RoadVitals

2002 BMW 325I Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
14
Latest Oct 29, 2014
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.
9%
of 162 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.
3
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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 BMW 325I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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 brake

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

BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 29, 2014

ABS, BRAKE LIGHTS WARNING INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ON. POSSIBLE DSC INOP. POTENTIAL CRASH ISSUE. ORIGINAL OWNER WITH APPROX. $13,000 IN MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR RECEIPTS. 95K MILES ON CAR. NO NOTIFICATION/RECALL FROM BMW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10651107
Incident
Aug 5, 2014
Mileage
95,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 22, 2014

THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON FEW MONTHS AGO ON MY 2002 BMW 325I. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A "COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THESE CARS, AND THAT THE ABS/DSC MODULE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED (WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED PART), AT A COST OF $1,700. ALSO I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. AGAIN A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR THAT HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND MAINTAINED PROPERLY. LOOKING AT HOW COMMON THESE PROBLEMS ARE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THESE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEREFOR BMW SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10649268
Incident
Oct 7, 2014
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Feb 27, 2014
Crash reported

02/19/2014 ON A DRY DAY,WHILE DRIVING IN THE CENTER LANE ON I-4 AROUND LAKELAND-FL, WITH 70MPH A FEDEX VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OFF IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID COLLISION. ABS DID NOT WORK AND MY BRAKES LOCKED, MY CAR HAS STARTED SPINNING (3-4 TIMES). MY CAR WENT FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE LEFT LANE THEN TO THE MOST RIGHT LANE AND OFF THE ROAD. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR THE METAL/CONCRETE BARRIERS WHILE SPINNING OUT OF THE ROAD.AFTER THE INCIDENT,WHILE DRIVING I HAVE NOTICED A LIMPING AT SLOW SPEED AND HIGH VIBRATION AT HIGHER SPEEDS. ALL 4 TIRES WERE DAMAGED . 3 WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD: DSC + ABS + BRAKE(RED COLOR). ON 02/22 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC.ALL 4 TIRES WERE FOUND WERE BECAUSE OF THE BRAKING.THE DIAGNOSTICS TOOL READ: 5DF5 - CONTROL UNIT INTERNAL FAILURE.I NEEDED 4 NEW TIRES AND MY TIRES HAD 9/32 THREAD DEPTH AND WERE ALMOST NEW. ON SUNDAY - 02/23/2014 - I TOOK IN MY VEHICLE FOR THE TIRES. THE TIRE SHOP DECLINED TO REPLACE THE TIRES UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY WERE DAMAGED BY BRAKING.THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO GIVE ME A DISCOUNT AND REPLACED THE TIRES FOR $350. TEVES DSC MK60 HAS BEEN A PROBLEM NOT ONLY IN BMWS BUT OTHER BRANDS SUCH AS VW AND AUDI. JUST GOOGLE IT.IF YOU ARE LUCKY THE ISSUE SURFACES ITSELF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTYIF NOT, THE ABS PUMP UNIT IS OVER $2300+LABOR AND DSC MODULE IS OVER $1100+LABOR.I ALREADY SPENT $500 FOR THE TIRES AND BRAKE FLUSH. I HAVE TO PAY ONE OF THE ABOVE PRICES TO GET MY ABS FIXED.I DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE MY ABS (IF DSC DOES NOT WORK ABS DOES NOT WORK) FAILED.THE LIGHTS CAME ON FOR A FEW DAYS AND NOW THEY ARE NOT ON THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA AND FIXED BY BMW USA WITH A RECALL. I COULD HAVE KILLED MYSELF OR HURT/KILL OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE ON THAT HIGHWAY.ABS/DSC ARE VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY COMPONENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10566324
Incident
Feb 19, 2014
Mileage
160,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 4, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT BULB SOCKET AND WIRING MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS) BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH LIGHT BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,751.

NHTSA ID
10460522
Incident
Oct 19, 2011
Mileage
169,751 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 24, 2012

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 DID NAME INCLUDE US SPECIFICATION BMWS MADE OUTSIDE THE US. OVER TIME, RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY CAUSE ALL REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS (TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND TURN-SIGNAL), WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S BODY PANEL TO STOP WORKING. INTERMITTENT LIGHT OPERATION REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10445113
Incident
Jan 4, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 19, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD MALFUNCTION ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10440444
Incident
Dec 19, 2005
Mileage
75,000 mi
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Nov 28, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE TURN SIGNAL WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WOULD DISCONNECT AND RECONNECT THE PIGTAIL WIRE FOR THE TURN SIGNAL TO FUNCTION. THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY BUT AFTER SOME TIME THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT NOTICED ONE OF THE CONNECTING WIRES HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL HOUSING WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PIG TAIL WIRE CONNECTOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE LIGHT BULB. UPDATED 12/15/11. UPDATED 01/03/12*LJ UPDATED 01/11/12

NHTSA ID
10437564
Incident
Jul 1, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Oct 26, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE STEERING STABILITY CONTROL ANGLE SENSOR. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. THE STEERING STABILITY CONTROL ANGLE SENSOR WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE STEERING FAILURE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID
10432923
Incident
Oct 21, 2011
Mileage
117,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 21, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THE THAT ABS FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE MODULE FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID
10432373
Incident
Oct 7, 2011
Mileage
67,500 mi
BrakesFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Oct 7, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS WERE DID NOT WORK AR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE LIGHTS WERE REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). UPDATED 10/18/11*LJ THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/30/12

NHTSA ID
10429084
Incident
Jul 1, 2010
Brakes
Filed Jul 11, 2010

BRAKE LIGHT GROUND WIRE HAS BURNED UP AND IS NO LONGER WORKING DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. THIS HAS ALSO MELTED THE PLASTIC BRAKE LIGHT BULB HOUSING AND BURNED OUT THE BRAKE LIGHT. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE FIRES AND/OR WRECKS TO OCCUR. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE ISSUE. PLEASE SEE THE LINK TO THE BMW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BELOW. HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/BULLETIN_GRAPHIC_TEMP/B630306G.HTM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10342482
Incident
Jul 1, 2009
Mileage
100,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed May 5, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE BUT THE CONTACT REFUSED THAT REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,970.

NHTSA ID
10328950
Incident
Apr 23, 2010
Mileage
112,970 mi
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Dec 30, 2009
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE DRIVER- SIDE HEADLIGHT ON THE VEHICLE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE WIRE FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE GROUND WIRE HAD BURNED. THE DEALER ADVISED REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY AT AN EXPENSE OF $600. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10297581
Incident
Jun 1, 2009
Mileage
70,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 24, 2009

BRAKE LIGHT GROUND WIRE HAS BURNED UP AND IS NO LONGER WORKING DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. THIS HAS ALSO MELTED THE PLASTIC BRAKE LIGHT BULB HOUSING AND BURNED OUT THE BRAKE LIGHT. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE FIRES AND/OR WRECKS TO OCCUR. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE ISSUE. PLEASE SEE THE LINK TO THE BMW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BELOW. HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/BULLETIN_GRAPHIC_TEMP/B630306G.HTM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266559
Incident
Apr 23, 2009
Mileage
121,000 mi

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .