2002 BMW 325I Exterior Lighting Problems

NHTSA component category: EXTERIOR LIGHTING · data through 07/12/2026

38Exterior Lighting complaints

23.5%Of all 162 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How exterior lighting ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS45 · 27.8%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING38 · 23.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16 · 9.9%

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS12 · 7.4%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6 · 3.7%

Share of the 162 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2002 BMW 325I overview page.

What owners report

“I WAS MADE AWARE OF A TWO OPEN SAFETY RECALLS FOR MY CAR. I AM TOLD THAT THE AFFECTED PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR…”NHTSA complaint 10717817 — filed 05/21/2015

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE…”NHTSA complaint 10604584 — filed 06/19/2014

“I BOUGHT MY 2002 BMW 325I FROM SAN FRANCISCO BMW IN 2003, SO FAR I HAVE RECEIVED ONLY ONE NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE…”NHTSA complaint 10552240 — filed 11/14/2013

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Exterior Lighting complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 BMW 325I have exterior lighting problems?

Exterior Lighting is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2002 BMW 325I: 38 of 162 complaints on file (23.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2002 BMW 325I have in total?

162 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 7 involved a crash, 19 involved a fire, 7 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's exterior lighting category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the EXTERIOR LIGHTING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.