2002 BMW 325I reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 BMW 325I — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 198
- 5 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 45 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 9 reported crashes · 7 injuries · 1 death · 24 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,590
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs BMW median
+42
median 156 across 103 BMW records
Vs 2000-2004
-55
median 253 complaints in 771 records
Top component share
23%
Air Bags: 45 complaints
What owners report fails — 2002 BMW 325I
- AIR BAGS 45
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 38
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16
- VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS 12
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 6
5 recalls on record for the 2002 BMW 325I
- NHTSA 20V018000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 15V318000 · 2016 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal
- NHTSA 14V428000 · 2014 · AIR BAGS In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could c
- NHTSA 13V172000 · 2013 · AIR BAGS In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with met
- NHTSA 11V438000 · 2012 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL INTERMITTENT LIGHT OPERATION REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 BMW 325I
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 BMW 325I units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 BMW 325I reliable?
NHTSA has 198 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 BMW 325I and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (45 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 BMW 325I units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW 325I?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (45), exterior lighting (38), electrical system (16), visibility:power window devices and controls (12). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 BMW 325I?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.