RoadVitals

2003 BMW 325IT Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
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Latest Jul 16, 2021
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 BMW 325IT, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical240.0%
  • Engine120.0%
  • Steering120.0%
  • Visibility120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM NEAR TOTAL FAILURE WITH POSSIBILITY OF BECOMING TRAPPED IN VEHICLE. ALSO, ON A MINOR NOTE, WINDSHIELD WASHER DOESN'T WORK. THE LOCK, WINDOW, WIPER, AND MAYBE OTHER RELAYS ARE LOCATED ON A CIRCUIT BOARD MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BE SWAPPED OUT BY THE AVERAGE PERSON. THIS MEANS A HIGH REPAIR COST WHICH MEANS THAT AS THESE VEHICLES COME ONTO THE USED MARKET AND BEING THE AMAZING VALUE THAT THEY ARE, CURRENT OWNERS MAY BE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO HAVE THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY AND SIMPLY NOT USE THE LOCKS OR WHATEVER ELSE HAS A RELAY FAILURE. DUE TO THE SECURITY FEATURES AND SUCH ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAR, IT BECOMES EASY FOR THE LOCKS TO BE ENGAGED AND IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK AS THE PROBLEM IN THE RELAYS GETS WORSE. THE RELAYS NEED TO BE RELOCATED TO SOCKETS THAT ALLOW THEM TO BE INDIVIDUALLY REPLACED LIKE FUSES THE WAY MOST CARS HAVE THEM SO THAT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET WORSE AND RENDER CAR NEARLY UNUSABLE OR TRAP SOMEBODY INSIDE BEFORE A REPAIR IS POSSIBLE. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND THE LOCKS WERE IMPERFECT AT THAT TIME, IT IS ALSO KNOWN TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IN MOST VEHICLES' CASES. IN MY TIME WITH THE CAR IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE, BUT SINCE I STILL HAVE LIFE LEFT IN MY BATTERY AND RECENTLY PURCHASED A WORKING REMOTE KEY, AND AM AN ABLE BODIED YOUNG PERSON, I WAS ABLE TO GET CREATIVE USING THE WINDOWS AND CARGO DOOR FOR ENTRY AND EXIT AND PLAN ON ATTEMPTING A TEMPORARY FIX, MAYBE JUST DISABLING LOCK SYSTEM, UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THE REPAIR WHICH I'VE HEARD CAN COST HALF THE BOOK VALUE OF THIS VEHICLE!!! INSANITY!!! A TYPICAL RELAY REPLACEMENT IS AS SIMPLE AS BUYING A NEW ONE FOR WHAT MAYBE $5 AND PUTTING IT IN? JUST ADD A RELAY PANEL ON TOP OF THE FUSE PANEL. I DO LOVE THIS CAR YOU'VE MADE, BUT RELAYS FAIL, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE THEM LIKE FUSES, JUST LIKE OTHER CARS.

NHTSA ID 10806495 · filed Nov 24, 2015

MY 2003 BMW 325IT STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, I LOOSE POWER STEERING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I THEN PUT IT IN PARK AND START THE ENGINE AGAIN. THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN IN 2011 AND NOW OCCURS WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN 2014, INCLUDING TODAY OCTOBER 11, 2014, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD AT ABOUT 40 MPH. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT MY PERSONAL SAFETY AND HOPE TO HAVE AN EARLY RESPONSE FROM YOU ABOUT THIS CRITICAL MATTER. I HAVE ALSO WRITTEN TO BMW CORPORATION. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR, BOUGHT ON OCTOBER 22, 2002 FROM VOB AUTO SALES 1396 ROCKVILLE PIKE, ROCKVILLE, MD 20852 USA. *TR

NHTSA ID 10644107 · filed Oct 11, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MY 2003 BMW 325IT STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, I LOOSE POWER STEERING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I THEN PUT IT IN PARK AND START THE ENGINE AGAIN. THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN IN 2011 AND NOW OCCURS WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN 2014, INCLUDING TODAY OCTOBER 11, 2014, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD AT ABOUT 40 MPH. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT MY PERSONAL SAFETY AND HOPE TO HAVE AN EARLY RESPONSE FROM YOU ABOUT THIS CRITICAL MATTER. I HAVE ALSO WRITTEN TO BMW CORPORATION. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR, BOUGHT ON OCTOBER 22, 2002 FROM VOB AUTO SALES 1396 ROCKVILLE PIKE, ROCKVILLE, MD 20852 USA. *TR

NHTSA ID 10644107 · filed Oct 11, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MY 2003 BMW 325IT STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, I LOOSE POWER STEERING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I THEN PUT IT IN PARK AND START THE ENGINE AGAIN. THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN IN 2011 AND NOW OCCURS WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN 2014, INCLUDING TODAY OCTOBER 11, 2014, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD AT ABOUT 40 MPH. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT MY PERSONAL SAFETY AND HOPE TO HAVE AN EARLY RESPONSE FROM YOU ABOUT THIS CRITICAL MATTER. I HAVE ALSO WRITTEN TO BMW CORPORATION. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR, BOUGHT ON OCTOBER 22, 2002 FROM VOB AUTO SALES 1396 ROCKVILLE PIKE, ROCKVILLE, MD 20852 USA. *TR

NHTSA ID 10644107 · filed Oct 11, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM NEAR TOTAL FAILURE WITH POSSIBILITY OF BECOMING TRAPPED IN VEHICLE. ALSO, ON A MINOR NOTE, WINDSHIELD WASHER DOESN'T WORK. THE LOCK, WINDOW, WIPER, AND MAYBE OTHER RELAYS ARE LOCATED ON A CIRCUIT BOARD MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BE SWAPPED OUT BY THE AVERAGE PERSON. THIS MEANS A HIGH REPAIR COST WHICH MEANS THAT AS THESE VEHICLES COME ONTO THE USED MARKET AND BEING THE AMAZING VALUE THAT THEY ARE, CURRENT OWNERS MAY BE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO HAVE THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY AND SIMPLY NOT USE THE LOCKS OR WHATEVER ELSE HAS A RELAY FAILURE. DUE TO THE SECURITY FEATURES AND SUCH ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAR, IT BECOMES EASY FOR THE LOCKS TO BE ENGAGED AND IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK AS THE PROBLEM IN THE RELAYS GETS WORSE. THE RELAYS NEED TO BE RELOCATED TO SOCKETS THAT ALLOW THEM TO BE INDIVIDUALLY REPLACED LIKE FUSES THE WAY MOST CARS HAVE THEM SO THAT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET WORSE AND RENDER CAR NEARLY UNUSABLE OR TRAP SOMEBODY INSIDE BEFORE A REPAIR IS POSSIBLE. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND THE LOCKS WERE IMPERFECT AT THAT TIME, IT IS ALSO KNOWN TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IN MOST VEHICLES' CASES. IN MY TIME WITH THE CAR IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE, BUT SINCE I STILL HAVE LIFE LEFT IN MY BATTERY AND RECENTLY PURCHASED A WORKING REMOTE KEY, AND AM AN ABLE BODIED YOUNG PERSON, I WAS ABLE TO GET CREATIVE USING THE WINDOWS AND CARGO DOOR FOR ENTRY AND EXIT AND PLAN ON ATTEMPTING A TEMPORARY FIX, MAYBE JUST DISABLING LOCK SYSTEM, UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THE REPAIR WHICH I'VE HEARD CAN COST HALF THE BOOK VALUE OF THIS VEHICLE!!! INSANITY!!! A TYPICAL RELAY REPLACEMENT IS AS SIMPLE AS BUYING A NEW ONE FOR WHAT MAYBE $5 AND PUTTING IT IN? JUST ADD A RELAY PANEL ON TOP OF THE FUSE PANEL. I DO LOVE THIS CAR YOU'VE MADE, BUT RELAYS FAIL, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE THEM LIKE FUSES, JUST LIKE OTHER CARS.

NHTSA ID 10806495 · filed Nov 24, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .