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Electrical system

BMW 325I Electrical problems by year

41 complaints filed with NHTSA about the BMW 325I's electrical system. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Electrical complaints by model year

YearElectrical complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20110001
20100001
20090001
20080001
20070001
20060001
200118110
19954000
19944000
19936000
19927000
19901000
19891000

Electrical recalls

Latest 325I electrical complaints

2001 BMW 325ISteeringElectrical systemLights

I am having a major electrical short in my trunk area affecting my critical tail lights functionalities and common trunk function. I cannot use my turning signals or brake lights or lights in general when driving my vehicle from the rear my lights are not operable. This is a huge safety concern and risk that's need to be recalled affecting millions I'm for certain. Along with that I am having steering issue with my steering rack called "steering Wander". Not being able to control you vehicle with supreme confidence is a issue which can easily lead to collisions.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11435461
2001 BMW 325IElectrical systemLights

Faulty tail lights- the right tail bulb assembly on the car got so hot it melted along with the plug. I called the bmw hot line 800-525-7417, they informed me that the car had 2 recalls for airbags, also told me that the car had a faulty tail lite repair in 2002. I trailered the car on 4/11/18 to sewell grapevine bmw, where scott lord in the service dept took it in. I ask for them to find out also about the tail light assembly melting & I left the part with the car. On 4/11/18 I rented the same trailer & went to...

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pickup the car, (i live 40 mls from there). Upon talking with mr. Lord, the 2 recalls where performed & he said the technician left brochures in the car on how the melted tail light is repaired & that the car is too old for them to do it. First off, thanks to nhtsa web site, I learned that there where 210,000 of these cars recalled for the same problem, beginning with the year of this car. 2Nd, I 've never known a recall to expire until fixed. I called bmw recall back 5/2/18 & she said no recalls are showing now & that I'd have to contact nhtsa, so here I am, do they fix it, or should I contact a lawyer? Thank you nhtsa! I'm glad there was not a can of gas in the trunk

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11091675
2001 BMW 325IElectrical system

All 3 passenger doors lock and intermittently can not be unlocked. This has to do with a faulty gm5 module.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10850810
2001 BMW 325IElectrical systemLightsBrakes

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 bmw 325i. When the brake pedal was depressed, the passenger side tail light became inoperable. In addition, the headlights flashed independently without warning. The contact also stated that the headlights became inoperable intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 190,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Service brakesNHTSA 10721126
2001 BMW 325IElectrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 bmw 325i. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v438000 (electrical system); however, the part needed 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.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10703392
2001 BMW 325IElectrical systemBody, doors & structure

My doors won't unlock. I have actually been locked in the car, and had to climb out my window/sunroof. This seems to be a common problem mentioned on many bmw enthusiast forums. I wish more of those who experience this problem with submit a complaint. I am worried about being in an accident and not being able to get out of my car. Sometimes my doors unlock, sometimes they don't. This is associated with the gm5 module, and a person online even specializes in fixing it since it is such a common problem (http://www.Bmwgm5.Com). *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 10618011
2001 BMW 325IElectrical systemLights

Right side rear lights burned out replaced bulbs nothing happened unplugged the harness to find #4 prong completely burned away on car checked the left side and the same thing is happening it is getting hot and looks like it is ready to burn out also. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 10520794
2001 BMW 325IElectrical systemLights

Headlights flicker on and off while driving. Tail lights and brake lights non-functional. I believe this is an issue related to previous recall of bmw's recalled in nhtsa campaign number 11v438000. I called bmw which told me my car was not covered under that recall. I believe that it should be. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 10497777
2001 BMW 325IElectrical systemLights

Right side tail lights failed in the manner described in nhtsa campaign id number: 11v438000. This vehicle was manufactured in 2000-10-30 and that campaign applies to vehicles manufactured after 09-2001. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 10491570
2001 BMW 325IEngine & coolingElectrical systemSeats & seat belts

Purchased the car used, in january 2011, with approximately 110,000 miles. Vehicle had several stored engine codes, po0300,171,174,1345,1351,1353; mostly relating to oxygen sensors and the maf. All engine hoses, the maf, all 4 oxygen sensors and the ignition coil packs were replaced by a certified mechanic. Within 2 months of normal driving, all codes had returned. Mechanic is unable to determine the points of failure for these issues and bmw denies any existing problem the passenger side airbag light, turns on...

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and off, randomly, whether someone is sitting there, or not. Failure of the sensor could cause the ab not to deploy during an accident, causing serious, if not fatal, injury. Bmw is aware of the issue, does not replace/repair. Door lock/window/windshield wiper control module, known as gm5, fails randomly and often. It has failed several times, while I was in the car. Since it disables the door locks and windows, I was trapped in my car for several minutes. Thankfully, I had the window rolled down far enough to pass my keys to someone on the outside, so they could unlock the door. In an accident, passengers could be stuck, keeping emergency workers from giving them medical attention, in a timely fashion. Bmw is fully aware of the problem, but denies it's existence. I also receive random exterior light out warnings, on the dash. Usually, it's both taillights, but more frequently, it is the driver side light sensor, that fails, though the light is actually working, just fine. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · SeatsNHTSA 10455224
2001 BMW 325IElectrical system

Car is a bmw 325i. Model year 2001. The electrical door unlock mechanism does not always unlock the doors. In particular, the button to unlock all doors works intermittently. This problem has existed for a number of months now. I suspect that it is related to a faulty general module 5 unit in the car. On rare occasions unlocking the door will not work when pulling the door latch when the all door lock button is not working, leading to driver/passengers trapped in the car. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10405973
2001 BMW 325IElectrical system

Gm5, and mass airflow sensor not working on my 2001 325i bmw. It shuts off when get a dead stop and about to take off again. The doors will unlock and lock after pressing the buttons multiple times. The remote as well will not unlock or lock the doors everytime. Its at random with no specific pattern. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10403607
1994 BMW 325IEngine & coolingVisibility & wipersSeats & seat beltsElectrical systemFire

Tl* the contact owns a 1994 bmw 325i. The contact stated that the odometer reading was incorrect. The mileage indicated that the vehicle had 28,000 miles when the title indicated that the mileage was 128,000. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for a diagnostic test. The dealer advised the contact that another mechanic had altered the odometer. The contact also noticed that the anti-freeze was leaking, the front windows fogged and the seat belts were defective. The vehicle was at the dealership awaiting repair at the time of the complaint. The approximate mileage was approximately 28,000. The current mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Visibility · Seat belts · Electrical systemNHTSA 10324050
2001 BMW 325IElectrical system

I have a 2001 bmw 325i - 4 door. The problem I am having is: intermittently (usually when hot) the door locks will not open with the button on the key - all four. When that happens, I can unlock the driver's side door with the key but I can not open the other three doors with the button on the key, the button on the dash or by pulling the handles. The gas lid does not unlock either. Sometimes just the drivers side door will open with the button on the key and then - usually - I can unlock the other doors with the handles. Sometimes everything works fine. The trunk does not have problems unlocking. I have been told the gm5 module has a common failure that causes these issues. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10285519
2001 BMW 325IElectrical system

The connectors on the rear tail lights are defective they are burnt and shorted and wire is burnt. In same location. I have to replace the connector, the burnt wire, and the taillight assembly on both sides. Its the same wire (brown #4 I believe). *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10283676

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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