Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 21 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Equipment. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
21 reports
155,000 miles · May 31, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING, THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING AND THE RADIATOR FAN WAS INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE RESERVOIR FOR THE RADIATOR WAS NOT MOUNTED CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING, THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING AND THE RADIATOR FAN WAS INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE RESERVOIR FOR THE RADIATOR WAS NOT MOUNTED CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
NHTSA ODI #10403895
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2009
Equipment
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING AND THE TEMPERATURE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ACCURATE TEMPERATURES. LATER, THE HEATING UNIT FAILED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE BECAUSE THE FAILURES WERE OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY AND THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING AND THE TEMPERATURE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ACCURATE TEMPERATURES. LATER, THE HEATING UNIT FAILED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE BECAUSE THE FAILURES WERE OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT LOCATED A RECALL, BUT WAS UNSURE IF HER VIN WAS INCLUDED BECAUSE SHE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10255912
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE SEALS ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK LEAKED GAS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD ONLY HAPPEN IF THE SENDING UNIT SEALS ARE DEFECTIVE. *SC THE DEALER FOUND THAT A HOSE AND SENDING UNIT SEALS WERE LEAKING FUEL ON TOP OF THE TANK *JB
NHTSA ODI #10042297
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2002
Structure
THE SUBFRAME CRACKED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. THE CRACK IS LOCATED ON THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHED. I M AFRIAD THAT THE REAR AXLE MAY FALL OFF THE VEHICLE DURING DRIVING. I HAVE FOUND OTHER OWNER COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ON THE E36 DESIGN. THIS IS A WEAKNES ON THE SURFRAME THAT CASUES IT TO FAIL IN FAT…
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THE SUBFRAME CRACKED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. THE CRACK IS LOCATED ON THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHED. I M AFRIAD THAT THE REAR AXLE MAY FALL OFF THE VEHICLE DURING DRIVING. I HAVE FOUND OTHER OWNER COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ON THE E36 DESIGN. THIS IS A WEAKNES ON THE SURFRAME THAT CASUES IT TO FAIL IN FATIGUE. I AM A METALLURGICAL ENGINEER AND HAVE VISUALLY INSPECTED THE CRACK. IT DID NOT SHOWN ANY CORROSION, THUS INDICIATING THAT IT IS NOT A ENVIRONMENTAL INDUCE FAILURE. THIS PROBLREM IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM IN AN INADEQUATELY DESGINED COMPONENT. A SUBFRAME IS A STRUCTURE COMPONENT AND SHOULD FAIL UDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.THE ESTIMATE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS OVER $4000.00. IHAVE CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATION, THE REPRESENTATIVE HAS DENIED THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO LET ME TALL TO HER SUPERVISOR. I BELIEVE THIS IS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE AND HOPE THAT NHTSA CAN ASSIST THE CAR OWNERS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #766914
Mileage unknown · May 7, 2002
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS: HEADLIGHTS ON LIGHT TRUCKS AND SUV'S ARE TOO HIGH. THIS CAUSES CAR DRIVERS TO BE BLINDED, SO THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE TO DRIVE. A SECONDARY EFFECT IS TO CAUSE ROAD RAGE, WITH CONSEQUENCES RANGING FROM NONE TO MURDER. FMVSS SHOUD BE CHANGED TO LIMIT THE HEIGHT OF HEADLIGHTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #761647
Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
RECALL 98V178000; VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED SIX TIMES FOR ENGINE COOLING THERMOSTAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #899418
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER FOR RECALL 98V178000 REPAIRS. DEALERSHIP REMEDIED VEHICLE AS STATED IN RECALL, BUT CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #898523
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2001
Seat Belts
DRIVERS SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT ALWAYS AND THE SEATBELT WITH BE LOOSE AND UNSAFE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #753660
Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2000
Equipment
JACK LUG WRENCH THAT COMES EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE WILL BEND AND BREAK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. CONSUMER ONLY HAD USED JACK ONES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #875623
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER SAID CHECK COOLANT LIGHT CAM ON AT 37,901 MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP HOUSING/ COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR, AND THERMOSTAT. CAR WAS SITTING FOR ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE PROBLEM CAME BACK AT 88,253 MILES, CONSUMER TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE COOLANT LIGHT WAS COMING ON. DLR REPLACED RADIA…
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CONSUMER SAID CHECK COOLANT LIGHT CAM ON AT 37,901 MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP HOUSING/ COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR, AND THERMOSTAT. CAR WAS SITTING FOR ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE PROBLEM CAME BACK AT 88,253 MILES, CONSUMER TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE COOLANT LIGHT WAS COMING ON. DLR REPLACED RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP. IN 1998, RECEIVED A RECALL ON RADIATOR CAP. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CAP. *AK
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
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.
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1993 BMW 325I Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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