2002 BMW 325I Problems

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

THE REAR WINDOW ROLLS DOWN AND WON'T GO BACK UP AGAIN. HA EMAIL BEEN INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT IT'S BROKEN AND WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDS TO REPLACED. THE WINDOWS ARE RARELY USED. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE FULLY AWARE OF IT. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECOGNIZE THIS, RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE AS IT IS EXPENSIVE FIX. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES ALREADY. MY CAR HAS BARELY 60K MILES. *TR

LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM, THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TIME REPLACING A WINDOW REGULATOR IN MY 2002 BMW 325I. THE MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR, AND A FEW MONTHS LATER I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR. THIS TIME I AM REPLACING THE REGULATOR ON THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THIS IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE REPAIR. IT'S ABOUT $400 PLUS PER WINDOW. SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS AND PROVIDE A REIMBURSEMENT TO THE CONSUMER (ME). HOPEFULLY THE NEXT REPAIR WILL BE COVERED BY BMW. I'M SURE THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR WILL MOST LIKELY BE NEXT. *TR

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

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

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.

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.

IN A MATTER OF TWO HOURS MY 325I WAS RUNNING FINE TO NOT GOING IN REVERSE AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING IN A LOT OF CARS MY YEAR AND TYPE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING, ONE MINUTE YOU CAN BACK UP NEXT IT IS JUST STALLED IN REVERSE. BMW NEEDS TO STAND UP AND SEE THAT THEIR PRODUCT HAS A DEFECT AND POTENTIALLY CAN CAUSE INJURIES. THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED SAID IT'S IS THE TRANSMISSION, LET'S SET UP AN APPT AND BRING IT IN. IT STILL GOES NO PROBLEM AT ALL IN DRIVE. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILS TO OPERATE WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE VEHICLE HAS 60,000 MILES. *TR

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.

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN EITHER WITH THE KEYLESS REMOTE OR BY PULLING ON THE DOOR HANDLE INSIDE THE CAR (THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN SO I COULD REACH INSIDE) I HAD TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR AND CLIMB ACROSS THE SEAT TO GET INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE BUTTON BETWEEN THE SEATS TO UNLOCK ALL OF THE DOORS ALSO FAILED TO OPEN ANY OF THE LOCKS. THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH BESIDE IT STILL WORKED, SO I KNOW THE PROBLEM ISN'T DUE TO THAT FAULTY SWITCH. THIS DOOR LOCKS RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND IT HASN'T YET RETURNED IN THE FIVE DAYS. *TR

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

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.

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE OPENED OR CLOSED. IN ADDITION, THE WINDOWS WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CRUNCHING SOUND CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. ..UPDATED 11/28/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH ALL THE WINDOWS, GETTING JAMMED, OR BECOMING STUCK IN THE UP OR DOWN POSITION. ALL OF THE REGULATORS WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LOCK SYSTEM NOT WORKING. SOMETIMES, THE BUTTON AND SWITCHES WOULD NOT WORK. UPDATED 11/29/30

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE VEHICLE LOCKS ON THREE OF THE DOORS WOULD NOT RELEASE OPEN WHEN ACCESSING AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ UPDATED 02/23/11

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS BENT. EACH WHEEL BENT AT DIFFERENT TIMES. AS A RESULT, THE WHEELS VIBRATE WHEN TRAVELING 30 MPH OR MORE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THREE LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS BENT. EACH INDIVIDUAL TIRE BENT AT DIFFERENT TIMES. DUE TO THIS INCIDENT THE WHEELS STARTED TO VIBRATE WHEN GETTING 30 MPH OR MORE.

TIRE REQUIRED CHANGE. USED JACK FOR CAR ON LEVEL SURFACE AS DESCRIBED. JACK FAILED. LUCKILY I HAD A SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT AMPUTATION OF MY ARM WHEN JACK FAILED. *TR

IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS TWO CONTINENTAL TIRES WERE DAMAGED BY NAILS. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPAIRABLE. THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP ACCOUNT MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THE ROADS IN THE US ARE NOT AS CLEAN AS THEY ARE IN EUROPE AND LOW PROFILE TIRES ON LUXURY CARS WILL ALWAYS BE PRONE TO PUNCTURE OR RUPTURE BY SHARP OBJECTS. CONSUMERS NEED TO BE INFORMED OF THIS RISK BY THE "LUXURY" CAR DEALERS AND THE TIRE VENDORS. IN TERMS OF THE STATE OF THE ROADS IN THE US COMPARED TO EUROPE AND THE DEPRIS OF NAILS AND SHARP OBJECTS ON OUR ROADS, I THINK THIS STATMENT IS OFFENSIVE AND THE TIRE VENDORS ARE JUST NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. IS THERE A RATING SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE SAFETY OF OUR ROADS AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL? IS SO, HOW DO OUR ROADS COMPARE TO THOSE OF EUROPE AND HOW DO LUXURY CARS HANDLE SAFETY CONDITIONS ON OUR ROADS. THANK YOU. *AK

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

THE FUEL LEAKED ALL OVER MY GARAGE AFTER I FILLED IT JUST MINUTES LATER WHEN I GOT HOME. HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SO THEY COULD STABILIZE THE AREA TO MAKE IT SAFE. WHAT A HIDEOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND DEADLY FAILURE FOR A CAR TO HAVE!! THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER (WHERE IT WAS FRONT ENDED -AND NO ONE CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY SO I HAD TO FILE THROUGH MY OWN INSURANCE! WHAT A SCAM! THE DEALERSHIP - PATRICK BMW IN SCHAUMBURG, IL HAD THE FUEL LEAK FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP/FUEL LEVELER HAD FAILED SO THEY REPLACED IT. *NM

INFORMATION ON SEAT BELT SYSTEM FOR A 2002 BMW 325I. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG. SHE STATES THAT THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WAS REPAIRED AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *KB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS BUCKLES WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY CAUSING THE CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE A SEAT BELT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

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.

VEHICLE ROUTINELY STALLS WHEN ENGINE IS COLD AND CAR IS PLACED IN REVERSE. WE BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE AND GO OVER THE SLIGHT BUMP AT THE THRESHOLD, AND THE CAR STALLS AND MUST BE RE-STARTED. SEEMS AS IF ENGINE IS IDLING VERY HIGH AS WELL. ONCE RE-STARTED, THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN OK. *KB