1993 Bmw 325IS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
116,315 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 8.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights:Switch | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 3; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch: 1; Exterior Lighting:Fog Lights:Switch: 1; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 8 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10016180 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
AIRBAG FAILURE IN BMW 1993 325IS 40 MPH HEAD ON COLLISION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026054 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
PUCHASED WITH EMAIL AND VERBAL GUARANTEE NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR. HAVE VALID CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AGAINST SAME DEALER WITH MISREPRESENTATION OF VEH.(S) PURCHASED. 1: TCM LIGHT ON. VEH. WILL NOT SHIFT. OCCURRED 2ND DAY OF OWNERSHIP. DEALER DENIES. 2: LIGHTS WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL UPON ARRIVAL TO DEALER. HAD "DETAILER" REWIRE (4 HOURS). BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT STILL ON COMPUTER. 3: DEALER ORDERED AND PROMISED PASS. WINDOW MOTOR. REPLACED 2 RELAYS WHILE AT DEALER. DID NOT REPAIR. REFUSES TO SEND MOTOR FOR FUNCTIONAL WINDOW. WINDOW WILL NOT, AND DID NOT RO…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081226 · 2004-07-16 (July 16, 2004)
MY 1993 BMW 325IS HAS A FAILURE OF THE CHASSIS MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN FEELING FUNNY FOR WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS UNTIL ONE DAY THE CAR STARTED TO SHUDDER WHEN TAKING A TURN AND ACCELERATING OUT OF IT. FROM THAT DAY ON THE CAR FELT COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM MY STEERING INPUTS, IT WAS OBVIOUS SOMETHING WAS WRONG. HAD I NOT CAUGHT IT WHEN I DID, MORE THAN JUST FINANCIAL DAMAGE WOULD HAVE SURELY OCCURED; AFTER ALL, THESE ARE WHAT HOLD THE WHOLE REAR OF THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVE TRAIN THE THE CHASSIS. AFTER SHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 139,829 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082218 · 2004-07-19 (July 19, 2004)
THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNT POINTS HAVE RIPPED IN AT LEAST ONE PLACE FROM THE UNIBODY RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR. I CAUGHT IT EARLY SO NO INJURY HAS RESULTED. THIS IS A COMMON (UNACCEPTABLE) PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS (BMW E36). *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 142,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097084 · 2004-10-18 (October 18, 2004)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED A LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112418 · 2005-03-02 (March 2, 2005)
I HAVE A 1993 325IS BMW. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. ON RAINY DAYS I CAN HEAR WATER IN THE FLOOR BOARDS. THE DOOR PANELS ARE BOTH COMING UNGLUDED AND BUBBLING. MY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT HITS THE GAS PETAL. THE CHECK COOLANT LIGHT ON MY COMPUTER IS ALWAYS ON, THE THE COOLANT IS LOW EVEN AFTER I FILL IT. I AM AFAID MY CAR WILL OVERHEAT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10112418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147111 · 2006-01-06 (January 6, 2006)
I OWN A 1993 325IS WHICH HAS A TEAR IN THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE SUSPENSION COMPONENT MEET. CAR WAS NOT MODIFIED IN ANYWAY. I JUST NOTICED THIS LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL OR REAR AREA. TOOK THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS TORN APART. LUCKY IT DIDN'T COME OUT IN THE HIGHWAY OR I WOULD I HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND PROBABLY GET KILLED. MY MECHANIC HAS STATED HE SEEN MANY BMW'S WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS. I HAVE SEARCH AND CONTACTED OTHER BMW'S AND IT LOOK LIKE ITS A COMMON FAILURE IN EARLY BMW'S BETWEEN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 553751 · 2000-08-11 (August 11, 2000)
VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WHEN THE CONSUMER RAISED THE HOOD TO CHECK THE RADIATOR THE TOP FLANGE OF THE COMPOSITE RADIATOR BROKE OFF UNDER THE PRESSURE OF THE OVERHEATING SYSTEM AND SPRAYED THE CONSUMER WITH SCALDING COOLANT CAUSING SEVERE BURN INJURIES (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER), THE DEFECT WAS POSSIBLY RELATED TO RECALL CAMPAIGN #93V-015 AND 98V-178. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 553751 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V111000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 1996-07-01 (July 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1997-08-19 (August 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
Reported: 1998-08-04 (August 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗