2003 BMW 325CI Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 325CI years
- About as many complaints as other years 6th of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW 325CI. That ranks 6th out of 7 325CI model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (10 complaints, 37%), typically at around 28,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 27owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 BMW 325CI problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 10 | 37% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 5 | 19% | 111,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 11% | 100,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 11% | 61,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 11% | 47,455 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 7% | 1,072 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 7% | 92,500 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 7% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 4% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 4% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 4% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 4% | 1,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 BMW 325CI recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.
Air bagsDo not drive
Problem: BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW intends to issue initial notifications to owners informing them of the safety defect in June 2013. Once replacement parts are available, estimated for July, BMW will notify owners again to contact their dealers and schedule a replacement of the passenger air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Visibility:power window devices and controls
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the window lifting anti-pinching device might not function properly.
Risk: Occupants could be pinched by a window that is being closed.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the electronic control unit for the window lifting anti-pinching device. Owner notification began may 27, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: On certain passenger and sport wagon vehicles with automatic transmissions, with the engine running, and the vehicle at rest, an increase of engine idle speed (up to 1,300 rpm) may occur.
Risk: If a gear is selected, the driver may feel as if the vehicle is being pushed.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the digital engine management control unit. Owner notification began may 5, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw 325ci. While the vehicle was being inspected by an independent mechanic, the contact was informed that the rear driver's side coil spring was fractured. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw 325ci. While operating the vehicle, smoke was present under the hood. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the smoke was coming from the fog lights. The contact later discovered that the fog lights, signal lights, high beams, and passenger side brake light were…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 bmw 325ci. 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…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 bmw 325ci. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 bmw 325ci. 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…
Other BMW 325CI years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 325CI | 36 | 2 |
| 2005 325CI | 31 | 2 |
| 2004 325CI | 68 | 2 |
| 2003 | 27 | 5 |
| 2002 325CI | 30 | 3 |
| 2001 325CI | 49 | 5 |
| 2000 325CI | 6 | 3 |
See all BMW 325CI problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW 325CI?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 10 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 BMW 325CI?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 BMW 325CI a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 325CI model years, the 2003 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.