2001 BMW 325I Exterior Lighting Problems

I am having a major electrical short in my trunk area affecting my critical tail lights functionalities and common trunk function. I cannot use my turning signals or brake lights or lights in general when driving my vehicle from the rear my lights are not operable. This is a huge safety concern and risk that’s need to be recalled affecting millions I'm for certain. Along with that I am having steering issue with my steering rack called “steering Wander”. Not being able to control you vehicle with supreme confidence is a issue which can easily lead to collisions.

FAULTY TAIL LIGHTS- THE RIGHT TAIL BULB ASSEMBLY ON THE CAR GOT SO HOT IT MELTED ALONG WITH THE PLUG. I CALLED THE BMW HOT LINE 800-525-7417, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR HAD 2 RECALLS FOR AIRBAGS, ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HAD A FAULTY TAIL LITE REPAIR IN 2002. I TRAILERED THE CAR ON 4/11/18 TO SEWELL GRAPEVINE BMW, WHERE SCOTT LORD IN THE SERVICE DEPT TOOK IT IN. I ASK FOR THEM TO FIND OUT ALSO ABOUT THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTING & I LEFT THE PART WITH THE CAR. ON 4/11/18 I RENTED THE SAME TRAILER & WENT TO PICKUP THE CAR, (I LIVE 40 MLS FROM THERE). UPON TALKING WITH MR. LORD, THE 2 RECALLS WHERE PERFORMED & HE SAID THE TECHNICIAN LEFT BROCHURES IN THE CAR ON HOW THE MELTED TAIL LIGHT IS REPAIRED & THAT THE CAR IS TOO OLD FOR THEM TO DO IT. FIRST OFF, THANKS TO NHTSA WEB SITE, I LEARNED THAT THERE WHERE 210,000 OF THESE CARS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BEGINNING WITH THE YEAR OF THIS CAR. 2ND, I 'VE NEVER KNOWN A RECALL TO EXPIRE UNTIL FIXED. I CALLED BMW RECALL BACK 5/2/18 & SHE SAID NO RECALLS ARE SHOWING NOW & THAT I'D HAVE TO CONTACT NHTSA, SO HERE I AM, DO THEY FIX IT, OR SHOULD I CONTACT A LAWYER? THANK YOU NHTSA! I'M GLAD THERE WAS NOT A CAN OF GAS IN THE TRUNK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, BOTH REAR LIGHTS FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT BECAME INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

Mileage: 190,000

RIGHT SIDE REAR LIGHTS BURNED OUT REPLACED BULBS NOTHING HAPPENED UNPLUGGED THE HARNESS TO FIND #4 PRONG COMPLETELY BURNED AWAY ON CAR CHECKED THE LEFT SIDE AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING IT IS GETTING HOT AND LOOKS LIKE IT IS READY TO BURN OUT ALSO. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

I OWN A 2001 BMW 325I. THE GROUND WIRES FOR THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY BURNED OUT, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE REPAIRS WOULD INCLUDE ADDING A GROUND WIRE TO THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED TEH CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE.

Mileage: 177,600

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS NON-FUNCTIONAL. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE RELATED TO PREVIOUS RECALL OF BMW'S RECALLED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V438000. I CALLED BMW WHICH TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2000-10-30 AND THAT CAMPAIGN APPLIES TO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER 09-2001. *TR

RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2000-10-30 AND THAT CAMPAIGN APPLIES TO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER 09-2001. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS DASHBOARD BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE INDICATING LIGHT FAILURE AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND THEY BEGAN TO FLASH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE BY UNPLUGGING THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000. ...UPDATED 10/17/12 *BF

Mileage: 137,000

A FRIEND WAS FOLLOWING ME HOME AND NEARLY RAN IN BACK OF ME BECAUSE SHE SAID I DIDN'T BRAKE , I TOLD HER I DID , BUT A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR, SO I WENT TO PURCHASE MORE BULBS, THE BULB WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, THEN THE WARNING LIGHT CAME BACK ON, THEN DAYS LATER THE OTHER ONE , I TOOK TO MECHANIC, HE FOUND THAT A PART IN THE HOUSING HAD BURNED ALL THE WAY DOWN, AND THAT I SHOULD CHECK ON RECALLS, BECAUSE IT'S NO FAULT OF MINE... I CHECKED RECALLS AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE HOUSING THAT HOUSES THE BRAKE AND SIGNAL LIGHTS, BEGINNING WITH 2002... MY CAR IS A 325I 2001, I FEEL THAT THIS YEAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL, I RESEARCHED ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A 2001 BMW325I WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE CURRENT RECALL... THIS COULD DEFINITELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, WITH THE HOUSING WORKING ONE MINUTE AND OUT THE NEXT , REALLY THINK THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IMMEDIATELY... I WAS PULLED OVER BY AN OFFICER STATING I DIDN'T SIGNAL, BUT I DID, THE SIGNAL WORKED IN CAR, BUT DIDN'T OUTSIDE ... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,000.

Mileage: 112,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHT CARRIAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE REAR TAIL LIGHT CARRIAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

Mileage: 85,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ERROR MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ALERTED TO HER THAT THE REAR QUARTER PANEL LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS BECAUSE THEY CREATED A FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE ERROR MESSAGE CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS) BUT DID NOT ADVISE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULB CARRIER FAILED AND CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 207,000. UPDATED 02/15/12 *BF THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECAL # 11V438000. THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 04/18/12

Mileage: 207,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GROUND WIRES FOR THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY BURNED OUT, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE REPAIRS WOULD INCLUDE ADDING A GROUND WIRE TO THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED TEH CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

Mileage: 186,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 177,236. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ UPDATED 02/13/12

Mileage: 177,236

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 177,236. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ UPDATED 02/13/12

Mileage: 177,236

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE WIRES IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INLCUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 86,000.

Mileage: 86,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE WIRING HAD BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS CAUSED THE REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,500.

Mileage: 189,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT HIS TAIL LAMPS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR TAIL LAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO HIS VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000.

Mileage: 112,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 325I. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS LEARNED OF MULTIPLE ISSUES REGARDING BMW BRAKE LIGHTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

Mileage: 93,000

I HAVE A 2001 325I BMW. THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS GET SO HOT THAT THEY MELT THE BULB WIRES AND MENT THE FIXTURE THAT HOLDS THE BULBS. THIS RESULTS IN NO BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY CAR. *AK

Mileage: 85,000

RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD KEEP BLOWING OUT. DEALER REPLACED THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND THE LIGHT SOCKET. AFTER A WEEK, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 30,000