FaultScore

BMW 325I steering problems

60 of the 1,808 complaints filed about the BMW 325I are about the steering — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.

60

Complaints

3%

Share of all complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

Steering complaints by model year

1992 325I 1 1.7%
1993 325I 1 1.7%
1995 325I 2 3.3%
2001 325I 4 6.7%

Median failure at 118,500 miles

2002 325I 4 6.7%

Median failure at 117,000 miles

2003 325I 6 10.0%

Median failure at 40,400 miles

2004 325I 3 5.0%

Median failure at 104,485 miles

2006 325I 39 65.0%

Median failure at 81,000 miles

What owners said

2001 BMW 325I Sacramento, CA

STEERING

Steering wheel angle sensor internal abc-dsc issues, yellow light is on.. Is there a recall for this issue!? Also front door passenger side air bag is not working, I have used OBD reader to confirm all the above...

NHTSA complaint #11684118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I Haddon Heights, NJ

STEERING

Vehicle Steering Lock Malfunction - Car does not start and stuck in Park. Cannot move steering wheel which is locked. This is a design defect that needs to be addressed. Vehicle is rendered inoperative! Cannot move or start it! approx. mileage 105k. This is a new problem besides the current recall which has not been available yet. I've also been locked out of this vehicle and had to climb out of the window, thank God it was not a fire or flood! I was able to fix that problem myself. note: Steering Lock Malfunction is a widespread problem! Dealers want to replace the entire steering column in these cases at a very high cost. Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11475609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 BMW 325I Phoenix, AZ

STEERING

I am having a major electrical short in my trunk area affecting my critical tail lights functionalities and common trunk function. I cannot use my turning signals or brake lights or lights in general when driving my vehicle from the rear my lights are not operable. This is a huge safety concern and risk that’s need to be recalled affecting millions I'm for certain. Along with that I am having steering issue with my steering rack called “steering Wander”. Not being able to control you vehicle with supreme confidence is a issue which can easily lead to collisions.

NHTSA complaint #11435461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I Towson, MD

STEERING

THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL BMW, THE ELV CONTROL /STEERING WARNING LOCK IS FAULTY. BMW ISSUED A TSB TO DEALERS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE AND SHOULD ONLY BE FIXED IF A CUSTOMER BRINGS IN THE VEHICLE. THE ISSUE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE AND CAN ONLY BE FIXED AT A DEALER. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED, IF THE CONTROL CANNOT BE UNLOCKED THE CAR CANNOT START. SINCE BMW HAS RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE WITH A TSB, I AM UNSURE AS TO WHY A RECALL AS NOT BEEN ISSUED. THIS ISSUE IS STRICTLY RELATED TO THE BMW COMPUTER SYSTEM AND THE OWNERS CAN DO NOTHING TO PREVENT THIS FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #11327286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I at 300,000 miles Santa Rosa, CA

STEERING

STEERING COLUNM

NHTSA complaint #11192183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I at 172,000 miles Suwanee, GA

STEERING

ENGINE SUDDENLY SHOT OFF COMPLETE STALL - LOST POWER STEERING ON FREEWAY WHILE GOING 70 MPH

NHTSA complaint #11140467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I Glasgow, KY

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR ENTERING THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE WHILE WAITING FOR MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE DEALERS BMW OF BOWLING GREEN (325 THREE SPRINGS RD, BOWLING GREEN, KY 42104, (270) 745-0001) AND BMW OF LOUISVILLE (4 AUTOCENTER DR., LOUISVILLE, KY 40299, (502) 287-1501) HAD BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE REMEDY PARTS WOULD BE PROVIDED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE REMEDY PARTS WOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE DEALERS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11081285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I at 91,000 miles Troy, MI

STEERING

CAR WAS DRIVING WHEN YELLOW STEERING COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON STREET. MALFUNCTION OF INTEGRAL LOCK SENSOR IN STEERING COLUMN ELV ECU HARDWARE STEERING LOCK ERROR STEERING COLUMN LOCK YELLOW COLOR LEADS TO RED WHICH TOTALLY RENDERS CAR UNABLE TO START BMW HAS KNOW BULLETIN SIB-32-04-07

NHTSA complaint #11065502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I Fort Mill, SC

STEERING

THE VEHICLE WON'T START, AND STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR INITIALLY, BUT 20 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I TESTED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY, BUT STILL NOT ABLE TO START OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS TO BE THE AN ISSUE WITH THE ELV LOCKING SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #11057253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I Olivehurst, CA

STEERING

TENSION BELTS.OVER HEATING.ALIGNMENT.TRANSMISSION. I'VE LOST JOBS DUE TO THESE ISSUES THE CAR AGAIN IS BROKE

NHTSA complaint #11001397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I at 98,765 miles Long Beach, CA

STEERING

MY WIFE PARKED HER 2006 BMW 325I AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE CAR THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOOK MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR, MOVE THE CAR OR TAKE IT OUT OF PARK TO HAVE IT TOWED. THIS IS EITHER A BAD DESIGN BY BMW (IT ONLY HAPPENS IN 2006-7 MODELS) OR SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10985929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 BMW 325I at 10,075 miles Irvington, NJ

STEERING

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR AS I WAS DRVING WAS HARD TO TURN MAKING ANOISE

NHTSA complaint #10884446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I at 130,000 miles Humble, TX

STEERING

STEERING WHEEL LOCK LIGHT IS ON ENGINE DOES NOT START STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT MOVE IS LOCK

NHTSA complaint #10861428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I at 130,000 miles Humble, TX

STEERING

STEERING WHEEL LIGHT COMES ON VEHICLE DOES NOT START STEERING WHEEL LOCKS I HEAR FROM A FORUM THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE CAN BE A REASON FOR A FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10861430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I Napa, CA

STEERING

ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK.

NHTSA complaint #10859786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I at 80,000 miles Bloomfield, NY

STEERING

STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS MALFUNCTIONED RENDERING THE CAR UNSTARTABLE..CAR WAS PARKED WITH WHEELS FACING STRAIT AHEAD AND UPON RESTART THE LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND HAS BEEN STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #10845912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 BMW 325I at 84,000 miles Stockton, CA Crash

STEERING

TAKATA RECALL: I AM CURRENTLY IN COMMUNICATION WITH STATE FARM AGENT, TERRY WOOD [(434) 872-2813]. SHE HAS ASSURED ME THAT AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY AT THIS TIME. WE ARE STATING THAT MY BMW'S SIDE AIRBAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED AND UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. AS I APPROACHED AND ENTERED A RIGHT TURN LANE IN AN STREET INTERSECTION LOCATED IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. STARTLED, I TRIED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT, WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, I WAS NOT ABLE TO SAFELY CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE CURB, I HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO CORRECT FROM IT AND TRY TO MAKE THE UPCOMING RIGHT TURN, BUT WITHOUT POWER STEERING, I WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN SHARP ENOUGH LEADING ME TO MAKE A WIDE TURN INTO THE ONCOMING LANE. AND WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO BRAKE PROPERLY AND SAFELY, THERE WAS NO WAY TO AVOID THE IMPACT. ADDITIONALLY, THE MAIN AREA OF THE CAR WITH ALL THE DAMAGE (DRIVER'S FRONT) FAILED TO DEPLOY THE APPROPRIATE AIRBAG. TERRY WOOD IS MY POINT OF CONTACT WITH THIS INVESTIGATION. WE HOPE TO HAVE BMW TAKE SOME (IF NOT, ALL) BLAME IN THE INCIDENT DUE TO FAULTY AIRBAGS AND/OR UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS.

NHTSA complaint #10809712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I at 125,000 miles Savannah, GA

STEERING

BELT TENSIONER BOLT BROKE OFF CAUSING SERPENTINE BELT TO SLIP OFF CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION YET BECAUSE CAR HAS JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED AND IS IN REPAIR SHOP NOW. I FOUND ONLINE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10795200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I at 44,900 miles Atlanta, GA

STEERING

STEERING ENGINE LIGHT WARNING. STARTED WITH A SMALL RED LIGHT WHEN TURNING CAR OFF. THE FLASH OF RED WAS SO QUICK COULD NOT TELL WHAT SYMBOL IT WAS. THIS THEN TURNED INTO YELLOW WARNING WITH WRITTEN DESCRIPTION IN NAVIGATION/COMPUTER DISPLAY. STEERING ENGINE LOCK. TURN STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. DO NOT TURN CAR OFF WILL NOT RESTART. TOOK CAR IN TWICE NOT ANYTHING SHOWING ERROR OR PROBLEM. CALLED BMW N. AMERICA HAD NO IDEA WHAT THIS ILLUMINATED SYMBOL MEANT, CONNECTED ME TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD NO IDEA. TOWED TO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR (I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER AND DRIVER). CAR HAS 44950 MILES. DEALER CALLED TODAY AND SAID STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE YELLOW ILLUMINATION STAYED ON WHEN CAR WAS STATIONARY, IN MOTION AND TURNING WHILE ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY. RED ILLUMINATION CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA complaint #10794947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 325I at 93,000 miles Jackson, MS

STEERING

STEERING WHEEL LOCK PREVENTS THE STARTER FROM WORKING. THIS PREVENTS THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH WILL COST OVER ONE THOUSANDS DOLLARS. BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint #10781405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other BMW 325I problems