2005 BMW 325XI: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 27 owner complaints on record; most reports concern air bags; the 2007 model year looks 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 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Front Passenger side window regulator broke. Rolled window down would not go back up could hear motor working . One month later same exact thing just happened to back passenger window”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2021
“2005 bmw 325xi. Consumer writes regarding the takata airbag safety recall. *ld the consumer stated in order to have the vehicle repaired, it needed to be towed. The consumer had an unsatisfatory experience when the vehicle was towed to the nearest dealership once before. *js”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2021
“The contact owns a 2005 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V018000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
“I was driving and my side air bag and door air bag on the driver side deployed with no cause for this to happen. I pulled over. Nothing at that time was smoking or wrong with the vehicle. I drove the vehicle further down the road for about ten minutes to get closer to my boyfriend's house. I stopped in a lot to call him. Put the car in park and turned the engine off and the front end on the right side started to smoke. I got out of the vehicle and the front end slowly bursted into flames.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Dec 2019
“While driving on busy streets, unexpected acceleration while trying to brake at red lights...the brakes do not work. Fortunately no bodily injuries, only smashed up cars...I will not drive that car again and I don't even feel good about selling it to someone else .”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Sep 2019
“Service engine light ABS light on fuel sensor the car stalls while driving it multiple codes r showing up when vehicle had a computer scan vehicle was performed. Vehicle was in motion on a street stalled brakes failed to stop striking a car in front on I purchased this car from a used ar dealer in june2016 who assured me his was a safe car to drive after having the car for 2 months the problems started front struts were broke brakes were gone back shocks r broke n check engines on ABS light is on. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
“Bmw of arlington has had me on a waiting list for over a year to complete the airbag recall. They do not seem to care if this mandatory recall gets done or not.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2016
“There is a problem with the window motor/window regulator with 3/4 windows in this car! They are all original to the car. I need them fixed because it is a visibility/safety issue. What if in the event of an emergency I need to open my windows and they don't work? I checked online and many many owners of this model have the exact same issue thus I know for a fact it is a defect with the car. The problem happened several years ago and I didn't have the money to fix it, I just found out I can report it to NHTSA. I read online about a guy with the same car who was granted a repair for this problem because it is deemed a defect and I would like the same.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Nov 2015
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 bmw 325xi. The contact received a recall 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 2 of these complaints and injuries in 0 - 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 2005 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 2005 BMW 325XI reliable?
NHTSA has 27 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 BMW 325XI. The most complained-about area is air bags.
Does the 2005 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.