RoadVitals

2003 BMW 325I Airbags Problems

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

Data refreshed

Airbags 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.
62
Latest Jan 5, 2019
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.
31%
of 199 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.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
10

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 BMW 325I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 62 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 airbag

The 25 most recent of 62, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jan 5, 2019

AIRBAG LIGHT WON'T TURN OFF

NHTSA ID
11165411
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
Mileage
160,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 25, 2018

I HAD MY AIRBAGS REPLACED BUT THE MAN SITTING IN THE SEAT IS ON WITH A AIRBACK IN HIS LAP I WAS TOLD THAT THE MRS CONTROL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT THE BAD AIRBAGS MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS ISSUE, I WANT TO KNOW IF BMW IS GOINN TO TAKE CARE OF THIS, BECAUSE NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WORK WITHOUT THE MRS MODULE I HAVE NO PROTECTION IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED OR AT LEAST BMW NEEDS TO PAY FOR HALF THE COST.

NHTSA ID
11090042
Incident
Jan 25, 2017
AirbagsEngine
Filed Feb 19, 2018

TAKATA RECALL - CALL THE DEALER ABOUT RECALL AND WAS TOLD I WOULD GET A CALL WHEN THE PART FOR THE JOBS WAS RECEIVED. IT'S BEEN MONTHS AND HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID
11073554
Incident
Sep 20, 2016
AirbagsElectricalSuspension
Filed Feb 10, 2018

STALLING, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, DEAD BATTERIES, SWERVING

NHTSA ID
11072105
Incident
Aug 10, 2013
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 15, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE CURB AND CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MOMENTUM BMW, 10002 SOUTHWEST FREEWAY, HOUSTON, TX, 855-645-6452). THE AIR BAG WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL; THEREFORE, THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN FOR FREE. THE AIR BAG WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED A TAKATA SETTLEMENT NOTICE AND WAS REFERRED TO 833-619-7579. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ID
11046333
Incident
Jan 6, 2017
Mileage
78,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 4, 2017

I LOOKED UP MY VEHICLE THROUGH A FORM I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL "AIRBAGRECALL" AND MY VEHICLE QUALIFIED FOR THE RECALL. BOTH OF MY AIRBAGS WERE LISTED IN THE RECALL, I TRIED TO CALL THE DEALER TO TAKE CARE OF THIS SAFETY HAZARD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO TAKE CARE OF THE RECALL, AND THEY COULDN'T HELP ME.

NHTSA ID
11043339
Incident
Nov 4, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 14, 2017

TAKATA RECALL -

NHTSA ID
11015036
Incident
Aug 14, 2017
Airbags
Filed Dec 19, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (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.

NHTSA ID
10936179
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Airbags
Filed Dec 17, 2016

TAKATA RECALL DESPITE MULTIPLE CALLS TO OUR DEALER COAST BMW NISSAN OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (805-543-4423) WE HAVE NEVER BEEN CALLED BACK TO HAVE THIS AIRBAG PROBLEM REMEDIED.

NHTSA ID
10935977
Incident
Jul 8, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 28, 2016

TAKATA RECALL I WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL FOR FAULTY AIRBAGS IN JULY 2015 THE RECALL CAMPAGIN # 15V-318 THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG IS NOT AVAILABLE, I HAVE BEEN CALLING EVERY TWO MONTHS SINCE I RECIEVED THIS NOTICE, I NEED THIS REPAIRED. THE PASSENGERS SIDE HAS BEEN REPLACED. I DRIVE THS CAR MORE THAN I HAUL PASSENGERS, PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS FIXED.

NHTSA ID
10928231
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Airbags
Filed Nov 4, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. 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. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10924228
Incident
May 27, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 28, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10919879
Incident
May 15, 2015
Airbags
Filed Sep 8, 2016

BMW RECALL NO 15V-318 DRIVERS AIRBAG AND 13V-172/14V-428. I KEEP GETTING ALARMING RECALL MESSAGES, BUT NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AT MY BMW DEALERSHIP. WHAT CAN I DO? THE LAST MESSAGE SAID THIS COULD CAUSE "SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH".

NHTSA ID
10904610
Incident
Aug 12, 2016
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 29, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. 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 10/06/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID
10899217
Incident
Aug 29, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 17, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. 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 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. UPDATED 10/04/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER PUT A RUSH ORDER ON THE PART AND IT WAS REPLACED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2016. *TR

NHTSA ID
10896616
Incident
Jul 13, 2015
Airbags
Filed Aug 11, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/20/16*LJ UPDATED 09/21/16. *JB

NHTSA ID
10895123
Incident
Jul 8, 2015
Airbags
Filed Aug 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR THE AIR BAGS; HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10892785
Incident
Aug 3, 2016
Mileage
107,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 22, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 08/17/16*LJ

NHTSA ID
10875868
Incident
Jul 6, 2015
Airbags
Filed Jun 14, 2016

JTAKATA RECALL CAMPAIGN NO 15V-318 DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL JULY 2015. AS OF 6/2016 STILL NO ACTION TAKEN BY BMW. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM BMW CONCERNING REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
10874205
Incident
Jun 14, 2016
Mileage
128,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 2, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10872097
Incident
Jun 2, 2016
Airbags
Filed May 16, 2016

EVER SINCE THE TAKATA AIR BAG ALERT WAS ISSUED BY NHTSA AND BMW, I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH BMW NORTH AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE, [XXX] FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT. AFTER MUCH DELAYS AND CORRESPONDENCE INCLUDING TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS, ALMOST A YEAR AFTER FIRST NOTICE, SHE HAD A DEALER, CREVIER BMW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER SIDE TAKATA AIRBAG WITH ANOTHER TAKATA AIRBAG AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE UNTIL A CORRECT REPLACEMENT WAS AVAILABLE. SEE BELOW EMAIL OF APRIL 26, 2016. "GOOD AFTERNOON [XXX], I AM FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU YET ONCE AGAIN ON THE AVAILABILITY OF THE 'RIGHT' REPLACEMENTS (PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE) OF THE TAKATA AIR BAGS FOR MY 2003, E46. AS YOU KNOW IT HAS BEEN 19 MONTHS SINCE THE INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT (RECALL CAMPAIGN N0. 14V-428, SEPTEMBER 2014) AND MONTHS SINCE YOU WERE KIND AS TO ARRANGE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION FOR ME AT CREVIER BMW DEALERSHIP. I AM STILL VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN THE ACTUAL REAL SOLUTION. I AM SURE THE NHTSA WOULD NOT BE HAPPY TO HEAR OF SUCH LONG DELAY AND LACK OF ANY INFORMATION FROM BMW NORTH AMERICA AS TO WHEN CUSTOMERS CAN EXPECT A SOLUTION. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. [XXX] " AFTER MORE DELAYS IN GETTING A REPLY, SHE IS NOW REFERRING ME TO YOUR WEBSITE: "GOOD MORNING [XXX], THE MOST UP TO DATE DETAILS ON TAKATA IS POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. KIND REGARDS, [XXX]" I AM ABSOLUTELY FRUSTRATED WITH BMW AND THEIR DELAYING TACTICS AND TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE CUSTOMERS' SAFETY. I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU INTERVENE ON MY BEHALF, COMPEL BMW TO PROVIDE A REAL AND APPROPRIATE SOLUTION AND STOP THESE DELAYS. OTHER MANUFACTURES SUCH AS HONDA HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED AND TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTIONS BUT BMW SEEMS TO DISCARD THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND IGNORES YOUR DIRECTIVES. IN THEIR LETTER OF JUNE 19, 2014 TO YOU, THEY COMMIT TO REPLACING DEFECTIVE PART BUT DO NOT DO SO. PLEASE ADVISE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10865186
Incident
May 16, 2016
Airbags
Filed May 11, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 3251. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10864320
Incident
May 11, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 26, 2016

TAKATA RECALL.... I AM DRIVING IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE DUE TO DRIVERS AIRBAG RECALL AND NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A GOOD FEELING. I WORRY EACH TIME I GET IN MY CAR AND DRIVE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID NO PARTS AND NO LOANER VEHICLES. SO I DRIVE AND WORRY. SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME ON 4-22-16 AND I BARELY MISSED THEIR CAR AND THOUGHT HOW AWFUL THIS COULD HAVE TURNED OUT, IF I HAD HIT THEM, T-BONING THEM, MY AIRBAG WOULD HAVE OPENED AND INJURED ME AND/OR KILLED ME. I GET HOME AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I NEVER HEARD FROM THEM SINCE LAST JULY'S FIRST RECALL WHEN THEY TOLD ME I WOULD GET A NOTIFICATION WHEN PARTS WHERE AVAILABLE. STILL NO PARTS, I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR. I AM A VICTIM OF "WORRY".THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP. WAS NOT VERY CONCERNED NOR HELPFUL. SHE MUST BE NOT DRIVING A CAR WITH A "DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG THAT IS DEFECTIVE" AND UNSAFE.

NHTSA ID
10861605
Incident
Apr 22, 2016
Mileage
41,690 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN 2014. 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 CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10861471
Incident
Apr 26, 2016
Mileage
55,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 18, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. 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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10860129
Incident
Jul 6, 2015

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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .