RoadVitals

1989 BMW 325I 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.
8
Latest Feb 6, 2007
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 BMW 325I, 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

  • Fuel system220.0%
  • Driver assistance220.0%
  • Engine220.0%
  • Brakes110.0%
  • Interior & seats110.0%
  • Seat belts110.0%
  • Visibility110.0%

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

Fuel system

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

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

1989 BMW 325I - FUEL LINE DISINTEGRATION. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 1994 - WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE FIXED - DEALER DECLINE "NO OUTSTANDING RECALL", CALLED BMW 800 831 1117 ON 2/6/2007 - PROVIDED VIN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN RECALL 94V066000 IS BEING EXPERIENCED BY THIS VEHICLE. IF BMW FIXED IT, THE FIX IS DEFECTIVE. A 1989 CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE FUEL LINES DEGRADING AN SPILLING GASOLINE ON THE ENGINE. SEEMS THE RECALL NEEDS ANOTHER RECALL OR THERE WILL BE A FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. *JB

NHTSA ID 10181821 · filed Feb 6, 2007

PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH OF PURCHASE DATE (. CAR BOUGHT USED, FROM MECHANIC/BMW AUTHORIZED REPAIR SERVICE (SAME MECHANIC IN FOLLOWING NARRATIVE). NOTICED 1): COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON; COOLANT LEVEL SLIGHTLY LOW; TOLD PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE COMPUTER CHIP, TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN BECAUSE LIGHT COMING ON MORE OFTEN, COOLANT LEVEL LOW TO EMPTY IN OVERFLOW AFTER MEDIUM-LONG DISTANCE DRIVE (75 - 100 MILES); TOLD TO JUST KEEP PUTTING COOLANT IN OVERFLOW, NOTHING WAS WRONG; ASKED MECHANIC TO CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM EVERY TIME WE BROUGHT CAR IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES, BUT TRAVEL DISTANCE IS LESS (50-75 MILES), BROUGHT IN AGAIN, TOLD RADIATOR LEAKING; MECHANIC PUT STOP-LEAK IN IT; SAME PROBLEM, EVEN LESS TRAVEL DISTANCE (30 MILES); REPLACED RADIATOR; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED,(AFTER DRIVING 25-35 MILES), TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; TRAVEL DISTANCE 13 MILES, LIGHT GOES ON, ENGINE MAKES LOUD NOISE; TOOK CAR IN, TOLD COOLANT GOT INTO ENGINE AND HEAD OR ENGINE BLOCK PROBABLY CRACKED AS A RESULT OF OVER-HEATING, EVEN THOUGH TEMP GAUGE NEVER INDICATED ANY OVERHEATING; TOLD FOR FIRST TIME THAT TEMP GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER AFTER COOLANT FALLS BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL: TOLD THIS WAS A BMW PROBLEM BECAUSE OF WHERE THE SENSOR IS LOCATED; TOLD PROBLEM COULD BE SOLVED WITH A "STOP-LEAK" TYPE OF PRODUCT FOR THE ENGINE; SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN:LIGHT ON, COOLANT LEVEL 0; FINALLY JUST TOLD 8-22-05 THE HEAD IS CRACKED. 2):FRONT WINDOW WOUOLD NOT DEFROST, EVEN WHEN WE WIPED IT OFF. 3): SMELL OF GASOLINE: TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP FOR THE COOLANT PROBLEM THIS LAST TIME FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. WE HAVE SPENT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS PRIOR TO THIS LATEST DIAGNOSIS, NOW MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL COST US AT MINIMUM 1400 FOR A USED HEAD. DEFROST PROBLEM NOT SOLVED; GASOLINE SMELL STILL THERE.

NHTSA ID 10134019 · filed Aug 24, 2005

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

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER CAME TO A STOP WHEN VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR.*AK *MJ

NHTSA ID 8011789 · filed Jun 13, 2002

WHILE SHIFTING GEAR TO DRIVE AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UP TO 60 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID 8011788 · filed Jun 13, 2002

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH OF PURCHASE DATE (. CAR BOUGHT USED, FROM MECHANIC/BMW AUTHORIZED REPAIR SERVICE (SAME MECHANIC IN FOLLOWING NARRATIVE). NOTICED 1): COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON; COOLANT LEVEL SLIGHTLY LOW; TOLD PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE COMPUTER CHIP, TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN BECAUSE LIGHT COMING ON MORE OFTEN, COOLANT LEVEL LOW TO EMPTY IN OVERFLOW AFTER MEDIUM-LONG DISTANCE DRIVE (75 - 100 MILES); TOLD TO JUST KEEP PUTTING COOLANT IN OVERFLOW, NOTHING WAS WRONG; ASKED MECHANIC TO CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM EVERY TIME WE BROUGHT CAR IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES, BUT TRAVEL DISTANCE IS LESS (50-75 MILES), BROUGHT IN AGAIN, TOLD RADIATOR LEAKING; MECHANIC PUT STOP-LEAK IN IT; SAME PROBLEM, EVEN LESS TRAVEL DISTANCE (30 MILES); REPLACED RADIATOR; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED,(AFTER DRIVING 25-35 MILES), TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; TRAVEL DISTANCE 13 MILES, LIGHT GOES ON, ENGINE MAKES LOUD NOISE; TOOK CAR IN, TOLD COOLANT GOT INTO ENGINE AND HEAD OR ENGINE BLOCK PROBABLY CRACKED AS A RESULT OF OVER-HEATING, EVEN THOUGH TEMP GAUGE NEVER INDICATED ANY OVERHEATING; TOLD FOR FIRST TIME THAT TEMP GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER AFTER COOLANT FALLS BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL: TOLD THIS WAS A BMW PROBLEM BECAUSE OF WHERE THE SENSOR IS LOCATED; TOLD PROBLEM COULD BE SOLVED WITH A "STOP-LEAK" TYPE OF PRODUCT FOR THE ENGINE; SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN:LIGHT ON, COOLANT LEVEL 0; FINALLY JUST TOLD 8-22-05 THE HEAD IS CRACKED. 2):FRONT WINDOW WOUOLD NOT DEFROST, EVEN WHEN WE WIPED IT OFF. 3): SMELL OF GASOLINE: TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP FOR THE COOLANT PROBLEM THIS LAST TIME FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. WE HAVE SPENT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS PRIOR TO THIS LATEST DIAGNOSIS, NOW MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL COST US AT MINIMUM 1400 FOR A USED HEAD. DEFROST PROBLEM NOT SOLVED; GASOLINE SMELL STILL THERE.

NHTSA ID 10134019 · filed Aug 24, 2005

THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. *JB

NHTSA ID 10012488 · filed Mar 25, 2003

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID 703945 · filed Mar 2, 1999

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, TACHOMETER, MPG GAUGE BATTERIES ON SI BOARD FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, TACHOMETER, MPG GAUGE TO STOP WORKING. SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT FROM NOT KNOWING ENGINE TEMP. *LA

NHTSA ID 10042963 · filed Oct 15, 2003

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

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FRONT SEAT BELT LACHES ARE DIFFICULT TO LATCH. THEY ALSO COME UNLATCHED BY THEMSELVES PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TWO BMW'S AN 87 325E AND AN 89 325I THAT HAVE BOTH HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY UNNERVING TO WONDER WHETHER THE LACH ON THE SEATBELT WILL HOLD YOU IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID 10053206 · filed Jan 14, 2004

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH OF PURCHASE DATE (. CAR BOUGHT USED, FROM MECHANIC/BMW AUTHORIZED REPAIR SERVICE (SAME MECHANIC IN FOLLOWING NARRATIVE). NOTICED 1): COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON; COOLANT LEVEL SLIGHTLY LOW; TOLD PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE COMPUTER CHIP, TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN BECAUSE LIGHT COMING ON MORE OFTEN, COOLANT LEVEL LOW TO EMPTY IN OVERFLOW AFTER MEDIUM-LONG DISTANCE DRIVE (75 - 100 MILES); TOLD TO JUST KEEP PUTTING COOLANT IN OVERFLOW, NOTHING WAS WRONG; ASKED MECHANIC TO CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM EVERY TIME WE BROUGHT CAR IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES, BUT TRAVEL DISTANCE IS LESS (50-75 MILES), BROUGHT IN AGAIN, TOLD RADIATOR LEAKING; MECHANIC PUT STOP-LEAK IN IT; SAME PROBLEM, EVEN LESS TRAVEL DISTANCE (30 MILES); REPLACED RADIATOR; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED,(AFTER DRIVING 25-35 MILES), TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; TRAVEL DISTANCE 13 MILES, LIGHT GOES ON, ENGINE MAKES LOUD NOISE; TOOK CAR IN, TOLD COOLANT GOT INTO ENGINE AND HEAD OR ENGINE BLOCK PROBABLY CRACKED AS A RESULT OF OVER-HEATING, EVEN THOUGH TEMP GAUGE NEVER INDICATED ANY OVERHEATING; TOLD FOR FIRST TIME THAT TEMP GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER AFTER COOLANT FALLS BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL: TOLD THIS WAS A BMW PROBLEM BECAUSE OF WHERE THE SENSOR IS LOCATED; TOLD PROBLEM COULD BE SOLVED WITH A "STOP-LEAK" TYPE OF PRODUCT FOR THE ENGINE; SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN:LIGHT ON, COOLANT LEVEL 0; FINALLY JUST TOLD 8-22-05 THE HEAD IS CRACKED. 2):FRONT WINDOW WOUOLD NOT DEFROST, EVEN WHEN WE WIPED IT OFF. 3): SMELL OF GASOLINE: TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP FOR THE COOLANT PROBLEM THIS LAST TIME FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. WE HAVE SPENT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS PRIOR TO THIS LATEST DIAGNOSIS, NOW MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL COST US AT MINIMUM 1400 FOR A USED HEAD. DEFROST PROBLEM NOT SOLVED; GASOLINE SMELL STILL THERE.

NHTSA ID 10134019 · filed Aug 24, 2005

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 .