Model year

2003 BMW 325

Sedan, gasoline, built in Germany. Owner complaints on file from Sep 5, 2012 to Apr 25, 2019.

Recall campaigns covering this model year0No recall campaign lists this model year
Owner complaints9Below the median 2003 sedan
Severity index11.12003 sedans average 11.6
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2003 BMW 325 peaked in 2017, with 2 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

00.511.52201220142016220182020202220242026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

44% of complaints about the 2003 BMW 325 name airbags

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Airbags
4
Electrical system
3
Engine and cooling
1
Latches and locks
1
Steering
1
Structure
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

No recall campaign lists the 2003 BMW 325

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2003 BMW 325

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

9 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Apr 25, 2019Failure Apr 23, 201968,000 milesSalem, ORElectrical system, Body

    DRIVERS WINDOW IS STUCK IN UP POSITION. WHEN RAISE/LOWER SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, I HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING BUT WINDOW DOES NOT MOVE DOWN. THE LOCAL BMW REPAIR CENTER SAID IT WILL BE $150 TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM AND THEN $$$ TO REPAIR. THE MALFUNCTION OF THE WINDOW HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING

    NHTSA complaint 11203838
  2. Filed Nov 1, 2018Failure Oct 29, 2018158,000 milesHouston, TXElectrical system, Engine

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CERTAIN LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE OTHER LIGHTS WERE NOT. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11144639
  3. Filed May 12, 2018Failure May 1, 2018125,000 milesSAN Diego, CAElectrical system1 injured

    DANGEROUS DEATH TRAP!!! I GOT STUCK IN MY CAR BECAUSE THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK. YOU ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IF THE UNLOCK MECHANISM FAILS. THERE ARE MANY COMPAINTS OF THE SAME FOR THE E46 BMW MODELS. WE HAD TO CRAWL OF WINDOWS AND LUCKILY THOSE WORKED. AS DESIGNED, YOU CANNOT OPEN THE DOORS IF ITHE MODULE FAILS AND THERE IS NOT MECHANICAL OVERRIDE TO UNLOCK. THERE IS NOT DOOR KEY FOR PASSENGER DOORS AS WELL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, I AM LOOKING TO GET IT FIXED BUT IT WORKS SOMETIMES.

    NHTSA complaint 11093479
  4. Filed Dec 12, 2017Failure Jul 21, 2017601,000 milesGreensboro, NCAir bags

    I HAVE HAD BOTH AIR BAGS REPLACED AD THE AIRBAG MAN DOES NOT GO OFF I WAS TOLD THAT THE MRS CONTROL UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE NONE OF MY AIRBAGS WILL WORK UNTIL THE MRS CONTROL UNIT IS REPLACED. I WANT TO KNOW IS BMW GOING TO REPLACE THE UNIT I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG MISHAP CAUSED THE MRS CONTROL UNIT TO GO BAD.

    NHTSA complaint 11054218
  5. Filed Feb 5, 2017Failure Nov 1, 2016DEL MAR, CAAir bags

    TAKATA RECALL. AFTER CONTACTING BMW NEAREST DEALER THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION TO TAKE CARE OF THE RECALL. THEY TOOK MY CAR INFORMATION AND SAID WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVE THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK.

    NHTSA complaint 10949673
  6. Filed Jan 11, 2016Failure Jan 11, 2015Denver, COAir bags

    I AM CONCERNED I GOT A LETTER ABOUT THE RECALL IN JULY AND IT IS NOW JANUARY AND I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. WHY HAS IT TAKEN MORE THAN 6 MONTHS TO FIX IT. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED BUT THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

    NHTSA complaint 10819409
  7. Filed Dec 29, 2014Failure Dec 29, 2014Johns Island, SCAir bags

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

    NHTSA complaint 10668766
  8. Filed Mar 22, 2013Failure Mar 22, 200960,000 milesWashington, DCSteering

    HIGH PRESSURE STEERING PUMP LINE BURST LEADING TO LOSS OF STEERING POWER ASSISTANCE

    NHTSA complaint 10504136
  9. Filed Sep 5, 2012Failure Oct 1, 201170,000 milesInyokern, CALatches/locks/linkages

    THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO OPERATE; PROBLEM IS INFLUENCED BY TEMPERATURE EXTREMES (HOT AND COLD); SYMPTOMS VARY FROM REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE DOORS WILL UNLOCK TO A COMPLETE FAILURE OF ALL DOORS TO UNLOCK. WHEN THE PROBLEM MANIFESTS ITSELF, THE CENTRAL ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK BUTTON (MOUNTED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE BESIDE THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH) IS INOPERABLE. BMW CRASH SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDE MECHANICAL DISCONNECT OF DOOR LATCHES WHEN LOCKED; WHEN THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM MANIFESTS, SOMETIMES THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WILL REMAIN MECHANICALLY DISCONNECTED, MEANING THAT THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED AT ALL. IN A WORST CASE SCENARIO, IF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNUSABLE FOR ESCAPE DUE TO DAMAGE OR BEING BLOCKED, THE ONLY WAY TO ESCAPE FROM THE VEHICLE IS BY SMASHING WINDOWS. BMWS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A GLASS BREAK DEVICE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A BODY MODULE CALLED THE GM5, WHICH IS MOUNTED ABOVE/IN FRONT OF THE GLOVE BOX; ALL LOCK POWER CIRCUITS RUN THROUGH THIS MODULE; THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A VOLTAGE DROP IN THE MODULE, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT VOLTAGE TO THE LOCK MECHANISMS, AS YOU CAN HEAR THE LOCKS ATTEMPTING TO CYCLE WHEN AND CAN SEE THE LOCK BUTTONS MOVING WHEN THE KEY FOB IS USED IN AN ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. A GOOGLE SEARCH OF THE TERMS "BMW","DOORS WON'T UNLOCK" GETS AT LEAST 10 PAGES OF RESULTS ON THE ISSUE, INCLUDING SEVERAL THAT IDENTIFY THE GM5 MODULE AS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND WAYS TO FIX IT. REPAIR REQUIRES A NEW GM5 MODULE THAT NEEDS TO BE PROGRAMMED PRIOR TO INSTALL. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10473875
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

1 manufacturer communication cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • B510819 Jan 16, 2024 ยท Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.