RoadVitals

1990 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.
6
Latest Jul 17, 2006
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.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 BMW 325, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and heating & air conditioning categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 5 manufacturer communications are 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

  • Airbags114.3%
  • Brakes114.3%
  • Heating & air conditioning114.3%
  • Driver assistance114.3%
  • Engine114.3%
  • Interior & seats114.3%
  • Visibility114.3%

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

Filed Jul 17, 2006

REGARDING MY 1990 BMW 325 CONVERTIBLE. THE COVERING UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL ABOVE THE PEDALS WILL FALL ON MY FEET WHEN I AM DRIVING, MY FEET GET CAUGHT AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND PUSH THE COVERING OFF MY FEET AND SHOVE IT BACK OVER THE PEDALS. THERE IS A PLACE FOR IT TO LOCK INTO EXCEPT TO SIT ABOVE THE PEDALS. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN MY FEET GET CAUGHT, I AM CONSTANTLY MOVING MY FEET TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL. I WAS GETTING MY OIL CHANGED AND THE PERSON WORKING THERE SAID HE ALSO HAD THAT PROBLEM WITH HIS BMW 325 CONVERTIBLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10162706
Incident
May 1, 2006
BrakesHeating & air conditioningInterior & seats
Filed Apr 1, 1997

BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE; IN ADDITION, CANNOT OPEN THE UNLOCKED DOOR FROM INSIDE/ DRIVER'S SEAT WOBBLES AND SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED, BURNING DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ID
514427
Incident
Jul 1, 1996
Visibility
Filed Sep 6, 1996

CONSUMER HAD RECALL #93V015000, FIXED A YEAR AGO, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR ENGINE COOLING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR OVERHEATED . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ID
801978
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 26, 1995

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. TT

NHTSA ID
972490
Incident
Aug 12, 1995
Engine
Filed Sep 1, 1995

ENGINE HCOOLING SYSTEM LEAKED AND THE ENGINE BURNED UP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
971461
Incident
Apr 17, 1995
Airbags
Filed Jun 2, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported

DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT END COLLISON; REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE; THREE CAR COLLISION; ONE SENSOR CRUSHED UPON IMPACT. TT

NHTSA ID
966229
Incident
Jan 12, 1995

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.

MSG0415

AIR BAGS

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

MSG1016

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

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

120894(4117)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE WILL NOT START. *TW

320193(3752)

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

NEW STYLE STEERING COLUMN. *TW

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—
1990Viewing621—
1989112159.8
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.