RoadVitals

1988 BMW 325I

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.
5
Latest Jan 28, 2009
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.
0
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.
0
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.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 BMW 325I, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and engine categories. 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

  • Brakes228.6%
  • Body & structure114.3%
  • Engine114.3%
  • Interior & seats114.3%
  • Powertrain (other)114.3%
  • 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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

EngineVisibility
Filed Jan 28, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A GASKET FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED AND CAUSED THE SYSTEM PRESSURE TO INCREASE, WHICH CAUSED THE GASKET TO BURST. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 93V015000 (VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:HEATER CORE), BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE GASKET. INSTEAD, THEY WILL INSTALL A REVISE RADIATOR CAP AND A BYPASS VALVE AT THE COST OF $1,000-$1,500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WILL NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 02-23-09 *BF UPDATED 02/29/09. *JB

NHTSA ID
10256575
Incident
Jan 21, 2009
Mileage
135,000 mi
BrakesInterior & seats
Filed Mar 22, 2006

MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT JUST CAME ON ONE DAY, THEN I STARTED FEELING AND HEARING LIKE A THUMP OR BOUNCE IN THE RIGHT PASSENGER TIRE/WHEEL. HAD TIRE CHECKED NOTHING WRONG , NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKES ? *JB

NHTSA ID
10153401
Incident
Feb 1, 2006
Body & structure
Filed Nov 8, 2004
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 1988 BMW 325IS IN THE RAIN, AND LOST CONTROL. SHE WAS HIT IN A SIDE IMPACT BY A LATE MODEL CHEVROLET CAMARO TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE HIT WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND MY WIFE'S PASSENGER WERE SEVERELY INJURED. I BELIEVE THAT THE BMW'S DOOR DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE, AS THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY OBLITERATED. THE DOOR DID NOT CRUMPLE, BUT INSTEAD FOLDED INWARD AND UPWARD, FILLING UP THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PLEASE SEE PICTURES AT: HTTP://WWW.SNOWRABBIT.ORG/325IS_ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10098484
Incident
Oct 19, 2004
Mileage
187,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 27, 2001

I HAVE TRIED TO SETTLE WITH THE DEALER, BUT HE HAS REFUSED. I HAVE PROOF OF THE ODOMETER FRAUD AND SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR, I HAVE SPENT $1300 IN REPAIRS PLUS $1700 IN ATTORNEY'S FEES. I'M AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO FURTHER PROCEED.*AK

NHTSA ID
747449
Brakes
Filed Aug 1, 2000

NO SUMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
726353
Incident
Jul 30, 2000

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 325I by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012100—
2011130—
2010030—
2009030—
2008130—
2007130—
20065157359.7
2005715561.5
20041475562.1
20031998361.2
20021627365.5
20011517056.6
2000120—
1999010—
1995312048.8
1994173044.7
1993213040.2
1992404050.8
1991400—
1990500—
1989800—
1988Viewing500—
1987501—
1986001—
1985001—

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.