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.
Exterior lighting, Aug 1, 2015
LIGHT OUTPUT FROM MY CAR IS EXTREMELY POOR CAUSING A SAFETY CONCERN. UPON INVESTIGATING WHY THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS SO POOR, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT LIKE MANY OTHERS THE LIGHTS FITTED INTO THIS 2004 BMW 330I ARE MANUFACTURED FOR BMW BY A COMPANY CALLED ZKW WHO USED PLASTIC FOR THE REFLECTOR LENSES FOR THE HID ASSEMBLIES. THIS PLASTIC DEGRADES AND BECOMES BURNT WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHES THE LIGHT OUTPUT, EVEN FROM NEW OEM BULBS THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THE CAR. A LIGHT METER INDICATES THAT THESE LIGHTS NOW HAVE LESS THAN 50% OF THE LIGHT OUTPUT OF THE SAME CAR USING LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AL THAT BMW ALSO USED ON THESE VEHICLES. LONGEVITY OF LIGHT OUTPUT AVAILABILITY THROUGH LIGHTING DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A WEAR ITEM BY THE VEHICLE MAKER. THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF BOTH THE VEHICLE OWNER AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD WHO MAY BE SUBJECTED TO A CRASH CAUSED BY POOR VISIBILITY.
Structure, Jul 27, 2015
THE VAPOR BARRIER IN THE DOOR LEAKS DURING RAIN. THE FLOOR OF THE CAR GETS VERY WET.
Air bags, Jul 23, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED 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.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 9, 2015
HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS ON HID BEING BURNT THEREFORE NOT GIVING ENOUGH LIGHT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OWNERS OF THIS MODEL THAT HAS THE ZKW BRAND.
Air bags, Jun 18, 2015, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW 330XI. WHILE AT DRIVING AT 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO VEER TO THE LEFT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, HEAD, AND BACK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE UPPER BODY, HEAD, BACK, NECK, SHOULDERS, AND BOTH HIPS. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, BACK, AND LEFT HAND. ALL THREE PASSENGERS REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND BELIEVED THE RECALL WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.
Air bags, Jun 17, 2015
TL* 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.
Air bags, Jun 11, 2015
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, Jun 3, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 AND 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.
Air bags, Jun 2, 2015, crash
I SIDE SWIPED A CURB AT A WEIRD ANGLE AND IT CAUSED MY DRIVE SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SIDE AIR BAGS TO GO OFF. THE DRIVER AIRBAG EXPLODED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT BROKEN MY COLLAR BONE SEVERELY ENOUGH THAT I HAD TO HAVE SURGERY AND METAL PLATES PUT IT TO HOLD IT BACK TO TOGETHER.
Air bags, May 19, 2015
THERE ARE 2 OPEN RECALLS FOR AIRBAGS. BMW REFUSES TO ORDER PARTS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SENT ME A LETTER) UNLESS I BRING THE CAR TO A DEALER (130 MILES ROUND TRIP) FOR A 5 MINUTE "INSPECTION". THEY WILL THEN ORDER THE PARTS AND I WILL HAVE TO RETURN AGAIN (ANOTHER 130 MILE ROUND TRIP) TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. THEY ARE NICE ENOUGH TO OFFER A RENTAL CAR AT $35 A DAY BUT CAN'T TELL ME HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE. I BELIEVE THAT BMW IS INTENTIONALLY CREATING THIS "INSPECTION" OBSTACLE REQUIRING 2 TRIPS TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM HAVING THE WORK DONE. SHAMEFUL.
Air bags, May 15, 2015
I RECEIVED 2 NOTICES BY MAIL TO CONTACT THE BMW DEALER TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG AND WAS TOLD, DON'T CALL US WE'LL CALLYOU. THAT WAS 6 MONTHS AGO AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE LOCAL BMW DEALER, "FIELD'S BMW." THREE MONTHS AGO I CALLED AGAIN AND THEY SAID THEY ARE ON BACK ORDER. I CAN'T TAKE A PASSENGER WITH ME AND FLORIDAIS SUPPOSED TO HAVE PRIORITY FOR REPLACEMENT.
Air bags, May 12, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN AIR BAG RECALL. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Structure, May 12, 2015
I WAS DRIVING IN THE CENTER LANE AND A CEMENT TRUCK WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT LANE ABOUT ONE CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF ME WHEN SOME FELL OFF OF HIS TRUCK AND HIT MY HOOD, PUTTING A HOLE THROUGH IT. IT THEN HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE PANEL, MIRROR AND METAL PIECE BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PASSENGER WINDOW. I TRIED FOR A MINIMUM OF 5 MILES TO GET THE DRIVER TO PULL OVER TO NO AVAIL. I THINK HE MAY HAVE BEEN DRINKING BECAUSE WHEN HE CHANGED LANES HE WOULD USE THE WRONG TURN SIGNAL. LEFT LANE CHANGE HE USED THE RIGHT SIGNAL AND VICE VERSA. WE COULD NOT FIND THE PIECE THAT HIT MY CAR BUT IT WAS GREASY, BECAUSE I HAD GREASE AT EVERY DAMAGED AREA.
Air bags, May 4, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. 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 TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Electrical system, Apr 30, 2015
ALL DOORS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DRIVERS DOOR, ARE UNABLE TO OPEN MANUALLY INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. CANNOT USE ALARM OR UNLOCK BUTTON TO OPEN EITHER. THIS IS OF GREAT CONCERN CONSIDERING I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN UNDER MY CARE. *TR
Air bags, Apr 15, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V348000 (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, Apr 8, 2015
2004 BMW 330XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL REPLACEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL LETTER SHE RECEIVED STATED THE WORK WOULD BE PERFORMED FOR FREE. HOWEVER, SHE WAS CHARGED $99.50 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR BAG. *JB
Exterior lighting, Apr 6, 2015
HEAD LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. REFLECTORS ARE BURNED. HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT ON THE ROAD. CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Mar 24, 2015
THE HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS ON THIS CAR (AND OTHER OF THIS YEAR MODEL) ARE MANUFACTURED BY ZKW AND THEY HAVE FAILED CAUSING VERY LOW, UNSAFE LEVELS OF LIGHT OUTPUT. THE REFLECTORS ARE BURNT AND CRACKED. THE ONLY WAY TO GET ANY REASONABLE OR SAFE LIGHT OUTPUT FOR NIGHT DRIVING IS TO USE THE FOG LIGHTS AND THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND I AM SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. UNSAFE LIGHTING AND PROCEED WHILE UNKNOWINGLY ENDANGERING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. DO NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION LIGHT OUT PUT IN SOME STATES, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESS, IF YOU LOOK ON THE INTER NET PEOPLE ARE MODIFYING THEM TO GIVE MORE LIGHT WITCH MAKES IT MORE UNSAFE. *TR
Air bags, Mar 20, 2015
I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM BMW OVER A YEAR AGO THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE FOR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS IN THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN AND WHERE TO TAKE IT FOR REPLACEMENT. TO DATE I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BACK FROM BMW. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER, THEY SAID THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SUCH A RECALL. *TR
Air bags, Mar 18, 2015
NO INCIDENT BUT THEY ARE NOT ATTEMPTING TO FIX THE RECALL IN A REASONABLE TIME FOR THE FRONT AIR BAGS. I HAVE BEEN CONTACTING AREA BMW DEALERS FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW WITHOUT ONE CALL SAYING THEY HAVE THE PARTS OR AVAILABILITY TO GET MY CAR IN. SO I AM FORCED TO TRADE IN. *TR
Air bags, Mar 17, 2015
I DROVE MY CAR OVER A VERY MINUSCULE CRACK IN THE ROAD AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED AS I WAS MAKING A TURN AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE A PASSENGER AT THE TIME BUT THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAG SIMULTANEOUSLY BLOCKED MY VIEW OF THE RIGHT SIDE WINDOW WHILE I WAS MAKING A TURN, PUT ME INTO A STATE OF SHOCK AND CUT ALL POWER FROM MY CAR. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR WHILE THIS HAPPENED AND I WAS ALSO FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE CRASHED INTO ANYTHING WHILE MY LIFE WAS PUT IN SUCH SEVERE DANGER FROM THE STATE OF CHAOS THIS AIRBAG CAUSED. I CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY HAD STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MATCHING MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER, THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL ONLY COVERS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG AND NOT THE SIDE AIRBAG! *TR
Air bags, Mar 17, 2015
AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE. DISORIENTED DRIVE ENDED UP SWERVING TO CURB BEFORE COMING TO A REST. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM A BROKEN NOSE AND BRUISES TO THE FACE AND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE . BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER WERE WEARING SEAT BELT. DRIVER PROBABLY WAS SPARED ANY INJURY AS SHE IS NEAR SIX FOOT AND CAR SEAT IS SET BACK FURTHER. THERE WAS NO ALCOHOL INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT, POLICE ARRIVED TO THE SEEN AS ISSUED NO TICKETS OR CITATION AS THEY WERE DRIVING WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT AND WERE NOT DRIVING RECKLESS. ROAD WAS A 4 LANE DIVIDED ROAD STRAIGHT. *TR
Air bags, Mar 16, 2015
PASSENGER-SIDE -CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT PROVOCATION. THE CAR WAS NOT IN A COLLISION OF ANY KIND. I DO NOT RECALL ANY ROAD SURFACE IRREGULARITY.THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON I-95 IN MARYLAND. *TR
Air bags, Mar 11, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED 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.