2001 BMW 325I Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 8%of 151 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 129,400miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2001 BMW 325I, 8% of the 151 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 129,400 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When shifted to reverse engine rpms went wideopen causing it to spin out of control from our driveway into mobilehome across from me then into a van and shoved it into another mobilehome”
NHTSA complaint #11316989, filed 2020-03, 222,504 miles“2001 325 I transmission problem - will not reverse , after looking into it is a well know problem with that model and year . I am on unemployment and now cannot look for work due to this problem. I know that there was a class action lawsuit filled against Bmw in nj , and was won ! I would like to have my Bmw fix because this is a problem that Bmw is well known about and did nothing to fix it ! Please help!”
NHTSA complaint #10324614, filed 2010-04, 100,000 miles“My car was functioning perfectly fine the morning of the incident. I went into a restaurant and when I came out and got into my car and tried to back out of the parking lot my car would not move. The engine would rev up but no movement. I pushed it out and put it into drive and the car works fine but there is no reverse. I took it into the dealership and they told me that it is a transmission problem and the entire transmission has to be replaced. The quote I was given is $6000! My car high books at $5400. …”
NHTSA complaint #10533390, filed 2013-08, 129,400 miles“My 2001 Bmw 325I lost reverse suddenly and unexpectedly this past november. The car had 64,000 miles on it and is in perfect condition. Bmw northwest wanted to $5,200 originally to fix the problem but I was able to talk them down to 4,000. Either way this was a Bmw problem not a consumer problem and Bmw should have paid to have this fixed. Very frustrating experience and I would love to be compensated for my dumb investment of a Bmw 325I.”
NHTSA complaint #10236744, filed 2008-08, 64,000 miles“Automatic transmission failure: drive will not operate in reverse. Can result in cars stalled in intersection, blocking traffic, without capability to avoid collision by backing up.”
NHTSA complaint #10285270, filed 2009-09, 102,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 11 | 2% |
| 2005 | 4 | 6% |
| 2004 | 1 | 1% |
| 2003 | 18 | 9% |
| 2002 | 7 | 4% |
| 2001 | 12 | 8% |
| 1995 | 5 | 16% |
| 1994 | 2 | 12% |
| 1992 | 1 | 3% |
| 1988 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2001 BMW 325I
46 complaintsExterior lighting
23 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsEngine cooling
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 BMW 325I
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology