1992 BMW 325I

4 recalls, 55 complaints - 4 TSBs

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY T... Read more

Consequence

IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.

340,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Defect Description

THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEP... Read more

Consequence

THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.

410,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Defect Description

THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING.

Consequence

IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CONTACT RING WIRING COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK. THE AIR BAG READINESS INDICATOR LAMP (SRS OR AIRBAG) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE, AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT VEHICLE COLLISION.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOCKING TAB WITH ONE OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN.

75,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Defect Description

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.

Consequence

IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

180,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Complaint Statistics

55 total complaints 2 crashes 2 fires 2 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM	9
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS	3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY	3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE	3
TIRES	2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE	2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY	2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS	2
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM	2

Incident date: Apr 20, 2014

I WAS DRIVING AT 70MPH ON I71 WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENABLED WHEN I FELT VIBRATIONS FOR APPROX. 20 SECONDS AND THEN MY RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. I HAD DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES UP TO THIS POINT AND I VERIFIED THAT TIRE TO BE 36 PSI AS RECENTLY AS THAT MORNING. THE TIRE HAS NO PUNCTURE DAMAGE AND TH... Read more

Incident date: Aug 16, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BMW 325I. WHENEVER THE CONTACT LOCKS THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, HE IS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THEM FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ONCE HE LOCKS THE DOORS, THE DOOR HANDLES AND LOCKS FAIL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOS... Read more

Incident date: Aug 17, 2008

I LOCKED MY 1992 BMW 325I WITH THE KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH MY FRIEND INSIDE (I DID NOT REALIZE HE HAD NOT GOTTEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE YET). I HAD DROPPED THE KEY WHEN I HEARD HIM POUND ON THE WINDOW (LOOSING THE KEY IN SOME BRUSH). WHEN THIS SITUATION HAD TRANSPIRED I FOUND OUT THAT HE COULD NOT OPE... Read more

2 injured

Incident date: Jul 24, 2005

THIS JUNE OF 2005 WHILE MY 92BMW325I WAS PARKED AT THE MALL, THE BACK PASSENGER TIRE I NOTICED BLEW UP. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO PIT STOP TO HAVE THE TIRE VULCANIZED, THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING W/IT BUT BE REPLACED. I REPLACED IT AT SAM'S CLUB W/AP205/60R15H TOUR. I ASKED IF THE OTHER 3 TIRES NEED... Read more

Incident date: Jan 14, 2005

WHILE ENTERING INTO THE VEHICLE THE DOOR FAILED TO OPENED. THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN PROPERLY. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Incident date: Apr 1, 2004

1) MOUNTS FOR REAR SUBFRAME TO BODY NOT STRONG ENOUGH. THEY FLEX AND CRACK LEADING TO A CHAIN REACTION THEN THE REAR END RIPS OFF. 2)I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY TWO WAY ROAD. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CARS REAR END IS MOVING TO THE LEFT AND I LOST CONTROL FOR A LITTLE. LUCKILY DIDNT CRASH INTO ANOTHER ... Read more

Incident date: Oct 19, 2003

I OWN A 1992 BMW 325I, IVE ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM, THE REAR SUB FRAME IS BREAKING APART FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A EXPENSIVE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS TO MANY BMWS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON A CAR, THIS IS A DEFECT THAT BMW SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE. *AK

Incident date: Oct 2, 2002

TOOK CAR THROUGH CAR WASH. CAR CAME OUT DEAD. TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHERE WATER GETS INTO THE MAIN ECM COMPUTER AND SHORTS IT OUT. THIS IS TERRIBLE. BMW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS. $1100 FOR GOING THROUGH A SIMPLE CAR WASH. OWNERS SHOULD BE CAUTIONED. MR

Incident date: Aug 15, 2002

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S FRAME. MR

Incident date: Sep 30, 1996

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A CLUTCH PROBLEM IN WHICH THE DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE PLATE AND T BEARING, LATER, THE THROW OUT BEARING, FRICTION PLATE, YOLK ARM AND PIVOT PIN WERE REPLACED DUE TO CLUTCH VIBRATION, THE UNIVERSAL JOINT ALSO FAILED. *SLC

Incident date: Oct 26, 1998

THE WATER PUMP LOCKED UP, THE FAN BLADE BROKE AND THE BELTS BURNED, DEALER REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, FAN AND BELTS, THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE TO AN OIL LEAK. *SLC

Incident date: Jun 12, 2001

THE CENTER CARRIER BEARING WAS REPLACED, THE REAR TOP SHOCK MOUNTS WERE ALSO REPLACED DUE TO A REAR END NOISE. *SLC

Incident date: Aug 16, 1995

THE BATTERY FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS. *SLC

Incident date: Mar 20, 1997

DEALER HAS REPLACED THE CLOSING/COMFORT RELAY, REGULATOR, WINDOW SWITCH AND OTHER FAULTY PARTS FOR THE POWER WINDOWS AND SUNROOF, THE RADIO ALSO FAILED. *SLC

Incident date: Mar 20, 1997

DEALER HAS REPLACED THE CLOSING/COMFORT RELAY, REGULATOR, WINDOW SWITCH AND OTHER FAULTY PARTS FOR THE POWER WINDOWS AND SUNROOF, THE RADIO ALSO FAILED. *SLC

Incident date: Jul 22, 1998

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ATTACHED INCORRECTLY, THE GAS TANK TOP SEALS AND THE REAR GAS TANK SENDER WERE REPLACED DUE TO GAS FUMES AND THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED. *SLC

Incident date: Aug 11, 1997

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ONCE DUE TO NOISE, BRAKE SENSORS HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED TWICE, REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED ONCE. *SLC

Incident date: May 24, 2002

STEERING LOCK BROKE, WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION CYLINDER ROTATED, HOWEVER NOTHING HAPPENED, THE ENTIRE DASH AND STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE TAKEN APART TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK. *SLC

Incident date: Jun 14, 2000

THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND RESISTOR WERE REPLACED. *SLC

Incident date: Jan 30, 2002

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A FIRE STARTED INSIDE OF VEHICLE. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED UNDER THE DASH.*AKAFTER FORENSIC STUDY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CUASED BY FUEL SEEPAGE AS A RESULT OF FUEL LINES HARDENING A... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Jan 30, 2002

Fire

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE LOST POWER. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO BMW, TECHNICIAN STATED PLASTIC COVER TO RADIATOR HAD CRACKED, AND HAD LOST COOLEN. COST TO CONSUMER WAS OVER THANSAND DOLLERS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Incident date: May 1, 2001

NOISE IN THE REAR OF CAR (SUBFRAME) KIND OF LIKE ITS OWN SQUEAK... NOT LIKE A DOOR SQUEAK, NOTHING ELSE MAKES THIS NOISE, SOUNDS REALLY BAD (SUBFRAME PROBLEM?)

Incident date: Jul 1, 1999

THE RADIATOR CAP FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 98V-178, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS DUE TO IMPROPER RADIATOR DESIGN. NLM

Incident date: Mar 15, 2001

I WAS LOSING COOLANT AND I COULD NOT FIND A LEAK OVER MORE THAN A YEAR. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM (AT UNITED BMW, DULUTH, GA) THE FOUND NO PROBLEM. ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTED THE WINDSHIELN VERY CLOWDY AND THE SMELL OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL COMING FROM THE HEATING DUCTS. SUDDENLY THIS BIG CLOUD OF WHITE MIST IN ... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2000

INDICATOR LIGHT FOR ELECTRONIC SHIFT CONTROL HAS FAILED WHEN WHEATHER GETS WET. *AK

Incident date: Dec 15, 2000

WHILE AT A STOP ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT A FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Aug 10, 2000

CAR OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH. EXACT MILES TRAVELED WHILE OVERHEATED UNKNOWN, BUT LESS THAN 10. SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS INDICATED FAILED WATER PUMP (PLASTIC IMPELLER CRACKED) WHICH CAUSED OVERHEATING AND DAMAGED HEAD GASKET. *AK

Incident date: Jun 27, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (93V-015). *MJS

Incident date: Jul 21, 2000

FREQUENT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILURE, SHORT LIFE MUFFLER, COSTLY SERVICE REMIND LIGHT RESET W/ DEARLER ONLY. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT IS LOOSE AND DOES NOT RETRACT BACK TO IT'S ORIGINAL POSITION. NLM

Incident date: Jul 2, 1997

DME UNIT GOT WET FROM A NORMAL CAR WASH; BMW BULLETIN ITEM BUT NOT RECALL; DEALERSHIP DRILLED A HOLE IN THE BOX PER BMWS INSTRUCTIONS AND SAID THAT WOULD PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 3 YEARS LATER; THE BULLETIN "FIX" WAS INSUFFICIENT. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS THE FAILED CO... Read more

HEATER CORE IS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. MECHANIC SAYS THE HEATER CORE AND THE PLASTIC ASSEMBLY AROUND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Incident date: Sep 9, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH WATER LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALLS WHILE DRIVING, DEALER NOTIFED AND REPAIRED THAT UNIT. AFTER TWO MONTHSAND TWO WEEKS, UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT CONSUMER'S COST. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITI... Read more

WINDOWS FOGGED UP DUE TO DEFFOGER/DEFROSTER OPERATING IMPROPERLY AS A RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

Incident date: Apr 1, 1999

RADIATOR CORD CRACKED, AND THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO, WINDOWS FOGGED UP DUE TO DEFROSTER WORKING IN PROPERLY AS A RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

Incident date: Apr 1, 1999

RADIATOR CORD CRACKED, AND THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO, WINDOWS FOGGED UP DUE TO DEFROSTER WORKING IN PROPERLY AS A RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

Incident date: May 1, 1999

VEHICLE ENGINE COLLANT SYSTEM FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND STEERING TO BECOME ERRATIC WHEN THE WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. NLM (98V-178)

Incident date: Aug 31, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING ON I-5, I NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE WAS INCREASING TO DANGEROUS LEVELS. UPON RETURNING TO THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA, I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WATER PUMP HAD FAILED DUE TO THE BREAKAGE OF THE IMPELLER. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM IN T... Read more

Incident date: Jul 9, 1999

COMPUTER BECAME FLOODED AFTER THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A CARWASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Incident date: Jan 1, 1997

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL (98V-178) PRIOR TO NOTICE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. MJS

Incident date: Jun 10, 1997

JACK WHEN INSTALLED IS NOT SAFE. IT CAN SLIP EASILY. I DO NOT USE IT ANYMORE. IT GOT BROKEN WHEN IT SLIP ON ME.*AK

Incident date: Jul 12, 1999

ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT IS DEFECTIVELY INSTALLED. WATER FROM RAIN AND CARWASHING CAN EASILY GET INTO THE SAID UNIT BOX CAUSING CIRCUIT SHORTS TO THE SAID EQUIPMENT. EQUIPMENT IS $1,200.00 TO REPLACED. BMW DEALERS KNOW THE PROBLEM AND CAN EASILY MODIFY THE INSTALLATION TO PROTECT IT FROM WATER DAMAGE... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 1996

RECALL 98V178000 CONCERNING NEWLY DESIGNED RADIATOR CAP. A RECALL REPAIRSHAD NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES, OTER PARTS MALFUNCTIONED, INCLUDING WATER PUMP/THEROMAST/GASKET/O-RING, EVAPORATOR, ETC, FOR WHICH CONSUMER SHOULD GET REIMBURSTED BECAUSE IT WAS CAUSED BY THIS DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER I... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 1996

Incident date: Jan 6, 1997

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL APART.

Incident date: May 30, 1996

WATER PUMP FAILED DUE TO THE OVERFLOW TANK SPLITTING.

Showing 50 of 55 complaints.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1992 BMW 325I

4 manufacturer communications from 3 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
140000 AIR BAGS	1
125000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS	1
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1
133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS	1

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

140000 AIR BAGS

RECALL 96V110 - BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HAS INITIATED A RECALL CAMPAIGN WHICH INVOLVES THE AIRBAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB. *TW

125000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

RECALL 96V111 - THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN INVOLVES THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *TW

BMW 325I - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the BMW 325I across all model years (1992, 2011).

69 Total Recalls

1,811 Total Complaints

0 Investigations

73 Reported Crashes

92 Reported Fires

2 Reported Deaths

BMW 325I - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2012	0	1	View
2011	3	1	View
2010	3	0	View
2009	3	0	View
2008	3	1	View
2007	3	1	View
2006	7	709	View
2005	5	81	View
2004	5	182	View
2003	8	261	View
2002	7	198	View
2001	7	196	View
2000	2	1	View
1999	1	0	View
1995	2	42	View
1994	3	23	View
1993	3	25	View
1992 (current)	4	55
1991	0	4	View
1990	0	5	View
1989	0	10	View
1988	0	7	View
1987	0	5	View

Other BMW Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
X5	223	4,349	View
X3	155	2,661	View
330I	122	1,050	View
X6	110	293	View
328I	108	3,743	View
M3	95	550	View
Z4	83	1,439	View
5 SERIES	78	557	View

Vehicle Safety

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1992 BMW 325I

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

Technical Service Bulletins, 1992 BMW 325I

Most Affected Components

BMW 325I - All Years Overview

BMW 325I - Year by Year

Other BMW Models