Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 42 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.
The 25 most recent of 42, in the owner's own words
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.
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.
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB ON ZKW LABELED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTED REFLECTOR BADLY. REMOVED HEADLIGHT BULB DUE TO CHANCE OF CATCHING FIRE. HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND UNABLE TO MOUNT HEADLIGHT BULB. ISSUE NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHERE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT STARTED LOOSING BRIGHTNESS AND SHINING TOWARDS RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. PULLED OVER AND SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC. HOUSING IS BLACK FROM BURNING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR LIGHTS WOULD NOT OPERATE. AFTER REPLACING THE LIGHT BULBS, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. WHILE CHANGING THE LIGHT BULBS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS BURNED AND CHARRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
I WAS MADE AWARE OF A TWO OPEN SAFETY RECALLS FOR MY CAR. I AM TOLD THAT THE AFFECTED PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE ENSURED SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THAT THESE REPAIRS COULD ONLY BE DONE AT AN AUTHORIZED BMW CENTER. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN MISSOULA, MT AND THE NEAREST BMW CENTER IS 3 HOURS AWAY IN SPOKANE, WA. OBVIOUSLY, I CANNOT DRIVE 3 HOURS EACH WAY AND WAIT HOWEVER MANY HOURS OR DAYS THE REPAIRS TAKE TO HAVE THEM DONE AT THE BMW CENTER I AM TOLD HAS TO DO THEM. THE BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT IS NOT WILLING TO OFFER ANY HELP IN FIXING THIS SITUATION AND GETTING THESE RECALL REPAIRS DONE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I BOUGHT MY 2002 BMW 325I FROM SAN FRANCISCO BMW IN 2003, SO FAR I HAVE RECEIVED ONLY ONE NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE REAR LIGHT. I WAS UNDER WARRANTY FOR A YEAR, DURING THAT PERIOD THEY DISCOVERED A FAULTY IDLE AIR VALVE AND THEY DID NOT REPLACE IT TRYING TO SAVE MONEY UNDER WARRANTY. I COMPLAINED MANY TIMES TO THEM ABOUT THE STALLING OF MY CAR ON THE STREETS, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I E-MAILED TO THE MANAGER WHO IGNORED MY COMPLAINT. FEARFUL FOR MY LIFE AND SAFETY I DARE NOT DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. I CALLED ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE AIRBAGS, THEY SAID IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY CAR, I ASKED THEM TO SEND ME E-MAIL TO CONFIRM, THEY NEVER DID. THEY PUT MY LIFE AT RISK. THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE SHOULD BE SUSPENDED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT HAD BECOME VERY DIM. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT LOOKED AT THE LIGHT AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE WIRES THAT HAD BECOME MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
RIGHT REAR TURN-SIGNAL LIGHTS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY--SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR FROM BEHIND WHEN I WAS CHANGING LANES ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD BE PERFORMED, BUT IT WAS UP TO THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING ASSEMBLY THAT WAS BURNED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS UP TO THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE HOUSING ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY INCLUDING THE HAZARD LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNALS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL NUMBERS: 11V438000 ( EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS), 11V438000 ( EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS), AND 11V438000 ( EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL). THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE GROUND WIRE WAS INSUFFICIENT AND THAT HE SHOULD ADD AN ADDITIONAL GROUND WIRE TO THE ASSEMBLY. IN ADDITION, THE GROUND WIRES MELTED THE CONNECTOR HOUSING AND THE CONNECTORS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS HAD FAILED.THE CONTACT THEN DISCONNECTED THE WIRES FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE WIRING HARNESS AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE OF $1,300. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 5 MPH, HE NOTICED A WARNING LIGHT WOULD INFORM HIM THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE OWNER FOR THE WIRING IN THE TAIL LIGHTS.THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN A FIVE YEAR TIME SPAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
RECALL SUMMARY BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 325I, 325XI, 330I, AND 330XI VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2001, THROUGH MARCH 1, 2005. OVER TIME, RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY CAUSE ONE OR MORE REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS (TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND/OR TURN-SIGNAL), WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S BODY PANEL, TO STOP WORKING. CONSEQUENCE INTERMITTENT LIGHT OPERATION REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. REMEDY BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417. NOTES BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.INTERNETAUTOGUIDE.COM/10-12-2002-12-107/2002-BMW-3-SERIES-RECALLS.HTML#IXZZ1FHEGYUFC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATE THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BWW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS BURNT. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V438000... CONFIRMATION NUMBER 10435174.... SOME IF NOT ALL BACK UP, BRAKE, TURN SIGNALS DO NOT MOST OF THE TIME.... MY VIN.# IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I HAVE ALL THE ISSUES THAT THEY ARE DOING THE RECALL ON. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SAYS MY CAR IS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL... I AM VERY UPSET. ..PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL FAILURE, FOUND SHORT IN SOCKET HOUSING, NO GROUND CONNECTED TO LEFT OR RIGHT REAR HOUSING UNITS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS), 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS) AND 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL) BUT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OF THE MENTIONED RECALLS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE BRAKE AND TAILLIGHTS FAILED BECAUSE THE WIRING WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT WAS ADVISED BY A PERSONAL FRIEND THAT IF HE COULD GROUND THE WIRES AND KEEP THEM SEPARATED FROM THE HARNESS, THE PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY BE RESOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTINGLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING TAIL LIGHTS), BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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