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BMW 325Model year report

2002 BMW 325 Problems

Complaints
26filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
55,000miles, 19 complaints with mileage
Recalls
22 do-not-drive
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 BMW 325 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2002 BMW 325. The part named most often is air bags, with 6 complaints (23% of the total), followed by electrical system (6) and latches, locks and linkages (3). 19 of the complaints include a mileage, and 37% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 55,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the inflator module filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Seat belts (1), Suspension (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall. We are under recall 17v047. For four months, we have been calling and doing on-line chats with Bmw of mobile (mobile, alabama). Every call or chat ends with them asking for our phone number and email address. They say they will contact us shortly with info on when or if the recall can be done. They have never once called or emailed us back. I can understand that it might take a while, but they could at least let us know what is going on while we are driving this dangerous car. …”

NHTSA complaint #10990525, filed 2017-05, 180,000 miles

Electrical system: “Can not unlock car in any way. The relays in the gm5 module which give power to the actuators become weak and can not open car. Car can not be opened with car key as key hole is also electronic. In the end I cant get inside the car.”

NHTSA complaint #10981454, filed 2017-04, 10,000 miles

Latches, locks and linkages: “Beginning mid-summer 2010, the door locks began working erratically. The situation has progressed and often I must reach through an open window to be able to open the door. The center locking system also does not respond. This ia a potentially serious hazard as a person could become trapped in the locked vehicle after a crash because the locks don't work.”

NHTSA complaint #10358504, filed 2010-09, 55,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “I purchased a new 2002 Bmw 325i on 12/4/01 equipped with several options including a sunroof. I was driving into work on friday, january 25, 2002 and all of a sudden, the glass on my sunroof exploded and showered glass all over my head, the interior of my car and apparently some pieces nicked the paint on the trunk. Bmw says that it was most likely a rock that hit the glass. Although I have full-glass coverage, I asked my insurance company, liberty mutual, to send a claims adjuster. His findings were inconclusive; could have been a rock, defect, ice buildup, on the glass, etc. …”

NHTSA complaint #757799, filed 2002-02

Mileage when problems were reported

37% of the 19 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 24,312 and 112,000 miles.

0%0–1026%10–2511%25–5021%50–7511%75–10021%100–15011%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (19 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 55,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

200320052011520152017
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 BMW 325. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
3 Series · sedan not rated4 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2002 BMW 325 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.

Other model years of the BMW 325

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20068136,0001———Not enough data
2003970,0000———Not enough data
20022655,0002——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200131149,5002——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199523—0———Stable
199425100,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19938—3———Not enough data
199223198,8803———Stable
19916—3———Not enough data
19906—2———Not enough data
198911—2———Not enough data
19887—2———Not enough data
19871582,0002———Stable
19869300,0003———Not enough data

All BMW 325 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 BMW 325 have?

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2002 BMW 325 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 BMW 325 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 6 complaints (23% of the total), followed by electrical system with 6.

Has the 2002 BMW 325 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 BMW 325 reported?

Among the 19 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 55,000 miles and the middle half falls between 24,312 and 112,000 miles; 37% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.