2004 BMW 325XI: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 55 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (49% of complaints); the 2003 and 2005 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jan 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 55 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Window rolled down, but never went back up. Happened on multiple windows of my vehicle. Has been a common problem among these cars, caused me to fail inspection.”Owner report · Structure · Apr 2024
“The contact's girlfriend owns a 2004 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V018000 (Air Bags). The contact's girlfriend took the vehicle to the local dealer for the recall repair. After the vehicle was repaired and the vehicle was retrieved, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The driver took the vehicle back to the local dealer for the warning light. The mechanic inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the battery cable needed to be replaced. The contact was concerned that the failure was related to the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2021
“Ok. This car was brought in on 2/12/19 to the bmw dealer in appleton, wi. After that bmw has called me 3 times claiming he wasn't fixed. They were going to call the dealer. Now I have rec'd a letter from the dmv stating it wasn't fixed. I faxed the invoice dates 2/12/19 to bmw today. I give up. The contact is pete kempen 1-877-983-7473. Someone needs to figure out what is wrong.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“My daughter got into an accident where the front fender and bumper hit the side section of another car going approx 20 mph on a city street and the air bags never deployed. Luckily no one was hurt.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2017
“Takata recall - recall announced may 2015. Bmw na claims replacement parts still not available. Bmw na claims next communication to affected owners will be in january 2017. Is bmw na complying with the timeline for completing this recall?”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2016
“NHTSA does not recognize the recalls on my 2004 bmw 325xi 4dr sedan. There were 2 recalls that are related to air bags. The NHTSA campaign numbers are #15v318000 and #14v428000. I would like to receive official confirmation that these recalls are valid so I can get the manufacturer to fix this. Please see the supporting docs attached. Also, I have been having weird electrical issues happening to the point the car wont shut off at times, headlights go out after a day, turn signal goes out, car dies, stereo wont work etc. I was wondering if other recalls were placed on this car as well?”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Aug 2016
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 bmw 325xi. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); however, the part needed to perform the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. .....updated 08/11/16 *bf updated 08/17/16. *jb”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw 325xi. 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 manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The dealer stated that bmw had only been shipping parts to two states. The contact had not experienced a failure.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2015
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 bmw 325xi. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags). The part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 06/14/16*lj updated 06/16/16.*jb”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw 325xi. 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 manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 6 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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.
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. 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.
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 Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
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. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
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.
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.
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 CAUSE ONE OR MORE REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS (TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND/OR TURN-SIGNAL), WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S BODY PANEL, TO STOP WORKING.
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2004 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact 325XI by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 BMW 325XI reliable?
NHTSA has 55 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 BMW 325XI. The most complained-about area is air bags (49% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 BMW 325XI problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 76,940 miles or less.
Does the 2004 BMW 325XI have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.