78 of the 1,808 complaints filed about the BMW 325I are about the doors, latches and locks — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.
78
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated that he was unable to open the driver’s and passenger’s side front doors. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.
NHTSA complaint #11432359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO UNLOCK EVERY DOOR. IN ADDITION, THE LOCKING MECHANISM SWITCH FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WHILE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOCKED THROUGH THE WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE MANUALLY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT WOULD NOT UNLOCK MANUALLY. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10766329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS MANUALLY AND BY USING THE KEY FOB BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
NHTSA complaint #10678991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
VEHICLE HAS RECURRING LOCKING ISSUE. WHEN INSIDE THE VEHICLE, DOOR LOCKS STOP FUNCTIONING. PRESSING DOOR LOCK BUTTON WILL NOT WORK. PRESSING BUTTON ON REMOTE WILL NOT WORK. ATTEMPTING TO MANUALLY OPEN DOOR USING DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE LAST INCIDENT BOTH MYSELF AND MY CHILD WERE TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE IN THE HEAT AND HAD TO CALL 911 AS WE DID NOT HAVE THE KEY TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW. THE FRONT WINDOW HAD TO BE BROKEN AND WE HAD TO BE REMOVED THROUGH A WINDOW BECAUSE THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT RELEASE. WE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR HEAT STROKE. WHEN I INVESTIGATED, I FOUND A GIRL DIED DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO RECALL? YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED AND THIS IS A FATAL ISSUE. HERE IS THE LINK TO THE GIRLS DEATH: HTTP://WWW.LATIMES.COM/LOCAL/LANOW/LA-ME-LN-GIRL-TRAPPED-IN-BMW-DIES-20140509-STORY.HTML.
NHTSA complaint #10671939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
REMOTE UNLOCKING/LOCKING WILL NOT FUNCTION. DOORS CAN NOT BE OPENED OR UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE VEHICLE WITH CENTRAL LOCK SWITCH OR WITH DOOR HANDLE, TRAPPING PASSENGERS INSIDE. THE DRIVERS WINDOW MUST BE ROLLED DOWN AND KEY USED TO UNLOCK DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO EXIT VEHICLE. CLIMBING OUT OF WINDOWS OR CLIMBING TO DRIVERS SEAT IS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF CAR, BMW STATES "NOT A SAFETY ISSUE".
NHTSA complaint #10626613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC KEY FOB FAILED TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HAD TO BE OPENED MANUALLY HOWEVER THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN MANUALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
NHTSA complaint #10618604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY DOORS WON'T UNLOCK. I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN LOCKED IN THE CAR, AND HAD TO CLIMB OUT MY WINDOW/SUNROOF. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM MENTIONED ON MANY BMW ENTHUSIAST FORUMS. I WISH MORE OF THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM WITH SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. I AM WORRIED ABOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF MY CAR. SOMETIMES MY DOORS UNLOCK, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GM5 MODULE, AND A PERSON ONLINE EVEN SPECIALIZES IN FIXING IT SINCE IT IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM (HTTP://WWW.BMWGM5.COM).
NHTSA complaint #10618011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING, COULDN'T GET IN OR OUT OF CAR OR OPEN THE GAS DOOR. REPLACED FUSE #57 AND NOW 3 OF 4 LOCKS ARE WORKING. AFTER DOING ONLINE RESEARCH I'VE FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS AND IT IS UNSAFE AS I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY. IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT IT WOULD WARRANT A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10592158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DOORS ON MY CAR ARE LOCKED AND WILL NOT OPEN. I CALLED BMW AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE BUT NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. ONCE THE DOORS ARE LOCKED THEY CANNOT BE UNLOCKED REGARDLESS IF YOU ARE IN OR OUT OF THE CAR - THERE IS NO MANUAL WAY TO OPEN THEM. SO ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE IF YOU WERE IN THE CAR YOU WOULD BE STUCK. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO 1000S OF BMW'S AND ITS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT BMW WONT RECALL. HOW CAN BEING STUCK IN A VEHICLE WITH NO WAY TO EXIT NOT BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN?
NHTSA complaint #10582835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE CAR DOORS AT TIMES DO NOT UNLOCK. IT IS VERY INTERMITTENT. A KEY CAN BE USED TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES EVEN THE DOOR KEY HAS NOT WORKED. THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUE IS THAT I HAVE BEEN LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR AND UNABLE TO OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WITH THE MAIN LOCK CONTROL OR EVEN BY TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE PASSENGERS CRAWL OUT OF THE WINDOW TO EXIT THE CAR A FEW TIMES. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE KEY WORKS TO GET IN BUT I CANNOT GET THE OTHER DOORS OPEN EVEN BY ATTEMPTING TO USE THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THIS IS A SCARY SITUATION TO BE IN.
NHTSA complaint #10555381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM REMOTE KEY OR UNLOCK BUTTON INSIDE CAR OR FROM DOORS HANDLE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE CAR AND WILL TRAP PASSENGERS INSIDE. ONLY DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENS WITH DOOR KEY. DOORS CAN NOT BE LOCKED FROM REMOTE KEY EXCEPT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE FOR CHANCE GETTING TRAPPED INSIDE CAR. NO MANUAL DOOR OPEN FEATURE EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #10553788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I WAS PARKING AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. USUALLY I JUST NEED TO PULL THE HANDLE TWICE AND IT OPENS BUT THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED THE ELECTRIC REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND IT DID NOT AFFECT THE LOCKS. I TRIED THE PASSENGER DOOR AND IT DID NOT OPEN EITHER. I HAD TO EXIT THE CAR FROM THE BACK DOORS. I DETERMINED A FUSE WAS BLOWN AND REPLACED THE 15A FUSE WITH A 20A FUSE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BMW FORUM AND IT NOW WORKS FINE. THE CONCERN IS IF I HAD TO EXIT THE CAR FROM THE FRONT DOORS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10551586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE REAR DOOR LOCK IS NOT WORKING - THE HANDLES DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE - THE LOCK ACTUATOR IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. SO FAR I HAVE HAD THE FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE ACTUATORS REPLACED. BMW WILL NOT FIX THE ACTUATORS EVEN THOUGH THE PART HAS BEEN CHANGED OUT BEFORE, IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AND THE ACTUATORS HAVE BEEN SUPERSEDED TWO TIMES BY BMW.
NHTSA complaint #10548736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE DOORS IN THE VEHICLE WERE LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC LOCK SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
NHTSA complaint #10548076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED IN THE GARAGE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS EITHER FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED AND THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10523593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE USING THE CENTRAL DOOR UNLOCK/LOCK BUTTON, KEY OR MANUAL DOOR HANDLE. HAD THIS BEEN AN EMERGENCY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ESCAPE QUICKLY. HAD TO OPEN WINDOW, REACH OUTSIDE AND USE THE MANUAL KEY TO OPEN DOOR LOCK. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10523118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WED MORNING WENT TO SCHOOL WITH MY DAUGHTER. WHEN I WALKED BACK TO THE CAR I COULD NOT UNLOCK THE CAR. CANNOT UNLOCK THE VEHICLE WITH THE REMOTE KEY. CANNOT OPEN GAS TANK. CANNOT UNLOCK OR OPEN PASSANGER DOORS. POWER LOCKS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. TRIED TO REPROGRAM THE KEY BUT NOT SUCCESSFUL.
NHTSA complaint #10512667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS LOCK FAILED. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND THE REAR DOORS COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY WITH THE KEY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER DOOR WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT COULD BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY WITH THE KEY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT VEHICLE GENERAL ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.......UPDATED 12/20/12
NHTSA complaint #10483572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE OPENED OR CLOSED. IN ADDITION, THE WINDOWS WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CRUNCHING SOUND CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. ..UPDATED 11/28/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH ALL THE WINDOWS, GETTING JAMMED, OR BECOMING STUCK IN THE UP OR DOWN POSITION. ALL OF THE REGULATORS WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LOCK SYSTEM NOT WORKING. SOMETIMES, THE BUTTON AND SWITCHES WOULD NOT WORK. UPDATED 11/29/30
NHTSA complaint #10473883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO ACCESS THE EXTERIOR FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE REMOTE KEY FOB AND ALSO MANUALLY HOWEVER, THE LOCK MECHANISM WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR LOCK, REMOTE KEY FOB AND POWER DOOR ACTUATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10462700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.