Recall 11V438 covers 241,000 2002-2005 BMW 325I, 325XI, 330I, and 330XI vehicles for rear lamp failures. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.
BMW is recalling 241,000 2002-2005 325I, 325XI, 330I, and 330XI vehicles because resistance in rear lamp electrical contacts can stop tail lights, brake lights, or turn signals from working. Intermittent rear lighting gives other motorists less warning of the driver's intentions and can lead to a crash without warning; the BMW dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The rear lamps on the 2002-2005 BMW 325I, 325XI, 330I, and 330XI are the light assemblies in the body panel at the back of the vehicle. They handle the tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals. Those lamps tell drivers behind you when the vehicle is visible at night, slowing, or turning.
On affected BMW vehicles, electrical resistance builds in the contacts that feed those rear lamp circuits. A contact is the metal connection that lets current pass from the wiring into the lamp assembly. When resistance gets too high, current no longer reaches the lamp cleanly, and the tail light, brake light, turn signal, or more than one rear lamp function stops working.
There is no warning sign before failure. You learn about the problem when a rear lamp function stops working or another driver points out that a light is out.
Who's affected?
Spans 4 BMW model variants, 330I, 330XI, 325I, and 325XI, across 2002-2005, with turn signal, brake light, and tail light components listed.
| 2003 BMW 330I | Turn signal |
|---|---|
| 2003 BMW 330I | Brake lights |
| 2003 BMW 330I | Tail lights |
| 2002 BMW 330I | Turn signal |
| 2002 BMW 330I | Brake lights |
| 2002 BMW 330I | Tail lights |
| 2003 BMW 330XI | Turn signal |
| 2003 BMW 330XI | Brake lights |
| 2003 BMW 330XI | Tail lights |
| 2005 BMW 330XI | Turn signal |
| 2005 BMW 330XI | Brake lights |
| 2005 BMW 330XI | Tail lights |
| 2004 BMW 330XI | Turn signal |
| 2004 BMW 330XI | Brake lights |
| 2004 BMW 330XI | Tail lights |
| 2004 BMW 325I | Turn signal |
| 2004 BMW 325I | Brake lights |
| 2004 BMW 325I | Tail lights |
| 2002 BMW 325XI | Turn signal |
| 2002 BMW 325XI | Brake lights |
| 2002 BMW 325XI | Tail lights |
| 2002 BMW 330XI | Turn signal |
| 2002 BMW 330XI | Brake lights |
| 2002 BMW 330XI | Tail lights |
| 2005 BMW 325XI | Turn signal |
| 2005 BMW 325XI | Brake lights |
| 2005 BMW 325XI | Tail lights |
| 2004 BMW 325XI | Turn signal |
| 2004 BMW 325XI | Brake lights |
| 2004 BMW 325XI | Tail lights |
| 2003 BMW 325XI | Turn signal |
| 2003 BMW 325XI | Brake lights |
| 2003 BMW 325XI | Tail lights |
| 2005 BMW 325I | Turn signal |
| 2005 BMW 325I | Brake lights |
| 2005 BMW 325I | Tail lights |
| 2003 BMW 325I | Turn signal |
| 2003 BMW 325I | Brake lights |
| 2003 BMW 325I | Tail lights |
| 2002 BMW 325I | Turn signal |
| 2002 BMW 325I | Brake lights |
| 2002 BMW 325I | Tail lights |
| 2005 BMW 330I | Turn signal |
| 2005 BMW 330I | Brake lights |
| 2005 BMW 330I | Tail lights |
| 2004 BMW 330I | Turn signal |
| 2004 BMW 330I | Brake lights |
| 2004 BMW 330I | Tail lights |
| Units affected | 241,000 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific car.
What's the safety risk?
Intermittent light operation makes it harder for other drivers to see the driver's intentions. That loss of warning can increase crash risk without advance notice. Schedule the recall repair and watch for exterior lights that fail to work consistently. Repair will be free at any franchised BMW dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2002-2005 BMW 330I, 330XI, 325I, or 325XI is included in this recall.
- Contact BMW customer relations or a franchised BMW dealer for the current repair status before you drive in.
- Ask the dealer about the free rear-lamp electrical-contact repair that restores tail light, brake light, and turn-signal operation.
- Reference recall number 11V438 when you call, and bring the recall notice if BMW mailed one.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete. Signal early, leave extra following distance, and confirm your rear lights are working before each trip.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a BMW technician repairs the rear lamp electrical contact issue that affects the tail light, brake light, or turn signal functions in the body panel. BMW's filing does not give a more specific parts list for this repair, but it states that dealers repair the vehicles free of charge. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. For scheduling or repair status questions, contact a BMW dealer or BMW Customer Relations and Services.
Timeline
| August 26, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 15, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V438?
Recall 11V438 covers 241,000 2002-2005 BMW 325I, 325XI, 330I, and 330XI vehicles with rear lamp electrical contacts that can stop tail lights, brake lights, or turn signals from working. BMW dealers will repair the vehicles for free.
What should I do if my 2002-2005 BMW 325I, 325XI, 330I, or 330XI is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 11V438. If it is, contact a franchised BMW dealer to schedule the rear lamp repair. Reference recall number 11V438 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and BMW's remedy says dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. Use a franchised BMW dealer for the recall work.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that rear lamp functions can stop working, including the tail lights, brake lights, or turn signals. That reduces the vehicle's ability to warn other drivers about braking, turning, or nighttime visibility, increasing crash risk without warning.
What if I bought my BMW used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2002-2005 BMW 325I, 325XI, 330I, or 330XI is included, then call a BMW dealer with recall number 11V438.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V438000 |
|---|---|
| BMW customer service | 1-800-525-7417 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V438 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V438000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →