2004 BMW 3 Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2004 BMW 3 Series, and owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2004 BMW 3 Series. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
77 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2004 BMW 3 Series have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 86,352 miles. Complaints peaked in 2012 with 14 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Headlamp bulb out and upon replacement it was noted the coated wiring to the xenon system to right and left headlight is brittle (the wires plastic coating is falling off)and in some places exposed wi”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 22, 2019 · Exterior lighting
“New defective brake pads caused a traffic accident with total loss of the vehicles involved. Brake pads are contaminated and embedded with a slippery substance. Pads are from prime choice auto parts 4”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 9, 2018 · Service brakes
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2004 BMW 3 Series (325ci, 325ci Convertible, 325i, 325i Sport Wagon, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–19 / 23–28 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Minicompact Cars, Small Station Wagons, Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 2.5/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S5); Automatic (S6); Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare BMW 3 Series model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 3 Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 5 |
| 1998 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 6 |
| 2000 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 88 |
| 2001 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 36 |
| 2002 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 26 |
| 2003 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 73 |
| 2004 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 77 |
| 2005 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 25 |
| 2006 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 202 |
| 2007 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 115 |
| 2008 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 68 |
| 2009 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 53 |
| 2010 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 30 |
| 2011 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 1 |
| 2012 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 7 |
| 2013 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 21 |
| 2023 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2004 BMW 3 Series
How do I know if my 2004 BMW 3 Series has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
- 335I810 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.