1995 BMW 325I Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE WENT TO THE HOT POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND OBSERVED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS STEAMING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR RESERVOIR AND THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V178000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10725759

Incident

Jun 3, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

1- STEERING SHAKES A LOT AT SPEED 45 AND OVER AND UNEVEN WEAR ON BOTH FRONT TIRE. 2- THE SHOP LIFTED UP THE CAR AND SAID THAT BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME THAT HOLDING THE SWAY BAR ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE BUT TO GO TO THE DEALER. 3- WELL THE DEALER WAS NOT CO-OPERATIVE ON THE ISSUE AND WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10334171

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

189,000 mi

TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO BMW - TO HAVE (THROTTLE RECALL ) WORK PERFORMED. APPARENTLY, IT WAS NOT DONE OR IF IT WAS DONE, WAS NOT TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND NOW, THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP FORWARD, WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, BMW HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE SHORT IN THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE 'CHECK 1 REAR BRAKE LIGHT' WILL ILLUMINATE - FOR ABOUT 5 - 7 MINUTES. AIRBAG LIGHT WILL ALSO COME ON WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. NOW THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC, RPM' IS FINE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR ( NOT SAFE), I WOULD PREFER TO DRIVE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT - IN CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266446

Incident

Apr 11, 2009

Mileage

196,061 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SAFETY RECALL 98V178000 CONCERNIG ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. HOWEVER , THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT'S COMPLAINED THAT THEY RECALL INVOLVED THE SAME T FAILURE AS THE CONTACT WAS HAVING WITH THIS VEHICLE.. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FIRST OVERHEATED ON 02/04/07, AND THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. SHE WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND THE WEATHER WAS COLD, BUT NICE. ALSO, THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL 97V131000 WITHN WHICH SHE CURRENTLY DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. HOWEVER SHE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT REPAIRED AS WELL. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD IN THIS CASE THAT THE SAFETY RECALL DIED NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE VIN EITHER. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS MADE UNDER THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10181667

Incident

Jan 4, 2007

Mileage

29,000 mi

BOUGHT FOUR GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLE TREAD TIRES (WARRANTY FOR 80,000 - 85,000 MILES) AT BELLE TIRE IN JUNE '05. (TIRES NEVER FELT RIGHT.) BY NOVEMBER '05, AFTER ONLY 10,000 MILES, TIRES WERE WORN TO THE TREAD BAR. BELLE TIRE BLAMED EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE TIRE, WENT TO 3 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND WAITED OVER TWO WEEKS FOR PROBLEM TO BE 'RESOLVED'. ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. ALSO, BELLE TIRE CHARGED FOR AN ALIGNMENT IN JUNE '05, WHEN IN FACT THE LOCATION DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO DO THE ALIGNMENT (GERMAN-ENGINEERED VEHICLES REQUIRE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT). BELLE TIRE REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE ALLEGED 'ALIGNMENT'. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146744

Incident

Jun 23, 2005

I WAS THE VICTIM OF A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED MY CAR. AFTER I INITIATED THE INSURANCE CLAIM PROCESS I FOUND OUT THAT I BOUGHT A CAR THAT HAD A "SALVAGE TITLE" WHICH I NEVER KNEW IT HAD. THE DEALER SOLD THE CAR TO ME FOR "FULL KELLEY BLUE BOOK PRICE" AND THE FINANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN COLLECTING MY PAYMENTS BASED ON THE CAR BEING A NON-DEFECT TITLE CAR. ALSO MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN ACCEPTING FULL COVERAGE PAYMENTS FROM ME, HOWEVER, AFTER I HAD THE ACCIDENT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DISCOVERED IT WAS A "SALVAGE TITLE", NOW THE INSURANCE COMPANY ONLY WANTS TO PAY FOR THE "SALVAGE VALUE" OF THE CAR. I HAVE A 1995 BMW 325I. THE CAR WAS FINANCED, THROUGH THE AUTO DEALERSHIP FOR $15,000. I WAS NEVER TOLD IT WAS A "SALVAGE TITLED CAR". NOW, THE INSURANCE COMPANY ONLY WANTS TO PAY $3,500. I'VE BEEN PAYING ON THE CAR FOR THREE YEARS, $360 PER MONTH. I STILL OWE $11,000 ON THE FINANCE AGREEMENT. DIDN'T THE FINANCE COMPANY KNOW I'D BOUGHT A SALVAGED VEHICLE? AREN'T ALL THREE ENTITIES GUILTY OF OVERCHARGING ME FOR A SALVAGE VEHICLE?*AK

NHTSA ID

10088953

Incident

Aug 21, 2004

DEALER RECOMMENDS THAT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES BE REPLACED BECAUSE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS HAVE WORN, LEAVING BRAKE LIGHTS UNRELIABLE. HOW CAN A NON-MOVING ELECTRICAL PART WEAR OUT? *JB

NHTSA ID

10078876

Incident

Jun 24, 2004

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE OR FOUR TIMES. *PH *NM

NHTSA ID

10063079

TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR SECOND TIME, VEHICLE HAS FEWER THAN 60,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAS A SYSTEM WHICH BASICALLY SHUTS DOWN THE VEHICLE WHEN A "WARNING" IS GENERATED, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE IF I HAVE BEEN ON A FREEWAY. *LA

NHTSA ID

10045664

Incident

Nov 1, 2003

VEHICLE JUMPED FROM 1ST GEAR TO NEUTRAL.*AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10031924

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GETTING INSPECTED, THE ENGINE IDLED ERRATICALLY. THE DEALER SUSPECTED THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE DME MAIN COMPUTER. SINCE THE VEHICLE RAN WELL AFTER WARMING UP, THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO POSTPONE THE REPAIR WORK. THE VEHICLE SURGED DRAMATICALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S WIFE TO RAM INTO THEIR OTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED DAMAGES TO BOTH. SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10011605

I ALSO GET THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THE SHORT IS ACTUALLY IN THE BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING, AND THE METAL CLIP GETS ERODED FROM A HEAT BUILD UP DUE TO THE SHORT. THIS CAUSES A SMALL HOLE IN THE METAL CLIP OF THE BULB, AND THEREFORE, EACH TIME YOU REPLACE THE BULBS, YOU GET A NEW HOLE. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS, AND I JUST KEEP REPLACING THE BULBS AND THE PARTS, SINCE MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. ( I HAVE A '95 325 I THAT I BOUGHT IN '97.) I ALSO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE LOCK MECHANISM - SOMETIMES THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE FRONT SEATS. IT IS JUST EXPECTED THAT BMWS HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. PERHAPS NEXT TIME I WILL GET A HONDA.*JB

NHTSA ID

10010239

Incident

Mar 5, 2003

Mileage

81,800 mi

SRS WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON AFTER STARTING THEN GOES OUT AFTER ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES. ALWAYS COMES US AS A CODE 24 FOR BELT BUCKLE SWITCH, HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE AND CLEARED CODE. THE CODE REAPPEARS WITHIN 3 WEEKS. THE SWITCH/SENSOR IS A DEALER ITEM AND THEY CHARGE $110 OR SO TO REPLACE IT AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. DT

NHTSA ID

770045

Incident

Oct 1, 2002

CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GETTING THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT FAILURE WARNING. REPLACED THE SWITCH AT DEALER TWICE. REPLACED ALL BULBS SEVERAL TIMES REPLACED FUSE TWICE. CONSTANT PROBLEM AND REPAIR SHOPS ALL SAY BMW HAS CHRONIC ELECTRICAL GLITCHES. I TELL THEM THIS IS NOT A GLITCH, ONE TIME THE BULBS WON'T LIGHT WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES AND I'LL GET REAR-ENDED. DT

NHTSA ID

770044

Incident

Nov 6, 2002

WATER PUMP FAILED AT 70555 MILES, THERMOSTAT AT 58000 MILES, AUX COOLING FAN AT 80000, AND NOW RADIATOR AT 92K MILES. ALL COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED WITHIN 16 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION FOR INVESTIGATION. DT

NHTSA ID

769200

Incident

Nov 1, 2002

LEAKING GAS TANKS , AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE ROUTINE PROBLEMS ON A CAR. OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE SAID THEY HAVE SIMMILAR PROBLEMS BUT SEEM TO JUST SPEND THE MONEY AT THE DEALER TO FIX. DOES THE NTSA KEEP A RECORD OF THESE ACTIVITES? MR

NHTSA ID

768258

Incident

May 1, 1999

NO SUMMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

755642

Incident

Nov 15, 2001

ON AUGUST 9,2001 A LEFT REAR TIRE DISINTEGRATED AT 60MPH. THE BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE(AFTER CONTENDING THAT IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT) AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRE (STILL UNDER WARRANTEE - ABOUT HALF THE TREAD LEFT). WE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A SLOW LEAK ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND ON THE DAY OF THE FAILURE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP TO BE TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DETECTED IN THE RF TIRE - PRESSURE HAD BEEN CHECKED ON THE REAR. SUBSEQUENTLY WE CONTINUED TO LOOSE AIR IN THE RF TIRE AND EXPERIENCE A SHIMMY IN THE CAR. WE TOOK IT TO A COMPETITIOR WHO IN CHECKING THE TIRE DISCOVERED SIGNIFICANT DELAMINATION ON THE INSIDE EDGE TREAD OF THE TIRE. IN ADDITION THE REMAINING TWO TIRES ALSO SHOWED SIGNS OF DELAMINATION OF TREAD AND BELT. WE SWITCHED TO WINTER TIRES EARLY AND I HAVE THE SUSPECT TIRES IN MY POSSESSION. A CALL TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER OF BRIDGESTONE-FIRESTONE INDICATED NO INTEREST IN CHECKING ON THE POTENTIAL FOR A DEFECT OR COMPENSATION CONSISTENT WITH THE WARRANTY. BECAUSE ALL FOUR TIRES FROM THAT SET DELAMINATED IN THE SAME PLACE AND IN THE SAME WAY AND AT THE SAME TIME I AM HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE COMPANY ALREADY HAS A TRACK RECORD OF FAILURE AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH PERSONNEL INDICATES COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY ISSUES, EVEN AFTER THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHERS WHO MAY NOT BE AS VIGILANT ABOUT TIRES COULD FALL VICTIM TO AUTO ACCIDENTS. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE. I WILL RETAIN THE TIRES FOR INSPECTION PENDING YOUR INTEREST IN THE ISSUE. THANK YOU. (DOT NUMBER: DLF076 TIRESIZE: P215/60R15)

NHTSA ID

752867

Incident

Aug 9, 2001

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED 5 MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

894049

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH AND LOST STEERING POWER AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE/ CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. POWER STEERING PULLEY PUMP BROKE, THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM TO START.*AK

NHTSA ID

875085

Incident

Nov 7, 2000

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ONLY STAYS AT OVERDRIVE WHICH MAKES ENTERING THE FREEWAY DANGEROUS. *AK

NHTSA ID

724233

Incident

Jun 16, 2000

I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THEY ADMITTED IT'S A PROBLEM, YET BMW IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! THIS WILL BE THE 2ND REPLACEMENT SINCE OWNING THE CAR (I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER), IN THIS SITUATION I HAD TOTAL BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. THE FIRST TIME I HAD IT REPLACED, MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE FINE. THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP & BMW REFUSES TO EXTEND AFTER WARRANTY ASSISTANCE FOR REPLACEMENT ( IT IS 6 MONTHS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY.) I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AS WELL AND JUST GOT THE RUN AROUND AND WAS TOLD THE ONLY WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER WAS IN WRITING BECAUSE "SHE DOESN'T INTERACT WITH CUSTOMERS." THE CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT NEED THIS TYPE OF REPLACEMENT. IN SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS WORDS "YEH, IT HAS A TENDANCY TO WEAR OUT AND BESIDES IT'S ONLY $50". I'M ALSO CONTACTING MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND HOPEFULLY BETWEEN NHTSA AND THEM SOMETHING CAN BE DONE. HOPEFULLY, IT'S DOESN'T GET TO THE POINT WHERE SOMEONE IS CRITICALLY INJURED BEFORE A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED. *AK

NHTSA ID

724027

Incident

Jun 13, 2000

AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON THE DASHBOARD FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS. SEVERAL COMPUTERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, NONE HAVE WORKED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

862821

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

IN A FRONTAL IMPACT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60-65 MPH, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. ALSO, INANOTHER FRONTAL IMPACT ON FEB 24, 1999, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

857642

Incident

Aug 28, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE FLEW UP CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHICH RESULTED IN A CRACKED WINDSHIELD. *YC

NHTSA ID

852406

Incident

Oct 26, 1999