NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 BMW 325 Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 BMW 325 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 26 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 BMW 325. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2002 BMW 325 owner complaints

Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW 325, describing incidents dated December 18, 2001 to January 30, 2017.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 6 complaints
Electrical System 6 complaints
Latches/Locks/Linkages 3 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 3 complaints
Engine 2 complaints
Exterior Lighting 2 complaints

Of the 26 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire; across all 26 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11047503 · Filed November 20, 2017
"TAKATA RECALL" I AM TOLD THAT PART IS OUT OF STOCK AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN OR IF IT WILL BE IN STOCK.
ODI #10990525 · Filed May 19, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. WE ARE UNDER RECALL 17V047. FOR FOUR MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN CALLING AND DOING ON-LINE CHATS WITH BMW OF MOBILE (MOBILE, ALABAMA). EVERY CALL OR CHAT ENDS WITH THEM ASKING FOR OUR PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS. THEY SAY THEY WILL CONTACT US SHORTLY WITH INFO ON WHEN OR IF THE RECALL CAN…
ODI #10981454 · Filed April 30, 2017
CAN NOT UNLOCK CAR IN ANY WAY. THE RELAYS IN THE GM5 MODULE WHICH GIVE POWER TO THE ACTUATORS BECOME WEAK AND CAN NOT OPEN CAR. CAR CAN NOT BE OPENED WITH CAR KEY AS KEY HOLE IS ALSO ELECTRONIC. IN THE END I CANT GET INSIDE THE CAR.

Read all 26 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 BMW 325 in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA09-019: Rear Lamp Illumination
Closed September 28, 2011
- Recall 11V-438
Preliminary Evaluation PE09-036: REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
Closed December 22, 2009
- Recall 11V-438
Defect Petition DP09-002: REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
Closed August 6, 2009

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Driver Frontal Air bag Inflator May Explode

NHTSA #19V698000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported October 2, 2019 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 3,924 vehicles

Repair completion: 37.83% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified November 7, 2019 · Vehicles built January 12, 2000 – April 26, 2002 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

DO NOT DRIVE — this recall carries a "do not drive" advisory. Contact a BMW dealer immediately.

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 325i and 325xi Sedan, and 323Ci, 325Ci, and 330Ci Convertible vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles that may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. The frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion of previous recalls, numbers 17V-047 and 19V-015.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator may Rupture

NHTSA #17V047000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 20, 2017 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 230,117 vehicles

Repair completion: 24.66% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified March 15, 2017 · Vehicles built May 12, 2000 – December 29, 2001 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

DO NOT DRIVE — this recall carries a "do not drive" advisory. Contact a BMW dealer immediately.

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2002 BMW 325. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

26 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 BMW 325.

Air Bags

ODI #11047503

Incident: January 1, 2002 · Filed: November 20, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" I AM TOLD THAT PART IS OUT OF STOCK AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN OR IF IT WILL BE IN STOCK.

Air Bags

ODI #10990525

Incident: January 30, 2017 · Filed: May 19, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. WE ARE UNDER RECALL 17V047. FOR FOUR MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN CALLING AND DOING ON-LINE CHATS WITH BMW OF MOBILE (MOBILE, ALABAMA). EVERY CALL OR CHAT ENDS WITH THEM ASKING FOR OUR PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS. THEY SAY THEY WILL CONTACT US SHORTLY WITH INFO ON WHEN OR IF THE RECALL CAN BE DONE. THEY HAVE NEVER ONCE CALLED OR EMAILED US BACK. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT IT MIGHT TAKE A WHILE, BUT THEY COULD AT LEAST LET US KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WHILE WE ARE DRIVING THIS DANGEROUS CAR. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS, OR DO WE WAIT AND BE IGNORED UNTIL SOMETHING REALLY BAD HAPPENS? AREN'T THEY REQUIRED TO HONOR THIS RECALL?

Electrical System

ODI #10981454

Incident: April 12, 2016 · Filed: April 30, 2017

CAN NOT UNLOCK CAR IN ANY WAY. THE RELAYS IN THE GM5 MODULE WHICH GIVE POWER TO THE ACTUATORS BECOME WEAK AND CAN NOT OPEN CAR. CAR CAN NOT BE OPENED WITH CAR KEY AS KEY HOLE IS ALSO ELECTRONIC. IN THE END I CANT GET INSIDE THE CAR.

Seat Belts

ODI #10823382

Incident: January 13, 2016 · Filed: February 1, 2016

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY, THE PASSENGER IN THE RIGHT REAR SEAT LEANED FORWARD, EXTENDING THE SHOULDER SEAT BELT FROM ITS RETRACTOR. THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT WHEN THE PASSENGER SAT UPRIGHT AND WILL NOT RETRACT NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON LEVEL GROUND.

Air Bags

ODI #10816177

Incident: December 24, 2015 · Filed: December 24, 2015

TAKATA RECALL. MY COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE DELAY IN PARTS AVAILABILITY TO FIX DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. THIS IS TAKING WAY TO LONG AND AM WORRIED AS TO POSSIBILITY OF INJURY, OR WORSE, IF INVOLVE IN AN ACCIDENT. IN MY OPINION "LACK OF PARTS" IS TAKING WAY TOO LONG .NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET.

Visibility

ODI #10663803

Incident: December 12, 2014 · Filed: December 12, 2014

THIRD WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE ON MY 2002 BMW 325 - THREE DIFFERENT WINDOWS. I FINALLY GOT SICK OF IT AND CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE WINDOWS GO DOWN & YOU CAN'T GET THEM BACK UP. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND EASILY FOUND TONS MORE COMPLAINTS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO MAKE GOOD ON - IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND ANYONE WHO ALREADY PAID TO FIX IT SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. CHEAP ROTTEN PARTS. HERE'S ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT I SAW WHEN I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET -. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/REAR-WINDOW-REGULATOR-455 AND HERE IS ANOTHER ONE HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=802143. *TR

Electrical System; Air Bags

ODI #10661564

Fire

Incident: December 1, 2014 · Filed: December 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND EVIDENCE OF A FIRE WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED AND BURN MARKS WERE PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED AND THE CEILING PANEL WAS BURNED AND HANGING DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Air Bags

ODI #10633656

Crash 1 injury

Incident: May 23, 2014 · Filed: September 16, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS UNCONSCIOUS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE IMPACT. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WHERE HE SUSTAINED BRUISING ON HIS NECK, THE SHOULDERS AND A SEVERE CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Electrical System; Latches/Locks/Linkages

ODI #10608800

Incident: July 6, 2014 · Filed: July 7, 2014

NONE OF THE PASSENGER LOCKS OPEN, AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE. NO ONE CAN GET OUT. *JS

Engine

ODI #10578561

Incident: July 12, 2005 · Filed: April 9, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 BMW 323. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

Other BMW 325 model years

Check your 2002 BMW 325 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 325 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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