2005 BMW 325ci recalls and problems

The 2005 BMW 325ci has 2 safety recalls and 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any BMW dealer.

Urgent: recall 20V-018, recall 15V-318 carry a "do not drive" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.
Recalls
2
Complaints
31
Crashes / fires
1 / 3
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2005 BMW 325ci vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2005 BMW 325ci recalls

Recall 20V-018: Air Bags

Do not driveReported Jan 15, 2020 · 292,948 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

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.

Recall 15V-318: Air Bags

Do not driveReported May 28, 2015 · 419,235 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

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.

2005 BMW 325ci problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Air Bags20
Exterior Lighting5
Electrical System3
Visibility2
Visibility/Wiper2
Equipment1
Engine and Engine Cooling1
Seat Belts1
Seats1
Steering1
Suspension1
Unknown or Other1

Most reported parts

  • Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift — 1
  • Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls — 1
  • Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 67,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2005 BMW 325ci complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Exterior Lighting · reported Feb 14, 2023
Rt rear brake light failed to illuminate while the brake pedal was applied. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The vehicle had not been repaired. There was a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 11v438000 (Exterior lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 43,120. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
Electrical System · reported Dec 27, 2022
I was driving one night and the headlight out indicator on the dash lit up showing the passenger headlight to be out. This limited my ability to see the road as I now only had one headlight operational. Upon further inspection, the halogen bulb was found to be in working order, but the wiring harness has lost its insulation. On both the driver and passenger side the insulation on the internal wire harness to the headlights has dried out and fallen off, exposing bare copper making an electrical short highly likely.
Engine · reported Oct 17, 2022
On the night of 8/21/22, the fire department was callled to my detached garage when someone saw smoke comimg form the garage. The fire department determined that my car caught fire because of the cooling fan. The car was not running nor was the key in the ignition. The car was started 36 hours prior and had not been driven on a regualr basis for some time. The investigating office mentioned that the fan kept running, over heated causing the car and the contents of the garage to catch on fire.
Air Bags · at 116,000 miles · reported Feb 2, 2020
Please remove this vehicle from the recall list for takata air bag replacement.. I had the driver's side air bag replaced in 2016, at the bmw dealership in wilmington, nc. I have no idea why the replacement wasn't reported, but that dealership did have an ownership change after my replacement. I continue to receive dozens of notifications for this recall, that has already been completed. I've contacted bmw at least 3 times, but somehow I'm still on this list. Please remove my vehicle from the recall list immediately.
Unknown or Other · at 120,000 miles · reported Apr 24, 2019
Driving vehicle and all power cuts out ...no power steering or power brakes ...just stops dead ... I know there has been a recall for this issue but my vehicle is not part of the recall...but obviously has a similar issue...this has happened on multiple occasions...and I AM at the point where I AM afraid to even drive it...

Other BMW 325ci years

Compare all BMW 325ci years · All BMW models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 BMW 325ci have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2005 BMW 325ci: 20V-018 (air bags), 15V-318 (air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2005 BMW 325ci?

Owners report air bags problems most often (20 reports), followed by exterior lighting (5). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 67,000 miles.

Are BMW recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized BMW dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.