Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 9 of 31 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports5 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
31 reports
180,000 miles · Oct 8, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE CAR SUDDENLY VEERED LEFT AND THE ABS ENGAGED AND SLOWED THE CAR SUDDENLY TO ABOUT 40 MPH. MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT WAS THAT I HAD BLOWN A TIRE, BUT THEN RECOGNIZED THE ABS WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO JUDDER. THE DSC AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AN…
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WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE CAR SUDDENLY VEERED LEFT AND THE ABS ENGAGED AND SLOWED THE CAR SUDDENLY TO ABOUT 40 MPH. MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT WAS THAT I HAD BLOWN A TIRE, BUT THEN RECOGNIZED THE ABS WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO JUDDER. THE DSC AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON. THE MIL LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT DIAGNOSED A FAULTY ROTATIONAL RATE SENSOR (YAW). THE SYSTEM RECOGNIZED THAT IT RECEIVED ERRONEOUS DATA, BUT I BELIEVE FAILED IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY SOON TO BE 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND CRINGE TO THINK HOW SHE WOULD'VE REACTED TO THIS SITUATION. THIS FAILURE PUT THE CAR IN THE PRECISE SITUATION WHERE YOU WOULD WANT THE DSC TO BE WORKING.
NHTSA ODI #10780726
240,003 miles · Aug 16, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFire
HAD JUST PARKED THE CAR AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD IS BURNED. SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS CAUGHT THE HOLE THING.
NHTSA ODI #10748951
165,000 miles · Aug 6, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
DAUGHTER DRIVING CAR, DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL(DSC) LIGHT CAME ON AND INDIVIDUAL BRAKES STARTED APPLYING THEMSELVES UNCOMMANDED. DROVE TO A LOCAL IMPORT SHOP THAT VERIFIED A BAD YAW SENSOR. PART IS $1300.00 PLUS $300.00 LABOR. PART IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM BMW WHO HAS SUPERSEDED THE PART NUMBER 3 TIMES. I WENT TO A SALVAGE YARD T…
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DAUGHTER DRIVING CAR, DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL(DSC) LIGHT CAME ON AND INDIVIDUAL BRAKES STARTED APPLYING THEMSELVES UNCOMMANDED. DROVE TO A LOCAL IMPORT SHOP THAT VERIFIED A BAD YAW SENSOR. PART IS $1300.00 PLUS $300.00 LABOR. PART IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM BMW WHO HAS SUPERSEDED THE PART NUMBER 3 TIMES. I WENT TO A SALVAGE YARD THAT HAD 13 CARS THAT HAD THE SAME PART NUMBER EFFECTIVITY AND ALL OF THE CARS HAD THE YAW SENSORS REMOVED. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND VERY DANGEROUS UNLESS YOU DISABLE THE DSC SYSTEM WHICH ALSO DISABLES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. BELOW IS JUST ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES OF ANOTHER OWNER THAT EXPERIENCED THIS PART FAILURE. STARTED THE CAR THIS MORNING AND DROVE IT FOR APPROX 15 MILES, NO WARNING LIGHT AND EVERYTHING APPEARED OK. DOING THE NATIONAL SPEED LIMIT WHEN HOLY COW, THE DSC KICKS IN AND THE CAR PULLS VIOLENTLY TO ONE SIDE THEN THE OTHER TALK ABOUT HEART MISSING A BEAT, NEARLY IN THE CENTRAL RESERVATION ON THE A52. I WILL BE GETTING THE FAULT CODES READ IN THE WEEK AND WILL DEFINITELY BE SWITCHING OFF THE DSC IN FUTURE UNTIL FIXED.
NHTSA ODI #10746882
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2015
Electrical System
SPECIFIC MONITOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON EVEN AFTER BEING CHECKED AND CLEARED. AN ASTERISK TYPE ICON SHOWS UP NEXT TO THE PRND PANEL AND SLOWS DOWN VEHICLE WHERE AS YOU NEED TO PUT MUCH PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO MOVE SLIGHTLY,PULLING OVER AND SHUTTING OFF ENGINE FOR 2 MINS REMOVES THE ICON AND ISSUE, BUT MOSTLY THESE ARE UNPRE…
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SPECIFIC MONITOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON EVEN AFTER BEING CHECKED AND CLEARED. AN ASTERISK TYPE ICON SHOWS UP NEXT TO THE PRND PANEL AND SLOWS DOWN VEHICLE WHERE AS YOU NEED TO PUT MUCH PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO MOVE SLIGHTLY,PULLING OVER AND SHUTTING OFF ENGINE FOR 2 MINS REMOVES THE ICON AND ISSUE, BUT MOSTLY THESE ARE UNPREDICTABLE OCCURRENCES.THE BODY OF CAR ICON LIGHTS STAY ON INDICATING THE CARS BACK LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING, EVEN AFTER FIXING LIGHTS. THE CAR'S RECALL #14V428 ; PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AS OF YET. CURRENTLY ALL WINDOWS ARE JAMMED THE MOTOR HUMS BUT WINDOWS DO NOT OPEN UNLESS PUSHED ON, 3 OF 4 DON'T EVEN DO THAT..
NHTSA ODI #10734983
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF 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 CON…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF 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 ODI #10664836
Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL REPAIR. IT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WAS INSTALLED WITH A TAKATA AIR BAG. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS A SAFET…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL REPAIR. IT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WAS INSTALLED WITH A TAKATA AIR BAG. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS A SAFETY CONCERN AND MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IN A HUMID STATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10664553
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAG) EXCEEDED THE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND DECLINE TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIME FRAME FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAG) EXCEEDED THE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND DECLINE TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIME FRAME FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. UPDATED 12/01/14*LJ *JS
NHTSA ODI #10649815
149,500 miles · Oct 20, 2014
Unknown Or Other
ABS SPEED SENSORS FAILED. BRAKES FUNCTION BUT CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
NHTSA ODI #10648970
104,100 miles · Feb 19, 2012
Exterior Lighting
REAR LEFT TURN SIGNAL BLINKING FAST INDICATING BAD BULB BUT ALL BULBS ARE GOOD. REAR LEFT TURN SIGNAL BULB HAS A LOWER LUMINOUS INTENSITY THAN THE OTHER BULBS. REPLACING THE BULB WITH A NEW BULB MAKES NOT DIFFERENCE. RIGHT TURN SIGNAL INTERMITTENTLY BLINKS FAST INDICATING A BAD BULB BUT ALL BULBS ARE WORKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10448462
87,000 miles · Jan 19, 2010
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325 WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED WHENEVER SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. A LOCAL MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325 WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED WHENEVER SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. A LOCAL MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE A PART OF THE RECALL SINCE THE LATER MODEL 3 SERIES HAS THE SAME PLATFORM AS THE 2001 MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
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.
Consequence & remedy
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.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2001 BMW 325 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year