RoadVitals

2005 BMW 325XI Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
27
Latest Jun 3, 2025
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.
4
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jun 6, 2006

What this page shows

Our database holds 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 BMW 325XI. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 27 · page 1 of 2

Airbags
Filed Jun 3, 2025

The contact owns a 2005 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V018000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11664609
Incident
Jan 15, 2020
Airbags
Filed Jul 12, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V31800 (Air Bags) and 14V428000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11601478
Incident
Jul 15, 2014
Filed Jun 11, 2021

Front Passenger side window regulator broke. Rolled window down would not go back up could hear motor working . One month later same exact thing just happened to back passenger window

NHTSA ID
11420531
Incident
Jun 11, 2021
Airbags
Filed Apr 15, 2021

2005 BMW 325XI. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING THE TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED IN ORDER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, IT NEEDED TO BE TOWED. THE CONSUMER HAD AN UNSATISFATORY EXPERIENCE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP ONCE BEFORE. *JS

NHTSA ID
11407680
Incident
Apr 15, 2021
Airbags
Filed Dec 9, 2019
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING AND MY SIDE AIR BAG AND DOOR AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED WITH NO CAUSE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I PULLED OVER. NOTHING AT THAT TIME WAS SMOKING OR WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES TO GET CLOSER TO MY BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE. I STOPPED IN A LOT TO CALL HIM. PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THE FRONT END ON THE RIGHT SIDE STARTED TO SMOKE. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT END SLOWLY BURSTED INTO FLAMES.

NHTSA ID
11287940
Incident
Dec 8, 2019
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 13, 2019
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ON BUSY STREETS, UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE AT RED LIGHTS...THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. FORTUNATELY NO BODILY INJURIES, ONLY SMASHED UP CARS...I WILL NOT DRIVE THAT CAR AGAIN AND I DON'T EVEN FEEL GOOD ABOUT SELLING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE .

NHTSA ID
11255373
Incident
Sep 8, 2019
Mileage
53,328 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 26, 2019

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW MOTOR/WINDOW REGULATOR WITH 3/4 WINDOWS IN THIS CAR! THEY ARE ALL ORIGINAL TO THE CAR. I NEED THEM FIXED BECAUSE IT IS A VISIBILITY/SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY I NEED TO OPEN MY WINDOWS AND THEY DON'T WORK? I CHECKED ONLINE AND MANY MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THUS I KNOW FOR A FACT IT IS A DEFECT WITH THE CAR. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT, I JUST FOUND OUT I CAN REPORT IT TO NHTSA. I READ ONLINE ABOUT A GUY WITH THE SAME CAR WHO WAS GRANTED A REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS DEEMED A DEFECT AND I WOULD LIKE THE SAME.

NHTSA ID
11204016
Incident
Nov 15, 2015
Mileage
65,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 28, 2017

BMW OF ARLINGTON HAS HAD ME ON A WAITING LIST FOR OVER A YEAR TO COMPLETE THE AIRBAG RECALL. THEY DO NOT SEEM TO CARE IF THIS MANDATORY RECALL GETS DONE OR NOT.

NHTSA ID
10991980
Incident
May 31, 2016
Mileage
115,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jan 20, 2017
Crash reported

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ABS LIGHT ON FUEL SENSOR THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING IT MULTIPLE CODES R SHOWING UP WHEN VEHICLE HAD A COMPUTER SCAN VEHICLE WAS PERFORMED. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A STREET STALLED BRAKES FAILED TO STOP STRIKING A CAR IN FRONT ON I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A USED AR DEALER IN JUNE2016 WHO ASSURED ME HIS WAS A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR 2 MONTHS THE PROBLEMS STARTED FRONT STRUTS WERE BROKE BRAKES WERE GONE BACK SHOCKS R BROKE N CHECK ENGINES ON ABS LIGHT IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10946734
Incident
Jan 13, 2017
Mileage
117,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10909774
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 30, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). 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 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
10899557
Incident
Jul 15, 2014
Airbags
Filed Aug 28, 2016

TAKATA RECALL . WE WERE NOTIFIED IN JULY 2014 OF THE PROBLEM AND AS OF NOW BMW STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS FAR FROM TIMELY!

NHTSA ID
10902080
Incident
Jul 1, 2014
Airbags
Filed Aug 21, 2016

I HAVE CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP NEW COUNTRY MOTOR CARS OF HARTFORD, CT ONLY TO BE TOLD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS TO COMPLETE THE REMEDY FOR THESE RECALLS. IT HAS BEEN OVER TWO YEARS SINCE THE RECALL WAS SENT OUT.

NHTSA ID
10897422
Incident
Jul 15, 2014
Airbags
Filed Jan 27, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. 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 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. VIN TOOLS CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 02/19/16 *BF UPDATED 04/05/16.*JB

NHTSA ID
10822555
Incident
Jul 24, 2015
Airbags
Filed Jan 19, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10820951
Incident
Aug 15, 2015
Airbags
Filed Aug 3, 2015

IT TOOK OVER A YEAR TO GET PARTS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG, JUST GOT THE CAR BACK AND RECEIVED NOTICE OF A RECALL OF THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG AND NO DATE FOR REPAIR, I CAN NOT SELL THE CAR OR TRADE IT IN BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT. BMW REFUSES TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND BY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING A LOANER CAR OR A REPLACEMENT. I WANT BMW TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SO I CAN OBTAIN A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
10745820
Incident
Jul 27, 2015
Mileage
74,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10735318
Incident
Jul 6, 2015
Airbags
Filed Jan 8, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED 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. UPDATED 4/30/15*CN

NHTSA ID
10670949
Incident
Jan 8, 2015
Airbags
Filed Dec 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS THE SAME EXACT AIR BAG USED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) COULD POSSIBLY HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG, WHICH WAS INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10664757
Incident
Nov 3, 2014
Airbags
Filed Nov 18, 2014

I AM WRITING YOU TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE A VEHICLE AFFECTED BY THE AIR BAG RECALL - TWICE I HAVE SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT, TWICE THE DEALERSHIP HAS CALLED ME ON THE MORNING OF THE APPOINTMENT TO SAY THE PARTS ARE NOT IN STOCK. THEY ARE NOT APOLOGETIC, NOR CONCERNED FOR THE URGENCY OF THIS SITUATION. I TRAVEL A VERY DIFFICULT ROUTE INTO THE CITY - DURING RUSH HOUR - AND HAVE ASKED THEM TO AT LEAST DISCONNECT THE BAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEY REFUSE TO DO SO. THIS EVENING THE NEWS REPORTED THAT EVEN DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS ARE BEING RECALLED. WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG? DO DEATHS AND INJURIES HAVE TO TOP THE HUNDRED MARK FOR CAR MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO GET INTO HIGH GEAR OVER THIS? THE OCCASIONAL NEWS REPORT JUST ISN;T DOING IT -CAR DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS ARE RESPONDING IN A VERY SLOW AND SEEMINGLY UNCONCERNED FASHION. AT LEAST MY BMW DEALER IS. SOME HELP WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10659071
Incident
Aug 21, 2014
Mileage
175,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SPECIFY WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10652814
Incident
Nov 5, 2014
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Apr 7, 2014
Fire reported

MY WIFE PARKED THE CAR IN THE DOCTORS OFFICE PARKING LOT. IT WAS 58 DEGREES AND RAINING. SHE LEFT OUR FAMILY PET IN THE CAR. WHEN SHE CAME OUT OF THE DOCTORS OFFICE SHE SAW THAT THE CAR WAS FULL OF SMOKE. THE KEY FOB WOULD NOT OPEN THE LOCKS. THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THE GLASS IN THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT BREAK UNDER HER STRENGTH EVEN WITH A GLASS HAMMER THAT SOMEONE MANAGED TO RETRIEVE FOR HER. SHE FINALLY REMEMBERED THE KEY AND WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. OUR DOG WAS LIFELESS, FIRE AND RESCUE TRIED TO REVIVE HER TO NO AVAIL. THE FIRE APPARENTLY STARTED SOME WHERE AROUND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OR BEHIND THE VENT WHERE THE CABLES FOR THE DOOR PANEL AIRBAG PASS. IT CAUSED THE DOOR AIRBAG AND THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. THE FIRE REACHED THE ROOF PANEL BEFORE APPARENTLY SELF EXTINGUISHING DUE TO LACK OF OXYGEN. I ARRIVED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER. ALTHOUGH THE LOSS OF MY DOG IS A TRAGEDY THE REALLY HORRIBLE PART IS FINDING THAT I COULD NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER DOORS. THE KEY FOB WILL NOT OPEN THE LOCKS. I CLIMBED ACROSS THE DRIVERS SEAT AND COULD NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I REACHED BACK AND COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR FROM THE INSIDE EITHER. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN WHICH PASSENGERS CAN NOT EXTRACT THEMSELVES FROM A BURNING AUTOMOBILE? WITH ALL OF THE SAFETY FEATURES OF MODERN AUTOMOBILES WAS EGRESS OVERLOOKED? I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THE NHTSA LOOKS INTO THIS AND ENSURES THAT IT ISN'T CHILDREN THAT ARE TRAPPED IN THE FUTURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10578118
Incident
Apr 7, 2014
Mileage
114,000 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Dec 10, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT WIRES BECAME LOOSE, CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OPEN/CLOSE CONTROLS FOR THE REAR PASSENGER'S WINDOW WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 2/4/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED SIMILAR VEHICLES WERE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE TAIL LIGHT FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT BECAUSE THE DEALERS IN GERMANY ARE UNDER SOFA AGREEMENT. UPDATED 02/20/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID
10487858
Incident
Jul 3, 2012
Mileage
85,000 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Sep 22, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR COILS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HAND BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE TO INDICATE IF THE HAND BRAKE WAS ON OR NOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ID
10426754
Incident
Dec 22, 2009
Mileage
39,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 28, 2011

I HAVE A 2005 BMW 325XI WITH 65,000 MILES ON IT. I AM TOLD BOTH REAR SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS IS A MUCH TOO FREQUENT PROBLEM SEEN ON 3 SERIES BMW'S. IN 40 YEARS OF OWNING AUTOMOBILES, I HAVE NEVER BEFORE HAD ONE WITH A BROKEN SPRING. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM AND ONE THAT WOULD BE CAUSED BY FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10384796
Incident
Feb 23, 2011
Mileage
65,039 mi

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