RoadVitals

1994 BMW 325I Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
17
Latest Apr 8, 2012
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
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since May 15, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 BMW 325I. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–17 of 17

Fuel system
Filed Apr 8, 2012

THE BRACE HOLDING ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS BROKE OFF. IT SEEMS IF BROKE OFF AT THE WELDS. THE STRAP WAS JUST HANGING AND ONLY THE OTHER WAS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10454463
Incident
Apr 7, 2012
Mileage
188,540 mi
ElectricalEngineSeat belts+1 more
Filed Apr 6, 2010
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER READING WAS INCORRECT. THE MILEAGE INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD 28,000 MILES WHEN THE TITLE INDICATED THAT THE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT ANOTHER MECHANIC HAD ALTERED THE ODOMETER. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING, THE FRONT WINDOWS FOGGED AND THE SEAT BELTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIR AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10324050
Incident
Feb 25, 2010
Mileage
28,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jul 14, 2009

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS LOCKED IN THEIR 1994 BMW 325I AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDOWS AND HORN DID NOT WORK EITHER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10276688
Incident
Jun 24, 2009
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 18, 2008

FUEL GAUGE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. BMW'S FROM 70'S TO '07 HAVE BEEN NOTED BY OWNERS AS BEING A PERSISTENT PROBLEM. MOST DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SENDING UNITS. MANY OWNERS END UP HAVING THE SENDERS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES D/T MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE SENDING UNITS. MY E36 HAS 2 SENDING UNITS AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MULTIPLE TIMES. AND THE SAME FOR MANY OTHER OWNERS ON BMW ONLINE BOARDS/FORUMS. I'VE BEEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC WHERE I MERELY MISSED AN ACCIDENT BY MANEUVERING W/O ENGINE POWER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. BMW HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS AND SHOULD RECALL THE FAILED UNITS THAT JUST KEEP FAILING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10218447
Incident
Feb 1, 2007
Mileage
90,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 30, 2004

DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF 1ST GEAR WITH ENGINE LOAD. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10103922
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Brakes
Filed Aug 12, 2004

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULBS BURNED OUT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10080258
Incident
Apr 12, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jun 16, 2003

CHILD SEAT WOULD NOT LATCH ONTO LEFT SIDE OF BASE. *MR PH

NHTSA ID
10024054
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Jun 25, 2002

CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO OPEN LEFT REAR DOOR FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID
8012570
Incident
Sep 17, 1996
Electrical
Filed Mar 20, 2002

VEHICLE WILL STALL IN RAIN. DEALER DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER MODULE GOT WET AND VEHICLE WILL EITHER STALL OR NOT START. COMPUTER MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
8006006
Incident
Sep 1, 1996
Fuel system
Filed Jul 25, 2001

FUEL LINE LEAKS REALLY BAD CAN CAUSE FIRE HAZARD IN THE ENGINE IS HOT BUT THE BMW DEALER JUST SAID THAT THE RUBBER HOSE CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
749183
Incident
Jul 23, 2001
Engine
Filed Jun 13, 2001

THE RADIATOR CAP FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 98V-178, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS DUE TO IMPROPER RADIATOR DESIGN. NLM

NHTSA ID
561568
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Dec 12, 2000

LEFT REAR SEAT BELT NEVER WORKED, UNIT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND WAS REPLACED, BMW REFUSED TO HELP WITH EXPENSE. *MJS

NHTSA ID
558093
Engine
Filed Feb 21, 2000

THE PROBLEM DEALS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE LOCATION OF THE SUPPLY HOSE (PART OF THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM) FROM THE RESERVOIR TANK TO THE RADIATOR. THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WAS ON THE DATE OF THIS REPORT. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THE SUPPLY HOSE IS LOCATED RIGHT UNDER THE FAN SHROUD. IT IS HELD UP BY 2 CLAMPS THAT ARE MOLDED ONTO THE FAN SHROUD. THIS WHOLE ASSEMBLY (SHROUD AND CLAMPS) APPEAR TO ME TO BE A PLASTIC MATERIAL. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE SUPPLY HOSE HAS COME LOSE FROM THE CLAMPS THAT ARE MOLDED ONTO THE SHROUD ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME IT SHEARED OFF 2 FAN BLADES AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY BY THE DEALER. THE SECOND TIME IT CAME LOOSE IT THE HOSE SHEARED OFF ALL OF THE FAN BLADES THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT TO THE POITN THE ENGINE WAS RUINED. THE PISTON COMPLETELY TURNED OVER IN THE CYLINDER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. APPARENTLY WHAT HAPPENS IS OVER TIME THESE CLAMPS MOLED ONTO THE SHROUD BECOME HOT AND BRITTLE THUS MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO EVENTUALLY BREAK OFF. DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE SUPPLY HOSE ONCE IT COMES LOOSE FROM THESE CLAMPS IT FALLS DIRECTLY INTO THE FAN BLADES. THE LOOSE HOSE CANNOT AVOID THE FAN. I HAVE LOOKED AT MANY OTHER MAKES OF AUTOMOBILES SINCE THIS HAPPENED THE LAST TIME. IN ALL OF THE OTHER AUTOMOBILES THAT I HAVE LOOKED AT THE SUPPLY HOSE IS ENGINEERED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IF IT DID COME LOOSE FROM THE CLAMPS IT CANNOT BECOME ENTANGLED WITH THE FAN BLADES. IT COULDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE! BASED UPON THIS KNOWLEDGE I BELIEVE THAT BMW HAS ERRED IN THE DESIGN OF THE COOLING SYSTEM, AT LEAST ON THE 3 SERIES. IT IS STILL DESIGNED THAT WAY TODAY. I HAVE TALKED TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL! I WOULD APPRECIATE (IF YOU HAVE TIME) A PHONE CALL SO THAT I COULD EXPLAIN THIS PROBLEM BETTER! THANK YOU! SINCERELY, DANNY L. SMITH. *AK

NHTSA ID
719024
Incident
May 9, 1996
Engine
Filed Jul 29, 1999

RECALL COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (98V-178), CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA ID
547604
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jun 8, 1999

AIR BAG GASKET DISINTEGRATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING THE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. MJS

NHTSA ID
546003
Incident
May 13, 1999
Transmission
Filed Sep 18, 1998

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. DEALER STATES IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING IT WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL 4000 RPM'S, AND VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
828027
Incident
Aug 29, 1998
Airbags
Filed May 15, 1995

THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP COME ON CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER ABOUT SEVEN TIME DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM . TT

NHTSA ID
965408
Incident
Mar 1, 1995

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .