2004 BMW 325I reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2004 BMW 325I from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 182
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 61 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 13 reported crashes · 9 injuries · 14 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#2,779
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs BMW median
+26
median 156 across 103 BMW records
Vs 2002-2006
-87
median 269 complaints in 819 records
Top component share
34%
Air Bags: 61 complaints
What owners report fails — 2004 BMW 325I
- AIR BAGS 61
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 43
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20
- ENGINE 6
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 4
4 recalls on record for the 2004 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 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 2004 BMW 325I
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
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 2004 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. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 BMW 325I reliable?
NHTSA has 182 consumer complaints on record for the 2004 BMW 325I and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (61 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2004 BMW 325I units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW 325I?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (61), exterior lighting (43), electrical system (20), engine (6). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2004 BMW 325I?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2004 BMW 325I. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.