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U.S. public vehicle records

Bmw 325 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

171 owner complaints analyzed

11 distinct recall campaigns

105,050 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1984 to 2012 model years. Data snapshot: . 48 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 171 complaints (12.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior148.2%
Electrical and battery issues137.6%
Engine operation95.3%
Steering behavior84.7%
Transmission and shifting74.1%
Fuel system concerns52.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
21
Electrical System
16
Air Bags:Frontal
13
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core
12
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
11
Engine
6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
6
Vehicle Speed Control
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags21
Electrical System16
Air Bags:Frontal13
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core12
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan11
Engine6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission6
Vehicle Speed Control6

Air Bags: 21; Electrical System: 16; Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 11; Engine: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
7
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
8
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
13
150,000 and above
13
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9998
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,99913
150,000 and above13

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 13

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 123 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
39
1996
22
2000
11
2001
19
2002
10
2003
6
2004
5
2005
4
2006
2
2007
1
2008
1
2009
3
2010
3
2011
4
2012
2
2013
2
2014
10
2015
6
2016
9
2017
6
2018
4
2019
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199539
199622
200011
200119
200210
20036
20045
20054
20062
20071
20081
20093
20103
20114
20122
20132
201410
20156
20169
20176
20184
20192

1995: 39; 1996: 22; 2000: 11; 2001: 19; 2002: 10; 2003: 6; 2004: 5; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 10; 2015: 6; 2016: 9; 2017: 6; 2018: 4; 2019: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 959608 · 1995-02-06 (February 6, 1995)

ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM SOMETIME GRABS AND OTHER TIMES SHOOT FORWARD. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959608 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 976221 · 1995-12-06 (December 6, 1995)

ABS, BRAKE CALIPERS ON THE FRONT LOCKUP AT HWY SPEED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH,ALSO LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976221 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10042844 · 2003-10-14 (October 14, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING OIL LIGHT CAME ON AFTER BEING SERVICED 5 DAYS AGO. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR PROBLEMS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042844 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 508309 · 1996-09-04 (September 4, 1996)

WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 508309 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 962818 · 1995-03-30 (March 30, 1995)

VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC DUE TO DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962818 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 484231 · 1995-07-04 (July 4, 1995)

VEHICLE STALLS ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, EVEN WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING/UP TO 60 MPH. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484231 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10162706 · 2006-07-17 (July 17, 2006)

REGARDING MY 1990 BMW 325 CONVERTIBLE. THE COVERING UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL ABOVE THE PEDALS WILL FALL ON MY FEET WHEN I AM DRIVING, MY FEET GET CAUGHT AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND PUSH THE COVERING OFF MY FEET AND SHOVE IT BACK OVER THE PEDALS. THERE IS A PLACE FOR IT TO LOCK INTO EXCEPT TO SIT ABOVE THE PEDALS. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN MY FEET GET CAUGHT, I AM CONSTANTLY MOVING MY FEET TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL. I WAS GETTING MY OIL CHANGED AND THE PERSON WORKING THERE SAID HE ALSO HAD THAT PROBLEM WITH HIS BMW 325 CONVERTIBLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162706 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 802846 · 1996-09-24 (September 24, 1996)

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING LOCKED UP DUE TO SOMETHING INSIDE THE AIR BAG MECHANISM BREAKING.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802846 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 484448 · 1995-07-27 (July 27, 1995)

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484448 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 888809 · 2001-05-21 (May 21, 2001)

WHEN SHIFTING GEARS FRONT WILL MAKE A CRACKLING NOISE. *AK CONSUMER STATES ENTIRE BACK END SUSPENSION (STRUTS LEFT AND RIGHT) HOLDING THE REAR WHEELS, TRANSMISSION DIFFERENTIALS TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME, DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED, HOWEVER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE LIABILITY OR INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE PRODUCT DESIGN DEFECT. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 888809 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 502969 · 1996-03-23 (March 23, 1996)

GASOLINE ODOR PERSISTS EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF GAS TANK/FUEL LINES AS PER RECALL. (94V066000) *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502969 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1997
0
1998
0
1999
0
2000
2
2001
2
2002
2
2003
0
2006
1
2007
1
2008
1
2009
1
2010
1
2011
1
2012
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19970
19980
19990
20002
20012
20022
20030
20061
20071
20081
20091
20101
20111
20121

1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 2; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 0; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1

Year-by-year records

Bmw 325 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
198421Not available
198512+1
198673+1
1987102-1
1988620
1989620
1990520
199133+1
19921230
1993530
1994161-2
1995170-1
199710Not available
1998400
1999100
200002+2
20013120
20022620
200390-2
200681Not available
2007010
2008110
2009010
2010010
2011010
2012010