2002 BMW 325I Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2002 BMW 325i. The contact stated that upon exiting the store, he observed fire emerging from the driver's side dashboard. The vehicle spontaneously combusted and was engulfed in flames. There was no warning light illuminated prior to the failure. The fire department was able to successfully extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was still in the parking lot where the incident occurred. A police officer was on the scene, but no report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the automated system confirmed there was no recall coverage. The approximate failure mileage was 168,000.

NHTSA ID

11699780

Incident

Nov 14, 2025

Mileage

168,000 mi

On Tuesday June 20, 2023 at 7:20am I was awakened by my neighbor who informed me that my car was on fire. A report was done by the fire department and they did not believe it was done on purpose but something with my car. My car was totally consumed with fire nothing but ashes.

NHTSA ID

11530869

Incident

Jun 20, 2023

I got a notice in the mail for an airbag recall. I called the number (877-225-0472) in early December. I was told to call Fremont BMW (510-360-5902) The first question they asked was: Did you buy your vehicle from us? I told them that the car is not currently registered. They told me to schedule a tow on my mobile phone. I don't have a mobile phone. The notice said that some of the dealers have mobile service where they come to your house. They said they would get back to me. That was over a month ago. I don't think BMW is taking this recall seriously.

NHTSA ID

11447327

Incident

Dec 6, 2021

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V018000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF ONTARIO (1350 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761; (909) 402-3052) AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 161,000.

NHTSA ID

11384625

Incident

Nov 22, 2020

Mileage

161,000 mi

I HAVE MADE SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS WITH SWICKLEY PA DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESS. THEY NEVER SHOW UP OR CALL TO CANCEL .THEY SET UP 3 RENTAL CAR DELIVERY DAYS NEVER CAME. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. I'VE EVEN SAID DON'T WORRY ABOUT RENTAL JUS TO HURRY AND GET DONE AND THEY STILL DON'T COME. I'VE CALLED OFF FOR THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL IT'S NOT DONE. SINCE I'VE BEEN FIRED BECAUSE OF THIS AND STILL NOT FIXED. THE LAST TIME I CALLED THE SHOCKLEY DEALERSHIP SAID NOW THEY WON'T DO IT BECAUSE I'M UNHAPPY WITH THERE SERVICE. I REALLY WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM REMEDY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT FROM THE RECALL. I AM A SINGLE FATHER OF 2 AND I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD FOR ME OR KIDS TO B INJURED IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT FROM INSIDE THE CAR. A SMALL ACCIDENT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND. I AM GOING TO TRY TO CONTACT BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU NEXT

NHTSA ID

11311200

Incident

Jan 12, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11278249

Incident

Feb 1, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT STILL ON IN DASH EVEN AFTER DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED BY DEALER, DURING RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11235276

Incident

Feb 17, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE TAIL LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11206582

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 I LEND MY CAR TO MY SON SO HE COULD RUN SOME SCHOOL RELATED ERRANDS HE NEEDED TO ATTEND TO. THAT DAY HE HAD ALSO TAKEN MY DAUGHTER WITH HIM AS THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE LUNCH AFTER HE HAD FINISHED ALL OF THE ERRANDS HE HAD TO DO FOR THAT DAY. AROUND 3:10 P.M. MY SON GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WHICH HAD CAUSED BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. SOON AFTER THE ACCIDENT A NOTICEABLE CUT WAS NOTICED ON MY DAUGHTER LEFT CHEEK WHICH WAS CAUSED FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA ID

11191218

Incident

Sep 7, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

ON WEDNESDAY, SEOTEMBER 26 2018 - MY CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE SINCE FRIDAY, SEPT 21. IT HAD RAINED A GREAT DEAL THAT WEEKEND. AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, I WENT TO GET IN THE CAR AND THE WINDOWS WERE BLACK FROM THE INSIDE. I HAD BEEN SMELLING A STRANGE ELECTIRCAL BRUNING SMELL ALL DAY. I DID NOT OPEN THE DOOR. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.THEY ARRIVED AND INVESTIGATED. THE INSIDE OF THE CAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND THE DASH WAS STILL ON FIRE INSIDE. THE PILLAR AIRBAG HAD EXPLODED AND MELTED AND HAD SPEWED PLASTIC ON THE FRONT SEATS. THE UPPER DRIVER SIDE CORNER AREA OF THE WINDSHEILD WAS BROKEN FROM THE INSIDE AS THOUGH SOMETHING HAD CATAPLULTED INTO IT FROM BELOW. THE PILLAR BAG INFLATOR WAS FOUND ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAR AND WAS BURNT IN THE BOTTOM. THE DRIVER DOOR PANEL HAD DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS

NHTSA ID

11142336

Incident

Sep 26, 2018

Mileage

168,000 mi

2002 325 I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG SAFETY RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL. *LD *JS *JS

NHTSA ID

11111602

Incident

Jul 19, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE BLOWER MOTOR EXPERIENCED A FAILURE FOR THE THIRD TIME AFTER BEING REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PETER PAN BMW (1625 ADRIAN RD, BURLINGAME, CA 94010 650) 204-7600) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE BLOWER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

NHTSA ID

11052780

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

Mileage

141,000 mi

RECALL

NHTSA ID

11047200

Incident

Jan 8, 2002

TAKATA INFLATORS. I DELIVERED THE RECALL NOTICE TO COAST BMW, THE ORIGINAL SELLING DEALER OVER A YEAR AGO. I WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL WHEN THEY WOULD RECEIVE PARTS FOR MY RECALL EXCHANGE. I NEVER WAS CONTACTED. DATE STATED BELOW IS AN APPROXIMATION.

NHTSA ID

11045799

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V172000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (BMW SEATTLE, 1002 AIRPORT WAY S, SEATTLE, WA 98134 (206) 829-5004) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11022923

Incident

Sep 12, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. 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. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11016182

Incident

Aug 22, 2016

"TAKATA RECALL" BMW DOES NOT APPEAR TO TAKE THIS RECALL SERIOUS. I CALLED # ON HUGH GLOSSY POSTCARD, SPENT OVER 10 MIN --- NO HUMAN. CALLED NATIONAL # THEY SAID THEY COULD FORWARD ME TO LOCAL # (BACK WHERE I STARTED.) GOT RETURN CALL TOLD HER I NEEDED 4 PM APPOINT. OH NOW THEY ONLY HA APPOINTS TIL 1:30. THIS BMW LOCATION DOES NOT CARE ABOUT "URGENT RECALL NOTICE" TALKED TO A GUY (HIGHER UP) . WHEN I INSISTED I NEEDED 4 PM APPOINT HE HUNG UP!

NHTSA ID

11014029

Incident

Aug 9, 2017

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DRIVING, AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP JACKSONVILLE FL MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET THE RECALL FIXED SINCE THE RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. THEY ALWAY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE THE PART AND CANNOT DO IT. THEY WILL TRY TO ORDER IT AND IF IT COMES IN THEY WILL CONTACT ME. I NEVER HEAR BACK FROM THEM.

NHTSA ID

10985980

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

THE REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN THREE (3) TIMES. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2001. THE SPRINGS FAILED AT 52000 MILES IN 2008, AT 77000 MILES IN 2013 AND AT 89000 MILES IN 2017. THE BOTTOM COILS FRACTURED AND RUSTING IN THE AREA WAS EVIDENT. I HAVE BOTH BROKEN SPRINGS FROM THE LATEST INCIDENT. BMW REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COST TO REPAIR. BMW COST IS $1100. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10971554

Incident

Apr 6, 2017

Mileage

89,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. 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

10925345

Incident

May 27, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG MODULE, AS STATED IN THE NOTIFICATION, WAS NOT REPLACED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10905862

Incident

Sep 9, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (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 MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10903909

Incident

Sep 6, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS), 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10903250

Incident

Sep 15, 2014

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/19/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10903244

Incident

Jul 15, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AT ANY SPEED, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE MESSAGE BOARD DISPLAYED "EXTERIOR LIGHTING FOR THE REAR RIGHT SIDE". THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10903017

Incident

Aug 31, 2016

Mileage

55,000 mi