RoadVitals

1992 BMW 325 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
23
Latest Nov 26, 2008
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
12
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.
4

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1992 BMW 325, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags416.0%
  • Visibility312.0%
  • Engine312.0%
  • Transmission312.0%
  • Interior & seats28.0%
  • Fuel system28.0%
  • Brakes28.0%
  • Electrical28.0%
  • Steering14.0%
  • Exterior lighting14.0%
  • Body & structure14.0%
  • Suspension14.0%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG LIGHT, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STILL ON. *AK

NHTSA ID 844558 · filed Aug 6, 1999

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING LOCKED UP DUE TO SOMETHING INSIDE THE AIR BAG MECHANISM BREAKING.*AK

NHTSA ID 802846 · filed Sep 24, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

HEATER CORE HAS RUPTURED, CAUSING WINDOWS TO FOG UP. THIS CONDITION MAKES IT HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE. *AK

NHTSA ID 850613 · filed Oct 13, 1999

WINDOWS FOG UP AND DO NOT COOL PROPERLY. DEALER NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM. REPAIRWORK NOT DONE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID 842913 · filed Jul 22, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WATER PUMP AND IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURES.

NHTSA ID 540602 · filed Sep 4, 1998

RADIATOR HEATER CORE EXPLODED, FILLING VEHICLE WITH STEAM AND SMOKE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ID 533876 · filed Apr 8, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BMW 325. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BACKFIRE AND LOSE POWER. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO HESITATE AND SHAKE WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY STARTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 206,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,880.

NHTSA ID 10249961 · filed Nov 26, 2008

WHEN SHIFTING GEARS FRONT WILL MAKE A CRACKLING NOISE. *AK CONSUMER STATES ENTIRE BACK END SUSPENSION (STRUTS LEFT AND RIGHT) HOLDING THE REAR WHEELS, TRANSMISSION DIFFERENTIALS TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME, DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED, HOWEVER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE LIABILITY OR INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE PRODUCT DESIGN DEFECT. *SLC

NHTSA ID 888809 · filed May 21, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEATS ROCK ABOUT 2 INCHES PLAY WHEN ADDED FORCE. *AK

NHTSA ID 512139 · filed Dec 9, 1996

WAS STRUCK FROM REAR AT 20MPH, DRIVERS SIDE SEAT TRACK PULLED UP FROM FLOOR. TT

NHTSA ID 966566 · filed Jun 9, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

GAS TANKS LEAKS IF THE VEHICLE IS FILLED OVER THE 1/2 FULL MARK, POSSIBLY DUE TO A SEAL FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID 706972 · filed May 29, 1999

NO GAS IS GETTING TO THE ENGINE. TT

NHTSA ID 974780 · filed Nov 8, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WAS PULLING FROM STOP LIGHT, HAD APPLIED BRAKES SUDDENLY AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED & BROKE DRIVER'S ARM. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. PLASTIC HOUSING OF CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD BROKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID 825760 · filed Jul 22, 1998

ABS, BRAKE CALIPERS ON THE FRONT LOCKUP AT HWY SPEED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH,ALSO LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. TT

NHTSA ID 976221 · filed Dec 6, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE STARTER NEED TO BE REPLACED, DEALER REPLACED TWO BUT NOT THIRD ONE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ID 800906 · filed Aug 15, 1996

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTS, CAUSING POWER DOOR LOCKS/WINDOWS/SUN ROOF/SEAT WARMERS TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID 484231 · filed Jul 4, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER WAS IN AND ACCIDENT AND THE STEERING GEAR NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ID 982788 · filed Apr 16, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

HEADLIGHT LENS COVERS WERE ORIGINALLY 100 PERCENT TRANSPARENT. OVER THE YEARS, WITH NO ABUSE, THEY SEEM TO BECOMING INCREASINGLY YELLOWED. IT IS TO THE POINT THAT THEY DIMINISH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA ID 526507 · filed Nov 29, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE REAR CROSSMEMBER TO SUBFRAME AND TO THE FLOOR PAN BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE SUBFRAME TO FALL DOWN WHILE DRIVING. COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID 829342 · filed Oct 22, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN SHIFTING GEARS FRONT WILL MAKE A CRACKLING NOISE. *AK CONSUMER STATES ENTIRE BACK END SUSPENSION (STRUTS LEFT AND RIGHT) HOLDING THE REAR WHEELS, TRANSMISSION DIFFERENTIALS TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME, DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED, HOWEVER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE LIABILITY OR INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE PRODUCT DESIGN DEFECT. *SLC

NHTSA ID 888809 · filed May 21, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .