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2005 BMW 3 Series

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Air bags is the leading concern among 227 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  6. 227

Of the 2005 reports, 8 involved a crash and 11 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.

Primary concernAir bags118 reports · 52% of complaints
Owner complaints227Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationshipNo recalls on fileNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Air bags118
  2. Exterior lighting54
  3. Electrical system24
  4. Service brakes8
  5. Other or unspecified8
  6. Vehicle speed control7
  7. Visibility7
  8. Visibility/wiper7

Recalls and investigations

No safety recalls on file.

Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting

54 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Exterior lighting, Mar 7, 2011

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND BLINKER LIGHTS WERE FAILING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BULBCARRIERS, CONNECTORS, AND WIRING WERE BURNED OUT. THERE WERE NO GROUND WIRES PRESENT WHICH WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,380 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 03/31/11*LJ UPDATED 05/09/11

  2. Exterior lighting, Jan 16, 2011

    INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYS PICTURE OF CAR IN ORANGE, ALONG WITH LEFT, RIGHT OR BOTH TAIL LIGHTS. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT RECENTLY BECAME PERMANENT. LEFT TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR ALSO FLASHES QUICKLY. LEFT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT OPERATING (NO TAIL, BRAKE LIGHT OR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT). *LN

  3. Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 11, 2010

    2005 BMW 320I . TAIL LIGHT INDICATOR WARNING CAME ON. TURNS OUT THE WIRE WAS MELTED AROUND THE METAL WHERE THE WIRE PLUGS INTO TAIL LIGHT!! VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX! *TR

  4. Exterior lighting, Aug 12, 2010, fire

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRING MELTED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE HEADLIGHT WIRING WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 10/25/10 *BF WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OVERHEATED, IT MELTED THE WIRING. UPDATED 10/27/10