2004 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 558 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 26 involved a crash and 23 involved a fire. 29 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
558 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Apr 11, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAG) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Apr 8, 2016
TAKATA RECALL.
Air bags, Apr 7, 2016
TAKATA RECALL - IN JULY 2015, I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG REPLACED PER THE BMW RECALL, HOWEVER, I WAS ALSO NOTIFIED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WAS TO BE REPLACED BUT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. MY CAR HAS BEEN LOCATED IN SW FLORDA FOR OVER 9 YRS AND AFTER REPEATED CALLS TO MY SARASOTA DEALER, STILL HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIED THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. MY LAST CONTACT WITH THE DEALER DURING MARCH 2016, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Apr 7, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 05/17/16*LJ *TR
Air bags, Mar 28, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Exterior lighting, Mar 27, 2016
HID (XENON) HEADLIGHTS VERY DIM. CAN BARELY TELL THEY ARE ON WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. (THE FOG LIGHTS ARE MUCH BRIGHTER THAN THE HEADLIGHTS). CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED BY ZKW. THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL DETERIORATES INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY LEADING TO VERY POOR LIGHT OUTPUT. ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED OVER AND OVER. I GUESS IT'S NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH UNTIL SOMEBODY DIES BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE, THAT IS IF THAT HASN'T ALREADY HAPPENED....THE RIDICULOUS COST OF FIXING THE ISSUE COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM. SORRY I DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA $2,000.00 LAYING AROUND TO REPLACE MY DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. COME ON BMW STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THE PROBLEM YOU'RE VERY WELL AWARE OF, PLEASE.
Air bags, Mar 25, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Mar 24, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Mar 18, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Mar 16, 2016
TAKATA RECALL-I FOUND OUT IN SEPT 2015 THAT MY CAR WAS PART OF THE AIRBAG RECALL. I CONTACTED HENDRICK BMW IN CHARLOTTE, NC TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER BAGS WERE RECALLED BUT THEY ONLY HAD THE PASSENGER AVAILABLE TO REPLACE. I'M NOT IN CHARLOTTE FULL TIME AND DO NOT DRIVE IT WHEN I'M AWAY. THEY SAID I WOULD BE CALLED WHEN IT WAS READY. DEC I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN, SAME STORY NO DRIVER. FEB CALLED BMW USA, THE AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE CAR IS A SPORT MODEL WITH LOW PROFILE TIRES THAT DRIVES LIKE A TANK AND SOME ELSE HAD JUST BEEN KILLED IN AN AIR BAG ACCIDENT. THEY FIRST SAID THEY WOULD ARRANGE FOR A LOANER, THEN BACKTRACKED AND OFFERED A "INTERIM REPLACEMENT" UNTIL THE "REAL" REPLACEMENT DRIVERS SIDE WAS AVAILABLE WHICH ALMOST 6 MONTHS SINCE MY FIRST CALL, NO ONE HAS ANY CLUE WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. OK....A WEEK OR SO LATER GOT A CALL FROM BMW SAYING I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A CALL FROM HENDRICK THAT THEY HAVE THE "INTERIM " BAG. I CALLED HENDRICK, AND WAS TOLD THEY ONLY HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE, HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, PUT ME IN A MANAGER VM THAT CUT OFF BEFORE I COULD LEAVE MESSAGE. I CALLED BMW BACK, LEFT A MESSAGE IN THAT TONE ONLY DOGS CAN HEAR, AND NOW SEVERAL WEEKS LATER NOT A WORD FROM ANYONE.
Air bags, Mar 14, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Mar 11, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/03/16*LJ
Exterior lighting, Feb 29, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEAD LAMP BULBS WERE BURNED OUT AND A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HEAD LAMPS INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. UPDATED 05/10/16*LJ *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 16, 2016
VEHICLE HAS VERY POOR HEADLIGHT VISIBILITY AT NIGHT DUE TO BURNT OUT PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWLS FROM BMW'S SUB-SUPPLIER ZKW. REPLACEMENT BOWLS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FROM BMW. ONLY FIX FROM THEM IS REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WHICH COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
Air bags, Feb 12, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Feb 8, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/08/16*LJ UPDATED 03/22/16.*JB
Air bags, Feb 4, 2016
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL - ON MAY 27TH, 2015 A RECALL TO FIX MY MAKE AND MODEL OF BMW WAS ISSUED. TO DATE THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PROVIDED THE REPAIR PARTS NECESSARY. IT HAS BEEN 9 MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. WHY HASN'T MORE PRESSURE BEEN PUT ON TAKATA AND BMW TO COMPLETE THESE REPAIRS?
Air bags, Feb 2, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/03/16*LJ *JS
Electrical system, Jan 28, 2016
IGNITION SYSTEM: VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY STALLED WHILE IN MOTION AT LOW AND HIGH VELOCITY SPEED. HAD TO COMPLETELY TURN THE IGNITION TO OFF POSITION TO BE ABLE TO RESTART. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING TRACK ON HOW OFTEN THIS HAPPENS. SO FAR 11 TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP.
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Jan 28, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jan 27, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jan 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jan 19, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Jan 13, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Exterior lighting, Jan 4, 2016, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE AS THE REAR TAILLIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION AROUND THE CONNECTOR AND THE PANEL, THERE WERE SCORCH MARKS AND THE CONNECTORS COATING WAS COMPLETELY MELTED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.