Bmw contacted me in september announcing a safety recall of the airbags in my vehicle, indicating they required replacement and bmw would contact me to schedule the service for the recall. Over six months have passed with no action by bmw to correct this urgent safety defect. This is simply unacceptable. Bmw needs to take action to correct this defect.
The worst 2001 BMW 325IT problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Suspension3
- Airbags1
- Fuel system1
- Steering1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Suspension3
- Airbags1
- Fuel system1
- Steering1
Recalls 4
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 20V018000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999-2001 323i, 325i, 328i and 330i and 2000-2001 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, 323iT, and 325iT vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver air bag as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW notified owners, and Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 19V853000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, the engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating.
- Risk
- If this were to occur, engine overheating and subsequent engine damage could result. In addition, it is possible for the failure of the electrical circuitry to cause a fire in the fan control unit located in the front of the engine compartment.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. This is a supplement to a recall that began during september 2001 (see recall campaign 01v206). Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1‑800‑831‑1117.
Recall number 02V138000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating.
- Risk
- If this were to occur, engine overheating and subsequent engine damage could result. In addition, it is possible for the failure of the electrical circuitry to cause a fire in the fan control unit located in the front of the engine compartment.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1‑800‑831‑1117.
Recall number 01V206000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2001 BMW 325IT 16
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal...
- Service action
- Takata air bag recall-related short-term alternate transportation and consequential repairs
- Takata class action settlement. customer support program. front driver side airbag modules.
- For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?)...
- For the above-referenced vehicles with passenger?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW...
- In an effort to improve the completion rate on Takata air bag recall affected vehicles; BMW NA has...
- Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles This Service Information bulletin supersedes...
- Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles
What 2001 BMW 325IT owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Both rear springs failed, requiring replacement, at less than 50,000 miles with no excessive driving. My mechanic mentioned that the problem seems endemic to the e46 bmw 3 series. Should the rear suspension have become unloaded on a bump, etc. A serious accident could have resulted. If this problem with the rear springs is common, it could represent a design defect.
At highway speeds I could feel the front end become unstable and vibrate especially after hitting a bump or changing from asphalt to concrete.my local mechanic said the lower left control arm needed to be replaced and he called bmw for information and they immediately knew of the problem. He recommended I take the car to the local dealer as the car has only 33,000 miles on it and we put less than 8,000 miles/year on it. He said this failure should never have happened this early. Before going to the dealer, I checked the internet (yahoo using the search terms: bmw "control arm" repair). I found hundreds of thousands of results, many of them forum postings from other 3 series owners who experienced this failure at 15,000 to 20,000 miles. Most of the posts are on sites like bimmerforum, bimmerfest, e46fanatics, etc. My local bmw service center agrees this is a major safety issue but thinks I should pay the $1350 to replace both front control arms (they tell me the other is close to failure). Since this is a serious safety issue and so many other owners have had the problem at 35,000 miles or less I am completing this complaint form. I feel bmw should recall these autos and repair the control arms.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving at 35 MPH on normal road conditions the service engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a leak was observed in the gas tank. After this incident, the vehicle was taken to the dealer eight more times. The dealer agreed to continue repairing any problems with this vehicle that relates to the gas tank. Updated 3/20/2006 - each time the vehicle was returned to the dealer a diagnostic test was done. Each time the test indicated a small leak in the fuel tank. The left and right rear coil spring made noise.
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Questions about the 2001 BMW 325IT
Is the 2001 BMW 325IT reliable?
Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2001 BMW 325IT, 1.3 times a typical 325IT model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 BMW 325IT?
Suspension, with 3 complaints. Next is airbags (1).
How many recalls does the 2001 BMW 325IT have?
4 recalls, covering air bags and engine and engine cooling.
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