MYRModel Year Report

2003 BMW 325I

◆ Worse than typical
2003 BMW 325I
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, BMW 325I Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2003 highlighted. 1985: 0 complaints 1985 1986: 0 complaints 1987: 5 complaints 1988: 5 complaints 1989: 8 complaints 1989 1990: 5 complaints 1991: 4 complaints 1992: 40 complaints 1993: 21 complaints 1993 1994: 17 complaints 1995: 31 complaints 1999: 0 complaints 2000: 1 complaints 2000 2001: 151 complaints 2002: 162 complaints 2003: 199 complaints 2003 2004: 147 complaints 2004 2005: 70 complaints 2006: 515 complaints 2007: 1 complaints 2008: 1 complaints 2008 2009: 0 complaints 2010: 0 complaints 2011: 1 complaints 2012: 1 complaints 2012
2003: 199 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19850
19860
19875
19885
19898
19905
19914
199240
199321
199417
199531
19990
20001
2001151
2002162
2003199
2004147
200570
2006515
20071
20081
20090
20100
20111
20121

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 30%

30% of complaints: air bags — 60 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT FALL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI report, 20141208

VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON DRIVER SIDE BY PICKUP TRUCK DARTING OUT FROM INTERSECTING SIDE STREET. TRUCK WAS GOING APROX. 10-15 MPH. BMW APROX. 20-25MPH. THIS WAS A SIDE T-BONE COLLISION, NO SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20131218

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS BMW AND WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BOTH DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOY AND THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THE TWO AIR BAGS THAT DEPLOYED WAS ONE OF THE SIDE ABOVE THE WINDOW AND THE ONE AT THE ARM REST.

NHTSA ODI report, 20050512

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 22%

22% of complaints: exterior lighting — 43 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE WIRING HARNESS AND FOUND THAT THE HARNESS WAS MELTED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20130123

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18%

18% of complaints: electrical system — 36 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

On June 28,2024, after parking and turning off the ignition switch, the dash started smoking and within minutes the whole dash and front of car were on fire. The car almost completely burned to the ground before the fire department could get there.

NHTSA ODI report, 20240701

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20210212

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 6%

6% of complaints: latches/locks/linkages — 12 distinct reports on file.

INJURY
POWER TRAIN 5%

5% of complaints: power train — 10 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2003 — complaint volume: 199
R 20030505 — vehicle speed control

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.

Remedy: 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 D

Campaign 03V124000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20030527 — visibility

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE WINDOW LIFTING ANTI-PINCHING DEVICE MIGHT NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.

Remedy: 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

Campaign 03V160000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070402 — service brakes, hydraulic

CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD

Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.

Campaign 07E023000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20090408 — DP (closed 20090806)

REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION

I 20090807 — PE (closed 20091222)

REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION

I 20091218 — EA (closed 20110928)

Rear Lamp Illumination

R 20120215 — exterior lighting

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 325I, 325XI, 330I, AND 330XI VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2001, THROUGH MARCH 1, 2005. OVER TIME, RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY CA

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

Campaign 11V438000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20130809 — air bags

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 safe

Remedy: 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 p

Campaign 13V172000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20141201 — air bags

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports...

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014.

Campaign 14V428000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160819 — air bags

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...

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 15V318000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20200213 — air bags

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...

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 20V018000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2003 BMW 325I — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (60 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for exterior lighting issues (43 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (36 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 03V124000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03V160000 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E023000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 11V438000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 13V172000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 14V428000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V318000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 20V018000 (air bags) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1995 ▲ 1992 ▲ 2005

WORST YEARS

■ 2006 ● 2002 ● 2001

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2003 BMW 325I reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 BMW 325I is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW 325I?

The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 30% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2003 BMW 325I have?

8 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.