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1993 BMW 325I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILED. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #553178

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILED. *ET

NHTSA ODI #553127

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2000
Electrical System

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AFTER COMING OUT OF A CAR WASH. WATER GOT INTO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER COST OF APPROXIMATELY $900 OR MORE. AN ADDITIONAL $200 OR MORE WOULD BE CHARGED TO INSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT REOCCUR. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL…

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VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AFTER COMING OUT OF A CAR WASH. WATER GOT INTO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER COST OF APPROXIMATELY $900 OR MORE. AN ADDITIONAL $200 OR MORE WOULD BE CHARGED TO INSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT REOCCUR. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #861286

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2000
EquipmentFuel System, GasolineSteering

STEERING LOCKS UP INTERMITTENLY IN THE START POSITION, WINDOWS AND SUNROOF INOPERATIVE, GAS INTERMITTENLY GIVES INCORRECT READING OF FUEL

NHTSA ODI #9000725

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2000
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN WATER FROM RAIN OR CAR WASH FILLS UP IN THE DRAIN WHERE COMPUTER PROCESSOR IS PLACED. YH

NHTSA ODI #610349

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2000
Electrical System

WHEN VEHICLE GOES THROUGH CAR WASH THE COMPUTER CHIP GETS WET AND SHORT CIRCUITS DUE TO POOR DRAINAGE AND LACK OF PROPER SHIELD/PROTECTORS IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #550121

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

RECALL 98V178000; DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR CAP FOR THE RECALL. HOWEVER, HEATER CORE STILL LEAKS COOLANT, CAUSING SMELL AND FOGGING UP OF THE WINDOWS WHICH COULD CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND RESULT IN A CRASH. OWNER IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE COOLANT COULD SPILL INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FRONT FOOT AREA. MANUFACTURER IS N…

Read full complaint

RECALL 98V178000; DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR CAP FOR THE RECALL. HOWEVER, HEATER CORE STILL LEAKS COOLANT, CAUSING SMELL AND FOGGING UP OF THE WINDOWS WHICH COULD CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND RESULT IN A CRASH. OWNER IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE COOLANT COULD SPILL INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FRONT FOOT AREA. MANUFACTURER IS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #857477

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1999
Electrical System

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER CAR WASH DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION/CLOGGING OF THE ECM. MJS

NHTSA ODI #548435

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 1999
Exterior Lighting

BRAKE LIGHT COMES BUT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHTS. PRIOR TO THIS, BRAKE BULBS SHORTED OUT, BUT THEY WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ODI #840541

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1998
Visibility

VEHICLE'S SUN ROOF ENTIRE ASSEMBLY CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. DEALER CONTACTED AND UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NO WARRANTY, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, SECOND PROBLEM AFTER PRIOR REPAIR WORK DONE TWO BRACKETS STRIPPED FROM THE SUN ROOF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828718

Official recalls

3

98V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Aug 4, 1998

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.

97V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Aug 19, 1997

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.

96V111000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Jul 1, 1996

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.