2004 Model Year

BMW 3 Series

NHTSA Complaints & Reliability Data

Compare
Complaints
557
Recalls
0
Crashes
25
Severe
70

Recent Complaints

Latest owner reports

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER
May 2025

I cannot use put my windows up/down, cannot open the trunk, cannot use interior lights, cannot unlock my gas lid. Due to a broke. Electronic part cal...

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Crash
May 2025

The contact owns a 2004 BMW 330CI. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and shifting to the reverse position, the engine began to rev ve...

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 2025

Unknown

Exterior Lighting
Apr 2025

The contact owns a 2004 BMW 325 CI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side rear turn signal light became ino...

Structure
Jun 2024

Window rolled down, but never went back up. Happened on multiple windows of my vehicle. Has been a common problem among these cars, caused me to fail...

AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES Crash
Feb 2024

While backing out of a short driveway and placed t to drive, the vehicle revved and started speeding out of control with brakes applied. The vehicle s...

Exterior Lighting
May 2023

This car has factory HID Xenon projector headlights. Over time the reflector bowls burned and melted from the heat of the light bulbs, causing some wi...

Air Bags
Jun 2022

The contact owned a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V018000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from t...

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Nov 2021

THIS CAR WAS SOLD TO US UNDER FALSE STATEMENTS,WIPER DISPENSER DOES NOT WORK ,KEY FOB DOES NOT WORK,NO TITLE ,THE CAR HESITATES AND VIBRATES,OIL LEAK,...

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
Jul 2021

The contact’s girlfriend owns a 2004 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V018000 (Air Bags). The contact’s girlfr...

VS

Vehicle Safety Research Team

Automotive Data Analysts

Independent researchers analyzing NHTSA data to help consumers make informed vehicle decisions.

Data updated: March 5, 2026

Summary

The 2004 BMW 3 Series has 557 complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most commonly reported issue is Air Bags. 25 crash-related incidents have been reported.

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