIS RIGHT TURN SIGNAL HAD FLASHED ERRATICALLY UPON ACTIVATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT CALLED CHAPMAN BMW CHANDLER (7455 W ORCHID LN, CHANDLER, AZ 85226) WHERE HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE DEALER CALLED BACK AND INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER THEN REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ID
11352949
Incident
Sep 3, 2020
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 13, 2020

2004 BMW 325CI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID
11349406
Incident
Mar 17, 2020
Airbags
Filed May 29, 2020

I CALLED MY DEALER LAST YEAR TO SCHEDULE TO FIX MY RECALL ON MY CAR. UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT WENT TO MY APPOINTMENT. NOW ONE OF THE BAGS EXPLODED, AND I CALLED THE DELEGAR AGAIN TO DO MY RECALL, BUT TO MY SURPRISE THE HAVE MY CAR IN RECORDS AS REPAIR!! AND I TOLD THE THAT NEVER HAPPENED. THEY PROMISED TO CHECK AND CALL ME BACK AND HAS NOT HAPPENED EITHER. THIS IS THE BMW SAN ANTONIO TEXAS DELEGAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS FRAUD! I WANT TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GO AWAY WITH IT. I DON'T HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION TO UPLOAD ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST. NEVERTHELESS I DO HAVE A PICTURE THAT SHOWS THE AIRBAG THAT EXPLODED IS FROM 2003, AS THE REST OF THEM. I FEEL SO ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED. MY NAME IS [XXX], OWNER OF THE 2004 BMW 325CI INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

NHTSA ID
11326536
Incident
May 8, 2020
Mileage
179,400 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 2, 2017

HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION ON STANDARD BMW HEADLIGHTS IS BRITTLE AND FALLING OFF EXPOSING BARE COPPER WIRES WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE HEADLIGHTS I HAVE HAD TO WRAP THE WIRES IN ELECTRICAL TAPE AND SHRINK WRAPPING. THIS ISSUE HAS EXISTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

NHTSA ID
10970029
Incident
May 3, 2012
Mileage
130,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 25, 2017

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID
10956924
Incident
Dec 1, 2003
Airbags
Filed Feb 25, 2017

TAKATA RECALL FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS RECALLED, AFTER WAITING OVER ONE YEAR, IT WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED. NOW THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG HAS BEEN RECALLED. WE RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER TWO YEARS! NO CONTACT, NO REPLACEMENT. WE CONTINUE TO LIVE IN PERIL OF THE LETHAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG AND BMW JUST SAYS WAIT?

NHTSA ID
10956921
Incident
Dec 1, 2003
Airbags
Filed Jan 25, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. THE DEALER (BRAMAN BMW) ITS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE TIME TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS

NHTSA ID
10947519
Incident
Jan 25, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jan 20, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10946748
Incident
May 27, 2015
Airbags
Filed Dec 10, 2016

TAKAYUKI RECALL A FEW YEARS BACK, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG.(POTENTIALLY LETHAL CONSEQUENCES IF DEPLOYED). LAST YEAR, I RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL, THIS TIME FOR THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG.I RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY AND WAS PLACATED WITH THE PROMISE OF REPLACEMENT. IT HAS BEEN EIGHTEEN MONTHS NOW AND THE DEALER ASKS ME TO BE PATIENT. I RECENTLY FOUND THAT IT MAY TAKE UNTIL 2020!!! FOR ANY REPLACEMENT!!! I ASK, SIMPLY WOULD ANY PRUDENT PERSON DRIVE MY VEHICLE? LIVING WITH THE THREAT OF DEATH FOR FOUR MORE YEARS? WHAT AM I TO DO? I WANT A SAFE REPLACEMENT AT BMW'S EXPENSE UNTIL MY VEHICLE CAN BE REPAIRED. YES MY VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD ( 60,000 MILES) AND YES I LIVE IN WHAT CONSIDERED A "HUMID" ENVIRONMENT! HELP!

NHTSA ID
10934465
Incident
Dec 9, 2016
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 16, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 01/26/2017*CT *TR

NHTSA ID
10926433
Incident
Sep 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 7, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10924783
Incident
Jun 21, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 8, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (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. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10904701
Incident
Sep 14, 2015
Airbags
Filed Aug 30, 2016

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW STATING AIRBAGS WERE IN FOR RECALLS 15V-318 AND 13V-172/14V-428. I TOOK MY CAR TO BMW WEST IN HOUSTON AND WAS TOLD TX DOES NOT HAVE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS YET. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR OVERNIGHT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR THE PASSENGER BAGS FROM ANOTHER BMW CENTER. I WILL NOW BE DRIVING WITH A DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S AIRBAG UNTIL PARTS ARE RECEIVED.

NHTSA ID
10899588
Incident
Aug 29, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jul 19, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (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 REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10885970
Incident
Jul 19, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jul 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JULY OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10885115
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Steering
Filed Jun 7, 2016

WHEN WEATHER IS HOT STEERING BECOMES CRITICAL. DOES NOT RESPOND TO WHERE YOU STEER THE CAR. FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT CAUSES ME TO NOT USE THE CAR IN HOT WEATHER. SEEMS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL BY BMW ??

NHTSA ID
10873085
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Mileage
40,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V286000 (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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10864462
Incident
Jul 12, 2015
Airbags
Filed Apr 27, 2016

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSUMER RE: A COPY OF LETTER TO PRESIDENT & CEO OF BMW OF NORTH AMERICA LUDWIG WILLISCH REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG IN HIS VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE DECEMBER 9, 2014 FOR AN AIR BAG REPLACEMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10861840
Incident
Dec 9, 2014
Airbags
Filed Apr 18, 2016

NOTIFIED MANY MONTHS AGO DRIVER AIR BAG COULD KILL AND IT WAS BEING REPLACED UNDER A RECALL. I CALL EVERY MONTH TO NO HELP BY BMW. MONTHS LATER, BMW SAYS "TACATA AIR BAG COMPANY GOING BANKRUPT SO GOOD LUCK" EVER GETTING THE PART. WHY ISN'T BMW BEING FORCED TO RESOLVE THIS? SO, IF I OR ANYONE DRIVING A RECALLED CAR DIES, BMW IS WELL AWARE OF THE PRIOR PROBLEM AND IS AN ACCOMPLICE FOR AIDING AND ABETTING IN NOTHING BEING DONE FOR THE MANY BMW CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA ID
10860185
Incident
Apr 18, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 12, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR THE AIR BAGS; HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM 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 OF THE ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10855048
Incident
Jul 20, 2015
Airbags
Filed Apr 11, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAG) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD 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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10854825
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Airbags
Filed Apr 7, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - IN JULY 2015, I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG REPLACED PER THE BMW RECALL, HOWEVER, I WAS ALSO NOTIFIED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WAS TO BE REPLACED BUT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. MY CAR HAS BEEN LOCATED IN SW FLORDA FOR OVER 9 YRS AND AFTER REPEATED CALLS TO MY SARASOTA DEALER, STILL HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIED THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. MY LAST CONTACT WITH THE DEALER DURING MARCH 2016, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10854171
Incident
Apr 5, 2016

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