BMW 325 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 109 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file for the BMW 325, across 16 model years (1995–2012). The 2001 model year has the most complaints (31). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
BMW 325 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 325 year: 1995, 2001, 2002. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2001 325: 31 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2002 325: 26 complaints, 2 recalls
- 1995 325: 23 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW 325 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 28 | 6 | 6 |
| Electrical System | 16 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 4 | 1 |
| Power Train | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Visibility | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 325 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 325 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2011 325 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2010 325 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2009 325 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2008 325 | 1 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2007 325 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2006 325 | 8 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2003 325 | 9 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2002 325 | 26 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 325 | 31 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 325 | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 1999 325 | 2 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 1998 325 | 4 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1997 325 | 1 | 0 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1996 325 | 4 | 0 | — | Equipment | |
| 1995 325 | 23 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 325 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (23), 2001 (31), 2002 (26) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 325 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW 325?
Air Bags, with 28 complaints across 6 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW 325 have?
3 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.