45 of the 1,808 complaints filed about the BMW 325I are about the fuel system — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.
45
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Since the airbag was not fixed, it has caused PVC meltings as well as leakage
NHTSA complaint #11695308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The Valvetronic Actuator malfunctions. The malfunction may have been caused by a Battery Positive Cable that has corroded over time. The result is that the vehicle stops unexpectedly during acceleration. Driver safety and that of others is put at risk due to the vehicle suddenly losing power and stoping while being driven. The vehicle was evaluated by the dealer. Warning lamps were intermittent and inconsistent. To my knowledge there is no Valvetronic Actuator or Battery Cable specific warning lamps or messages. There was a 2017 recall for the Battery Positive Cable, but my specific VIN was not covered (by a few months). My VIN (1986 325I) should have been included in the 2017 recall.
NHTSA complaint #11687394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for routine maintenance. The mechanic informed the contact that vehicles older than 2013 were not serviced by the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with a fuel leak. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while adding fuel, he noticed that fuel was leaking from the fuel tank. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 229,896.
NHTSA complaint #11540074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I'm starting to lose gas mileage and a very strong smell of gas inside and outside of car .
NHTSA complaint #11481921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE
2004 BMW 325i. Inquiry on behalf of the constituent, in regards to getting assistance with his BMW. THE CONSUMER STATED THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM FAILED. MULTIPLE REPAIR ATTEMPTS WERE MADE. THE DMTL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #11418569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY CAR IS LEAKING GAS AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I HAD TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE GARAGE BECAUSE OF THE GASOLINE SMELL. MY SEATBELT LIGHT IS ON AND MY MECHANIC SAID THAT I NEED NEW SEATBELTS.
NHTSA complaint #11395176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING WITH MY CAR INCLUDE: HIGH RPMS WHEN ACCELERATING, MASSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION WHICH I CAN PROVIDE BANK STATEMENTS TO PROVE, MASSIVE COOLANT CONSUMPTION, NUMEROUS OIL LEAKS, ROUGH IDLING, ENGINE RATTLING, FOUL SMELL OF VAPORS IN THE CAR WHILE RUNNING, AND CONSTANT CAR SHAKING. MY CAR WILL CUT OFF COMPLETELY IF THE A/C IS TURNED ON OR IF SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, SO IN RETURN I WOULD HAVE TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK WHILE SITTING AT RED LIGHTS. ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO THE PCV VALVE. THIS RECALL WAS NOT MADE AWARE TO ME IF THOUGH I TOOK MY CAR TO GET SERVICED AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP AFTER THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED. THIS IS WHY I ASKED FOR GOODWILL ASSISTANCE FROM BMW. ONCE MY CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO FIX THE RECALL BMW TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT HELP FINANCIALLY WITH THE REPAIRS OF MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT OF THE YEAR AND MILEAGE. CORPORATE TOLD ME THIS AFTER I HAD TO CHASE THEM DOWN ALL DAY BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY NEEDED A ANSWER BY 12PM AND NEEDED THE LOANER VEHICLE BACK. ONCE I RECEIVED THE ANSWER OF NO I ASKED CODY CAMPBELL IF THE RECALL WAS FIXED . HE REPLIED SAYING YES. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO THEN BE SENT BACK HOME BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE SEALING SOME OF THE LEAKS FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. I FOUND THIS ODD BECAUSE IF YOU LOOKED ONLINE AND STILL LOOK NOW AS OF 10:09PM ON 10/05/2019 THE RECALL STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #11362950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I OWN A 2003 SULEV BMW AND IT NEEDS A FUEL PUMP. THIS ONLY CAN BE REPAIRED BY A DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE FACT IT HAS A SEALED FUEL TANK. THE COST CAN BE 6 TO 8000.00 DOLLARS. I WAS TOLD THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR A SULEV CAR. 150000 MI OR 15 YEARS. I CALLED BMW AND THEY NEVER HEARD OF THAT WARRANTY. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11281679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY I NOTICED FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE THE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY 2006 BMW 325I ALSO THE CAR WAS HARD TO START MEANING THE STARTER WAS CRANKING EXCESSIVELY TO START THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE DRIVERS SIDE SENDING UNIT LEAKING FUEL UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THEY REPLACED THE SENDING UNIT (PART NO. 16-11-7-163-295) AND MY CAR IS GOOD NOW BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AND THE REPAIR COST ME $529.00
NHTSA complaint #11241787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE FUEL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, OR ENGINE WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND FAIL TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #11129525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE VALVE COVER GASKET KEEPS LEAKING OIL. I HAVE FIXED THIS TWICE IN THE LAST 30K MILES. NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN. VALVE COVER GASKET SHOULD NOT GO BAD EVERY 10K TO 15K MILES. IF NEGLECTED IT WILL CAUSE ENGINE FIRE DUE TO OIL.
NHTSA complaint #11048509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STERLING BMW (3000 WEST COAST HWY, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92663) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED, BUT WAS CONTACTED REGARDING RECALL INQUIRIES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,020.
NHTSA complaint #11000432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SMOGGED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
NHTSA complaint #10985148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE DROVE OFF FROM HIS GARAGE, THERE WAS A TRAIL OF FUEL FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED, UNDER THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS COVERED WITH FUEL AND THE LACKING RING THAT SECURED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10985061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
LEAKING FUEL BY THE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #10927031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL PUMPS OF THE SUPER LOW EMISSION VEHICLES (SULEV) (PZEV) 325I MODELS (IN CA, ME, MA, NY AND VT) ARE ENCLOSED IN THE STAINLESS STEEL FUEL TANK AND THERE IS A KNOWN 100% FAILURE. BMW HAS A 15 YEAR/150K WARRANTY BUT I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE MY CAR HAS 192K AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY. FOR KNOWN DEFECTIVE MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP OF THE FUEL PUMP, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL OR AT LEAST NOTIFICATION TO THE OWNERS OF SUCH VEHICLES. IN MOST CASES, EVEN WHEN UNDER WARRANTY THE BMW DEALERSHIPS GAVE OWNERS DIFFICULTIES AND RESISTANCE WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILED, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THE PART ALONE IS $6000, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. AS MANY OF THESE SULEV MODELS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD AND POTENTIALLY WOULD STOP RUNNING AT ANY POINT WHEN THE FUEL PUMP CLOGS OR GETS BLOCKED, THE DRIVERS ARE POTENTIALLY PLACED IN DANGER. MY 2003 325I DIED ON THE FREEWAY GOING 70MPH BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT BUT FORTUNATELY THERE WEREN'T MANY OTHER CARS ON THE FREEWAY AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO BUT COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN AND IS BASICALLY DEAD IN THE WATER NOW. THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. AGAIN, ALTHOUGH THIS AFFECTS LATER MODEL SULEV CARS, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE OPEN AN INVESTIGATION, AS BMW SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND REPUTATION BY REPAIRING A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART THAT AFFECTED OR WILL AFFECT ALL SULEV MODELS. TYPICALLY THE FUEL PUMP FAILS PRIOR TO THE 150K MILEAGE, BUT APPARENTLY SINCE I RARELY ALLOW MY FUEL TANK TO GO BELOW A QUARTER TANK, I WAS ABLE TO GET AN ADDITIONAL 40K. REGARDLESS, I THINK A RECALL FOR THIS MAJOR DEFECT IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE REAR LAMP WHICH DID INITIATE A RECALL. BMW SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES AND I WILL NEVER EVEN THINK OF BUYING ANOTHER BMW EVER AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10840343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ON 4/27/2015, DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 5:30 PM, THE CAR STOPPED MOVING FORWARD AND DID NOT RESPOND TO PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDDLE. FORTUNATELY, DUE TO SLOW TRAFFIC, WE DID NOT GET HIT FROM BEHIND. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT NIGHT AND/OR AT USUAL TRAFFIC SPEEDS, WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. 911 RESPONDED, PUSHED US TO THE SHOULDER AND THEN AAA TOWED THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10723031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. AIR CONDITION FAILURE. SEVERAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILURES. INCIDENT OCCURRED AT IDLE SPEED AT STOPLIGHT. CURRENTLY WINDOW SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. WINDOW WERE SLOW TO ROLL PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. REPORTED TO BMW DENIED FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE. REAR SIDE HIGHWAY SPEED CONTACT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN MEDICAL INJURY ON OCTOBER 11TH 2013. WINDOW NOW INOPERABLE BMW STILL FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #10566387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 325 BMW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY TO 35 MPH. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #10478346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE BRACE HOLDING ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS BROKE OFF. IT SEEMS IF BROKE OFF AT THE WELDS. THE STRAP WAS JUST HANGING AND ONLY THE OTHER WAS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE.
NHTSA complaint #10454463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.