Model year record

1993 BMW 325 recalls & problems

The 1993 BMW 325 has 3 safety recalls and 8 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (3 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints8filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsAug 10, 1994

Front › Anchorage

Recall 94V15100057,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: IN A FMVSS NO. 208 30 MILES-PER-HOUR COMPLIANCE TEST, AN UNBELTED TEST DRIVER DUMMY'S CHEST MAXIMUM RESULTANT ACCELERATION WAS 70.8 G'S, WHICH EXCEEDS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE VALUE OF 60 G'S. ALSO, THE UNBELTED PASSENGER DUMMY'S LEFT FEMUR MAXIMUM LOAD WAS 2361 LBS, WHICH EXCEEDS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE VALUE OF 2250 LBS. THE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE OCCUPANT WILL BE SUBJECTED TO AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODELS ONLY, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SUPPORT CROSSMEMBER WITH A CROSSMEMBER USED ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODEL. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION REAR BUSHING SUPPORTS WILL BE REPLACED WITH BUSHING HAVING DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS. THE STEERING COLUMN FRONT SUPPORT BEARING AT THE FIREWALL WILL BE REPLACED WITH A MODIFIED PART USING A TEFLON INNER SURFACE AND TEFLON SPRAY WILL BE APPLIED TO THE COLUMN HOUSING IN THE AREA OF THE BEARING. A BRACE WILL BE ADDED BETWEEN THE KNEE BOLSTER SUPPORT AND THE STEERING COLUMN.

Fuel system, gasolineApr 11, 1994

Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 94V066000116,300 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: FEED FUEL HOSES CAN HARDEN AND "SET" OVER TIME, ALLOWING A SEEPAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING. THE CLAMP USED TO HOLD THE HOSE TO THE FITTING IS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HARDENING OF THE FEED FUEL HOSE.
Risk: FUEL SEEPAGE BETWEEN THE FEED FUEL HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING CAN RESULT IN FREE FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Fix: A REDESIGNED FEED FUEL HOSE AND HOSE CLAMP WILL BE INSTALLED TO ALLEVIATE THE FUEL SEEPAGE.

VisibilityFeb 1, 1993

Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core

Recall 93V015000375,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND A RESULTING INCREASE IN SYSTEM PRESSURE.
Risk: VEHICLES OPERATED UNDER THIS INCREASED COOLING SYSTEMPRESSURE CONDITION CAN SUFFER DAMAGE OR FAILURE OF PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEMSUCH AS (1) LEAKAGE FROM A COOLANT HOSE, (2) LEAKAGE OF THE RADIATOR OREXPANSION TANK, (3) DISCONNECTION OF A HOSE FROM A PIPE OR A FITTING, AND (4)CRACKS IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE. IN SOME CASES,BOILING COOLANT CAN CONTACT THE LOWER RIGHT LEG OF THE DRIVER RESULTING INBURNS. ALSO, ESCAPING COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE VAPORFOGGING OF THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE WINDOWS, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THERMOSTATIC BYPASS VALVE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO CONTROL COOLANT TEMPERATURE IN THE HEATER CORE. ALSO, A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP WILL BE INSTALLED, TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	3	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	3	2	0	3	—
VisibilityWindshield; Sun/moon roof assembly	2	0	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door; Frame and members	2	0	0	0	—
Electrical system	1	0	1	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicBrake fluid low warning › Lamp	1	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Structure › Frame and members
325IS - TWO REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS HAVE COMPLETELY BROKEN. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ABUSE/ACCIDENT. REPAIR ESTIMATES HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN THE $2500-$4000 RANGE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE MATTER I'VE FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE PROBLEM. I EVEN SPOKE TO A BMW BODY SHOP EMPLOYEE WHO BELIEVES IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I ALSO FOUND ANOTHER 93 325IS OWNER IN SAN FRANCISCO WHO WAS ABLE TO GET BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO REPAIR HIS CAR (OUT OF WARRANTY) AT NO COST. I'M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH BMWNA AND MY LOCAL DEALER TO ACHIEVE THE SAME THING.
Aug 1, 1998
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
RECALLS # 94V15100 AND 96V11100; NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER ABOUT EITHER RECALL, AND NO RESPONSE, JUST A REFERRAL TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
Jul 15, 1997
Service brakes, hydraulic › Brake fluid low warning › Lamp
OWNER HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY NOTIFIED OF BRAKE RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE.
Jul 17, 1997
Air bags › FrontalCrash2 injuries
THE VEHICLE WAS IN A SEVERE FRONTAL COLLISION WHICH INVOLVED A ROLL OVER AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Apr 25, 1996
Air bags › FrontalCrash1 injury
VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT-END COLLISION AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Apr 8, 1996
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
GASOLINE ODOR PERSISTS EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF GAS TANK/FUEL LINES AS PER RECALL. (94V066000) *DSH
Jul 1, 1995
Visibility › Windshield
NOISY FRONT WINDOWS.
Jun 30, 1993
Electrical systemFire
DRIVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DEVELOPED.RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. TT
Feb 18, 1995

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

AIR BAG WIRING FAILUREClosedLed to recall 96V110000
There is no summary currently available
EA95013 · opened Mar 31, 1995 · closed Jul 15, 1996