RoadVitals

1989 BMW 325

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jan 10, 2001
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Apr 11, 1994
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 BMW 325, most frequently naming the driver assistance, visibility and interior & seats categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance541.7%
  • Visibility325.0%
  • Interior & seats216.7%
  • Brakes18.3%
  • Seat belts18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
94V066000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Apr 11, 1994
116,300 units potentially affected
The defect: FEED FUEL HOSES CAN HARDEN AND "SET" OVER TIME, ALLOWING A SEEPAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING. THE CLAMP USED TO HOLD THE HOSE TO THE FITTING IS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HARDENING OF THE FEED FUEL HOSE.
The risk: FUEL SEEPAGE BETWEEN THE FEED FUEL HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING CAN RESULT IN FREE FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The remedy: A REDESIGNED FEED FUEL HOSE AND HOSE CLAMP WILL BE INSTALLED TO ALLEVIATE THE FUEL SEEPAGE.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov
93V015000

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

Feb 1, 1993
375,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND A RESULTING INCREASE IN SYSTEM PRESSURE.
The risk: VEHICLES OPERATED UNDER THIS INCREASED COOLING SYSTEMPRESSURE CONDITION CAN SUFFER DAMAGE OR FAILURE OF PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEMSUCH AS (1) LEAKAGE FROM A COOLANT HOSE, (2) LEAKAGE OF THE RADIATOR OREXPANSION TANK, (3) DISCONNECTION OF A HOSE FROM A PIPE OR A FITTING, AND (4)CRACKS IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE. IN SOME CASES,BOILING COOLANT CAN CONTACT THE LOWER RIGHT LEG OF THE DRIVER RESULTING INBURNS. ALSO, ESCAPING COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE VAPORFOGGING OF THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE WINDOWS, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THERMOSTATIC BYPASS VALVE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO CONTROL COOLANT TEMPERATURE IN THE HEATER CORE. ALSO, A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP WILL BE INSTALLED, TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA92017ClosedEngineering Analysis

HEATER CORE FAILURE

Opened Jun 2, 1992
Closed Mar 30, 1993

There is no summary currently available

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEMLed to recall 93V015000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 11
Visibility
Filed Jan 10, 2001

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 93V015000/HEATER CORE. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH A CRACKED HEATER CORE WHICH CAUSED HOT FLUIDS TO ENTER PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
877884
Visibility
Filed Jul 20, 2000

RECALL 93V015000/ HEATER CORE RECALL. DEALER IS JOHN ROBERT BMW, 2537 FOREST LANE, DALLAS, TX 75234, 972-247-7233. DEALER STILL HAS NO PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK . BMW STATES RECALL WAS DONE ON JULY 21,2000, AT AUTO BOND IN FT WORTH TX.

NHTSA ID
865759
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 9, 1998

DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE/LEANING TO THE RIGHT SIDE. IT IS ALSO NOT VERY STURDY BUT WOBBLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
523284
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 15, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. DEALER STATED THE FLOOR MAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
814205
Incident
May 19, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 11, 1997

ON THREE OCCASIONS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
517589
Incident
Sep 1, 1994
Driver assistance
Filed May 12, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH SUDDENLY VEHICLE TOOK OFF, THEN VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING A CURVE; HAD FOOT ON BRAKES AT THE TIME. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE SURGING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
812194
Incident
Apr 8, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Mar 4, 1997

VERY SMALL PIECES OF THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE LATCH BREAK OFF AND FALL INTO LATCH, CAUSING IT TO JAM. *AK

NHTSA ID
514797
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 16, 1996

CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE OF SERVICE INDICATOR LIGHT/TACHOMETER. *SD

NHTSA ID
501567
Incident
Feb 16, 1996

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

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

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 325 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012011—
2011011—
2010011—
2009011—
2008111—
2007011—
2006811—
2003900—
2002262352.6
2001312054.6
2000020—
1999200—
1998400—
1997100—
1996400—
1995230042.2
1994251044.5
1993831—
1992233258.9
1991632—
1990621—
1989Viewing112159.8
1988721—
1987152365.9
1986934—
1985125—
1984311—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.