Owners have filed 13 complaints
about the 2006 BMW 325 with NHTSA between 2016 and 2019.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 7 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 28
Against the median year of the BMW 325. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2006 BMW 325
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
323.1%
Median failure at 160,500 miles
Electrical System
323.1%
Median failure at 139,500 miles
Engine & Cooling
323.1%
Median failure at 121,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
17.7%
Median failure at 106,000 miles
Seat Belts
17.7%
Median failure at 108,000 miles
Lights
17.7%
Median failure at 108,000 miles
Steering
17.7%
Median failure at 106,000 miles
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2016peak 4Jul 2019
NHTSA investigations into the 2006 BMW 325
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 136,000 milesBrisbane, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE RADIATOR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STOPPED AT A FUEL STATION, ADDED WATER TO THE RADIATOR, AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE CONTACT DROVE TO PETER PAN BMW (1625 ADRIAN RD, BURLINGAME, CA 94010) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW RADIATOR WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON JUNE 19, 2019 BY THE SAME DEALER PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V273000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVER SINCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
NHTSA complaint #11230540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesLong Beach, CA
STEERING
I WAS TRYING TO WAIT UNTIL A REMEMBER WAS AVAILABLE BUT I'M PREGNANT AND NOW THESE ISSUES HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AND ARE MORE IMPERATIVE MY CAR IS NOW SMOKING AS I DRIVE THE POWER STEERING IS NOW AFFECTED I JUST PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IT STOPPED RANDOMLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ALL ISSUES WHICH ARENT ACCEPTABLE PERIOD BUT ARE WORSE GIVEN MY CURRENT PHYSICAL STATE
NHTSA complaint #11091982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesLong Beach, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS TRYING TO WAIT UNTIL A REMEMBER WAS AVAILABLE BUT I'M PREGNANT AND NOW THESE ISSUES HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AND ARE MORE IMPERATIVE MY CAR IS NOW SMOKING AS I DRIVE THE POWER STEERING IS NOW AFFECTED I JUST PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IT STOPPED RANDOMLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ALL ISSUES WHICH ARENT ACCEPTABLE PERIOD BUT ARE WORSE GIVEN MY CURRENT PHYSICAL STATE
NHTSA complaint #11091982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesLong Beach, CA
ENGINE
I WAS TRYING TO WAIT UNTIL A REMEMBER WAS AVAILABLE BUT I'M PREGNANT AND NOW THESE ISSUES HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AND ARE MORE IMPERATIVE MY CAR IS NOW SMOKING AS I DRIVE THE POWER STEERING IS NOW AFFECTED I JUST PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IT STOPPED RANDOMLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ALL ISSUES WHICH ARENT ACCEPTABLE PERIOD BUT ARE WORSE GIVEN MY CURRENT PHYSICAL STATE
NHTSA complaint #11091982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walnut, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICED IN DECEMBER 2017 FROM BMW STATING THAT THERE WAS A DANGER THAT THE CAR COULD CATCH FIRE. 6 MONTHS LATER I AM STILL WAITING. IT WAS RECOMMENDED NOT TO PARK IN THE GARAGE UNTIL REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #11091473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bellevue, WA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED THE NOTICE IN MARCH 2016 REGARDING SAFETY RECALL. HOWEVER, I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT BMW IS READY TO REMEDY THE DEFECT. I CALLED A BMW DEALER SEVERAL WEEKS AGO TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF REMEDY. DATE ENTERED BELOW IS APPROXIMATE AS THE LETTER ONLY REFERENCES THE MONTH AND YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10936700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 171,000 milesNorth Hollywood, CA
AIR BAGS
WAS HAVING A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND CODES POP UP AND MY VEHICLE. INCLUDING THE AIRBAG LIGHT ALUMINATE. I POPPED THE TRUNK TO FIND THE BATTERY TERMINAL MELTED. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON BATTERY TERMINALS. ALTHOUGH THE RECALL IF SHE FROM CARS 2007 TO 2011 MY 2006 BMW EXHIBITS THE EXACT PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT.
NHTSA complaint #10916014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 171,000 milesNorth Hollywood, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WAS HAVING A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND CODES POP UP AND MY VEHICLE. INCLUDING THE AIRBAG LIGHT ALUMINATE. I POPPED THE TRUNK TO FIND THE BATTERY TERMINAL MELTED. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON BATTERY TERMINALS. ALTHOUGH THE RECALL IF SHE FROM CARS 2007 TO 2011 MY 2006 BMW EXHIBITS THE EXACT PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT.
NHTSA complaint #10916014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 108,000 milesDeltona, FL
SEAT BELTS
FOOT WELL MODULE AND JUNCTION BOX ELECTRICAL SHORT. SOME LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN IF THE CAR IS OFF SOME SIGNALS DONT WORK, ONE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT DOES NOT WORK, REAR WINDOWS WORK SOMETIMES AND DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDO DOES NOT WORK A ALL, ECT
NHTSA complaint #10862431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 108,000 milesDeltona, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FOOT WELL MODULE AND JUNCTION BOX ELECTRICAL SHORT. SOME LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN IF THE CAR IS OFF SOME SIGNALS DONT WORK, ONE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT DOES NOT WORK, REAR WINDOWS WORK SOMETIMES AND DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDO DOES NOT WORK A ALL, ECT
NHTSA complaint #10862431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 108,000 milesDeltona, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOOT WELL MODULE AND JUNCTION BOX ELECTRICAL SHORT. SOME LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN IF THE CAR IS OFF SOME SIGNALS DONT WORK, ONE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT DOES NOT WORK, REAR WINDOWS WORK SOMETIMES AND DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDO DOES NOT WORK A ALL, ECT
NHTSA complaint #10862431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesDallas, TX
AIR BAGS
INTERMITTENT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CAR SAYS AIR BAG IS DISABLED. SEEMS LIKE SAME ISSUE AS PREVIOUS NHSTA CAMPAIGN 13V-564 BUT THIS PARTICULAR VIN IS CURRENTLY COVERED. PLEASE EXPAND RECALL TO INCLUDE MY VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10837211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jose, CA
ENGINE
FIND ENGINE OIL LEAKING ON FLOOR AND SMILE OIL BURNING. THEN, FIND A BOLT FOR ENGINE VALVE COVER IS BROKEN. IT MAKE CATCHING FIRE!!!
NHTSA complaint #10819254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.