Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 BMW 325i owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V018000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list as she no longer own the vehicle. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
Takata recall: I am currently in communication with state farm agent, terry wood [[phone]]. 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. …
The ground wire on my break light has burned through the 8 pin connector not only is this limiting my ability to warn other drivers it is a major fire hazard this was discovered during a recall service at the local dealership I do not believe. The proper steps have been taken to remedy this problem and if this can not be resolved informally I would like to pursue formal litigation against all parties involved and for discovery purpose all related correspondence, video, and recorded evidence should be preserved. Currently the break light is not working and there are defective and hazardous airbags.
I was driving by myself on the freeway and a rubble the size of a basketball was rolling towards my path. I do not know if it fell from a construction vehicle or it already hit another car and that the rubble just ricochet towards me. Anyway I was going 65 miles per hour and was in the middle lane and there were cars on both sides and a car not too far off behind. I never had the chance to avoid the rubble so I just braced myself and hope that the rubble would get past me. Unfortunately, it hit my left side and elevated my car around 2 to 3 feet from the ground and flattened my two left tires. The airbag on the front passenger side deployed, the one on the door and the one on the upper roof panel. None of the driver side airbags deployed. I just had a little whiplash from the impact but I was fine. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. While driving 15 MPH, the passenger door side curtain air bag deployed independently and without an impact. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to BMW of south atlanta (4171 jonesboro rd, union city, ga 30291, [phone]) to be repaired. The dealer stated that the air bag underneath the dashboard was replaced; however, the side curtain air bags were not replaced. The contact stated that the side curtain air bag was still hanging out from the side curtain air bag housing. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V428000 (air bags) and 15V318000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 194,700.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V318000 (air bags); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that due to the fact there had been no incident reports regarding the driver side air bag, they were not placing the same rush on the repair as the passenger side air bag. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
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.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V318000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to a the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag module needed to be replaced. The contact mentioned the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Total engine failure. Air bag lights illuminated. Air condition failure. Several electrical component failures. Incident occurred at idle speed at stoplight. Currently window system failure due to automobile accident. Window were slow to roll prior to the accident. Reported to BMW denied for warranty coverage. Rear side highway speed contact airbags failed to deploy resulting in medical injury on October 11th 2013. Window now inoperable BMW still fails to acknowledge any responsibility to design flaw.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 BMW 325i. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a back injury that did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000. The VIN was not available.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
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.
Air bags
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other 325i years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 BMW 325i?
NHTSA has 62 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 BMW 325i, 42% of the model year's 147 complaints. The component named most often is side/window (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 BMW 325i airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-018 (inflator module, Jan 15, 2020); NHTSA recall 14V-428 (air bags, Jun 11, 2018); NHTSA recall 15V-318 (inflator module, May 28, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 BMW 325i airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 114,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.