RoadVitals

1995 BMW 325IS

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 Jun 27, 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.
2
Latest Aug 4, 1998
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.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 BMW 325IS, most frequently naming the engine, airbags and other / unspecified categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 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

  • Engine350.0%
  • Airbags116.7%
  • Other / unspecified116.7%
  • Suspension116.7%

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

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
98V178000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Aug 4, 1998
340,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
The risk: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov
97V131000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Aug 19, 1997
410,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 27, 2009

CARS RPM WILL NOT STAY STABLE . GO UP @DOWN WHEN IDLING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON GOES OUT WHEN ACCELERATING. REPLACE THERMOSTAT . RADIATOR. FAN AND FUEL PUMP PRIOR TO THIS DUE TO CAR OVER HEATING THEN CAME FAILURE OF CRACKED CYLINDER IN ENGINE. STILL NO MECHANIC CAN DIAGNOSIS EVEN WITH COMPUTER SCOPE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10275120
Incident
May 26, 2009
Mileage
183,313 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 5, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, A NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE CONTROL ARM SUPPORT. THE BOLTS THAT ATTACHED THE WHEEL WERE FRACTURED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS TO ALERT THE CONTACT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THE REPAIR MUST BE COVERED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED WHO COINCIDED WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AT HIGHER SPEEDS COULD RESULT IN FATAL CONSEQUENCES AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH DEFECT. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE SINCE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE CONTROL ARM THAT SECURED THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO THE SUB FRAME HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SUB FRAME. THERE WERE 3 BOLTS THAT SECURED THE CONTROL ARM TO THE SUB FRAME AND ONE OF THE BOLTS HAD SHEARED, WHILE THE OTHER TWO HAD RIPPED COMPLETELY FROM THE SUB FRAME; NOT ONLY HAD THE BOLTS RIPPED FROM THE FRAME, BUT THEY PULLED THROUGH THE FEMALE SECTION TO WHICH THEY WERE BOLTED. UPDATED 07/16/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10175234
Incident
Nov 26, 2006
Mileage
51,818 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 17, 2003

THE RADIATOR MALFUNCTIONED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. IT WAS FIXED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER CONSUMERS IN THE AREA. *AK

NHTSA ID
10029542
Airbags
Filed Mar 17, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10011852
Incident
Mar 9, 2003
Mileage
180,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 10, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 98V178000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL # SAME/ COOLANT SYSTEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FERMA BMW ON US19 IN SAFETY HARBOR, FLORIDA WHERE THEY DENIED DOING RECALL WORK. A MECHANIC LOOKED AT VEHICLE AND ENGINE HAD CRACKS FROM BEING OVERHEATED. ALSO, CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE CAN'T BE MOVED TO HOME DRIVEWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
887912
Incident
Mar 1, 2001

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 325IS by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1995Viewing520—
1994103047.2
1993163049.8
1992840—

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.