2004 BMW 325XI

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with consistently high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly, ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016, four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016, four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The PE is now closed/upgraded to an Engineering Evaluation (EA15-001) to include all manufacturersand vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's EA investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The recalls related to this PE are: 14V343, 14V344, 14V348, 14V351, 14V353, 14V655, 14V700, 14V701, 14V752, 14V763, 14V770, 14V773, 14V787, 14V802 and 14V817.The number of vehicles affected are an estimate since some vehicles may have both the driver and passenger side inflators recalled. The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

In a letter submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) dated August25, 2011, BMWindicated that it will conduct a voluntary recall campaign to remedy the subject vehicles.The issue involves the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel.Through normal vehicle use over time, the rear lamps ground wiring and associated 8-pin connector can experience an increase of the resistance at the electrical contact points.This can lead to intermittent or permanent loss of the rear lamp functions which include tail, brake, and turn signal operation.The recall consists of modifying the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel by adding a secondary ground connection in parallel to the existing primary ground connection.An 8-pin connector that attaches the primary ground wiring to the rear lamp assembly will also be inspected and replaced if necessary.BMW will complete dealer notification in September 2011 and will begin owner notification in October 2011.All 3 series sedans (except for the M3 sedan which utilized a different rear lamp assembly) that were built between September 1, 2001 and March 1, 2005 are included in this recall, totalling approximately 241,000 vehicles.The action taken by BMW is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT RUNS THROUGH THE SYSTEM.BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) SIB-630306 ON FEBRUARY 2007 TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION BY ADDING SUPPLEMENTARY GROUND WIRING TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY.ODI IS UPGRADING TO AN EA TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE.

Window rolled down, but never went back up. Happened on multiple windows of my vehicle. Has been a common problem among these cars, caused me to fail inspection.

NHTSA ID

11595621

Incident

Apr 25, 2024

The contact’s girlfriend owns a 2004 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V018000 (Air Bags). The contact’s girlfriend took the vehicle to the local dealer for the recall repair. After the vehicle was repaired and the vehicle was retrieved, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The driver took the vehicle back to the local dealer for the warning light. The mechanic inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the battery cable needed to be replaced. The contact was concerned that the failure was related to the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.

NHTSA ID

11424673

Incident

Jun 19, 2021

Mileage

89,000 mi

The contact owned a 2004 BMW 325XI. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the passenger’s side causing the passenger’s side mirror to detach from the vehicle. The contact loss control of the vehicle and crashed into the median. The vehicle rolled and then came to a complete stop. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. Additionally, the dashboard collapsed and the rear-view mirror detached from the windshield. The vehicle was towed from the scene of the crash. The contact received injuries to the chest, ribs, neck, and breast for which medical assistance was sought. A police report was filed. The contact stated that the driver's frontal air bag was previously replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V318000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11419329

Incident

May 21, 2021

Mileage

100,000 mi

OK. THIS CAR WAS BROUGHT IN ON 2/12/19 TO THE BMW DEALER IN APPLETON, WI. AFTER THAT BMW HAS CALLED ME 3 TIMES CLAIMING HE WASN'T FIXED. THEY WERE GOING TO CALL THE DEALER. NOW I HAVE REC'D A LETTER FROM THE DMV STATING IT WASN'T FIXED. I FAXED THE INVOICE DATES 2/12/19 TO BMW TODAY. I GIVE UP. THE CONTACT IS PETE KEMPEN 1-877-983-7473. SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG.

NHTSA ID

11241467

Incident

Feb 12, 2019

NHTSA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE RECALLS ON MY 2004 BMW 325XI 4DR SEDAN. THERE WERE 2 RECALLS THAT ARE RELATED TO AIR BAGS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS ARE #15V318000 AND #14V428000. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION THAT THESE RECALLS ARE VALID SO I CAN GET THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX THIS. PLEASE SEE THE SUPPORTING DOCS ATTACHED. ALSO, I HAVE BEEN HAVING WEIRD ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAPPENING TO THE POINT THE CAR WONT SHUT OFF AT TIMES, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER A DAY, TURN SIGNAL GOES OUT, CAR DIES, STEREO WONT WORK ETC. I WAS WONDERING IF OTHER RECALLS WERE PLACED ON THIS CAR AS WELL?

NHTSA ID

11193909

Incident

Aug 19, 2016

MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS

NHTSA ID

11064759

Incident

Jan 9, 2018

MY DAUGHTER GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE FRONT FENDER AND BUMPER HIT THE SIDE SECTION OF ANOTHER CAR GOING APPROX 20 MPH ON A CITY STREET AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT.

NHTSA ID

11016364

Incident

May 16, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

THREE RECALLS. FRONT DRIVERS AIR BAG, FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG, BOTH REAR QUARTER PANEL LAMPS CARRIER CONNECTOR WIRES HEATED AND MELTED. CONTACTED BMW OF KINGSPORT SEVERAL TIMES FOR ASSISTANCE. SAID WOULD HELP BUT HAS NOT. NEED SCHEMATIC OF REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND REPAIR OF AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ID

11015138

Incident

Aug 25, 2011

Mileage

95,000 mi

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. Braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees F) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.

SERVICE ACTION - HEAD AIR BAG HOLDER RETROFIT: A rattle noise may develop from the head air bag (ITS) gas generator contacting adjacent component. This noise can be heard while driving on an uneven roadway.

Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.

TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.