2002 BMW 325XI Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2002 BMW 325XI. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V018000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that approximately 7-months after the repair, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer where a diagnostic test showed that a wire from the A-pillar connector to side air bags had high resistance. The dealer stated that the repair was not covered under the recall. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The contact stated that several days later the air bag warning light disappeared without the repair being performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred her to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 44,743.

NHTSA ID

11475946

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

Mileage

44,743 mi

IGNITION SELANIOD ISN'T WORKING. WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR, THE IGNITION THINKS THE CAR HAS STARTED, BUT THE ENGINE DOESN'T TURN OVER. IT TAKES MULTIPLE TRIES TO GET THE CAR TO START.

NHTSA ID

11023601

Incident

Sep 13, 2017

Mileage

172,400 mi

WHILE DRIVING OUR CAR THE DASH LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND THE CAR WILL LOOSE ALL POWER. WE HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF WAIT A MINUTE WITH KEY COMPLETELY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR THEN ALL LIGHTS ARE OFF AND CAR IS COMPLETELY DRIVABLE. THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY NO MATTER WHAT SPEED IS BEING DRIVEN. ALSO WITHIN THE SAME MONTH THE LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN CAR IS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF OR BY THE POWER BUTTON INSIDE THE CAR. AS WELL AS OUR 4 WAY INDICATOR WHICH IS ON SAME SWITCH AS THE POWER LOCK BUTTON NO LONGER WORKS.

NHTSA ID

10991270

Incident

Nov 21, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

CAR WAS PARKED IN PRIVATE DRIVEWAY, 200 FEET FROM STREET, AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN OR STARTED FOR 4 DAYS. AWOKE TO CAR COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE TRUCK NEEDED TO PUT OUT FIRE, AND TO PROTECT NEARBY HOUSE. FIRE INSPECTOR COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE, DUE TO EXTEND OF DAMAGE, THOUGH NO EVIDENCE OF VANDALISM. NO COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE, SO CAR A COMPLETE WRITE OFF. SALVAGE YARD SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A CAR SO COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE. BMW CONTACTED, AND COMPLETELY UNINTERESTED AND UNHELPFUL. HEARD ABOUT NHTSA COMPLAINT REPORTING IN ARTICLE ABOUT UNEXPLAINED BMW FIRES.

NHTSA ID

10985010

Incident

Oct 28, 2015

THE CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR A CIRCUIT INTERMITTENT CAN GO BAD LEADING THE ENGINE TO STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER THIS COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF DRIVING ON THE ROAD

NHTSA ID

10956936

Incident

Feb 24, 2017

Mileage

166,983 mi

LOCKS OCCUPANTS IN CAR AND CANNOT ELECTRICALLY OR MECHANICALLY UNLOCK. MANY BMW OPERATORS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM ON INTERNET BUT NO RECALL EXISTS FOR DEALERSHIPS TO REPAIR/REPLACE. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY, ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY, TURNING OR ANYTIME THE SYSTEM LOCKS THE DOORS TRAPPING OCCUPANTS

NHTSA ID

10955667

Incident

Jul 4, 2016

Mileage

89,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. 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 WITH THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER ONLY INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER, WHICH HAD BEEN LONGER THAN A YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10908416

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. 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 NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 11/29/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART FINALLY ARRIVED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN NOVEMBER 2016. UPDATED 12/14/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10907174

Incident

Jul 11, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS AND BRUISES ON THE LEFT ARM FROM THE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10897099

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. 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 NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10894475

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10892529

Incident

May 15, 2015

FINAL STAGE UNIT (AKA BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR) KEEPS FAILING AND SHORTING OUT INTERNALLY CAUSING ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS AND RELATED OBD2 WARNINGS AS WELL AS BATTERY DRAIN. I HAVE REPLACED THIS PART 5 TIMES AND 2 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

10822057

Incident

Jan 24, 2003

PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG MATT SENSOR FOR PASSENGER WEIGHT AND AIRBAG INFLATION RATE IS INOPERATIVE AND BROKEN.

NHTSA ID

10822046

Incident

Jan 6, 2014

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMED PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10817054

Incident

Dec 30, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V3178000 (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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10816979

Incident

Dec 30, 2015

TAKATA RECALL. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE HAS BEEN ON RECALL FOR OVER 5 MONTHS. THIS IS MY DAUGHTERS CAN AND SHE IS UNSAFE. IS THERE AN ESTIMATE WHEN THIS REPLACEMENT MODULES WILL BE AVAILABLE

NHTSA ID

10807937

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THERE WAS A THREE SECOND DELAYED RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10732189

Incident

May 21, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10648864

Incident

Oct 20, 2014

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND MY WIFE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. ANOTHER CAR HIT OUR CAR ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYING BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS. I HAD BACK INJURIES AND MY WIFE LOST VISION IN BOTH HER EYES. SHE IS STILL NOT ABLE TO SEE EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD SEVERAL SURGERIES AT MAYO CLINIC IN ROCHESTER, MN. EVERY SURGEON SHE HAS SEEN HAS SAID THAT THIS IS THE WORST AIRBAG INJURY THEY HAVE EVER SEEN. UPDATED 09/17/14*LJ..UPDATED 10/01/14 *BF UPDATED 01/26/15.*JB UPDATED 02/4/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10633000

Incident

Mar 21, 2013

Mileage

136,492 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL POWER WINDOWS FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD INDEPENDENTLY OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10615399

Incident

Feb 11, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED GOOD WITH VARIOUS SERVICE PROVIDERS YET VEHICLE HAD A PERSISTENT BATTERY DRAIN WITCH WOULD ONLY APPEAR AFTER CAR WAS ON THE ROAD AND DRIVING. AFTER CAR STOPPED RUNNING DUE TO LOW BATTERY IT THEN WOULD NOT RESTART. NO WARNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON UNTIL JUST A MINUTE OR TWO PRIOR TO ENGINE QUITTING. TOOK VEHICLE TO MONROVIA BMW IN MONROVIA CA AND WAS TOLD THAT ALTERNATOR WAS FAULTY. INSTALLED NEW (NOT REBUILT) SPECIFIED ALTERNATOR AND NEW BATTERY AND 5 MONTHS LATER SAME PROBLEM CAME BACK. FURTHER OWN PERSONAL INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT BMW IS AWARE OF A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN FLAW AND I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT FROM BMW TECH'S AT TIME OF INSPECTION AS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A SYSTEM PROBLEM WHEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL "BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR" OF "FINAL STAGE UNIT" (FSU) AND ITS INTERNAL RESISTOR FAILS. THIS PART HAS HUNDREDS OF WRITE UPS ONLINE FROM OTHER OWNERS AND HAS GONE BACK MANY YEARS. WHEN THE PART FAILS IT LEADS TO A WHOLE VARIETY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AFFECTED VEHICLE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A FULL ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND LEAD TO A CRASH. MY VEHICLE HAS ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCING LOSS OF ENGINE COILS AND THESE ARE ALSO PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT COULD BE BEING IMPACTED BY THIS FSU / RESISTOR PROBLEM. FIRE AND OR OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561222

Incident

Jul 31, 2013

Mileage

108,477 mi

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN CHECKED FAULT MEMORY AND FOUND CODE 190 O2S FAULT R/R LOWER SPLASH SHIELD R/R VALVE COVER AND INJECTORS. REPLACED SENSOR AND CLEARED FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10493122

Incident

May 12, 2004

Mileage

16,776 mi

NOTICED THAT LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL IS OUT AT TIMES. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET ARE BURNT. FAULT 36 (TURN INDICATOR, FRONT LEFT, FAULTY) IS SET IN FAULT MEMORY. CHECKED LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET ARE BURNT. REPLACED FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10493121

Incident

Apr 6, 2005

Mileage

25,650 mi

A/C SYSTEM WHEN ENGAGED MADE A LOT OF NOISE. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN CHECKED AND FOUND NOISE COMING FROM A/C COMPRESSOR. REPLACED COMPRESSOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10493119

Incident

May 6, 2005

Mileage

26,323 mi

NOTICED THAT WHEN DRIVING ON CURVY ROADS IT FEELS LIKE RIDING ON A ROUGH ROAD PATCH OR FEELS LIKE BRAKING. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN FOUND DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER AND FILTER. NO FAULT IN MEMORY. REMOVED AND EXCHANGED TORQUE CONVERTER. REMOVED TRANSMISSION OIL PAN AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION OIL FILTER AND OIL AND FLUSHED ALL TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10493117

Incident

Apr 7, 2006

Mileage

35,637 mi