1992 BMW 325

Routine

Owners filed 23 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
101
Seats2
101
Air Bags › Frontal2
201
Air Bags2
000
Visibility › Windshield1
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core1
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System1
000
Structure › Frame and Members1
000
Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)1
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings94V066000
Filed Apr 11, 1994116,300 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. 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.

Remedy. A REDESIGNED FEED FUEL HOSE AND HOSE CLAMP WILL BE INSTALLED TO ALLEVIATE THE FUEL SEEPAGE.

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core93V015000
Filed Feb 1, 1993375,000 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. 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.

Remedy. 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.

Seats92V055000
Filed Apr 14, 199222,416 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 208. THE DRIVER'S CHEST RESULTANT ACCELERATION EXCEEDED THE ALLOWABLE 60 G'S IN A CRASH TEST WHEN THE SEAT HEIGHT CHANGES ADJUSTMENT UNDER SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT.

Risk. THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURYIN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy. INSTALL A DAMPER ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT CUSHION, BETWEEN THE CUSHION FRAME AND THE SEAT TRACK. IN A SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT THE DAMPER WILL HYDRAULICALLY LOCK, PREVENTING A CHANGE IN SEAT HEIGHT.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 26, 2008198,880 milesNJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BMW 325. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BACKFIRE AND LOSE POWER. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO HESITATE AND SHAKE WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY STARTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 206,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,880.

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed May 21, 2001CA

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

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Oct 13, 1999WA

HEATER CORE HAS RUPTURED, CAUSING WINDOWS TO FOG UP. THIS CONDITION MAKES IT HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Aug 6, 1999CA

DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG LIGHT, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STILL ON. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jul 22, 1999NC

WINDOWS FOG UP AND DO NOT COOL PROPERLY. DEALER NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM. REPAIRWORK NOT DONE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Jul 19, 1999MT

CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 98V178000, CONSUMER NOTED THERE WAS NO DEALER WITHIN A 500 MILE RADIUS. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SEND ANOTHER DEALER PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed May 29, 1999NJ

GAS TANKS LEAKS IF THE VEHICLE IS FILLED OVER THE 1/2 FULL MARK, POSSIBLY DUE TO A SEAL FAILURE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Sep 4, 1998WI

WATER PUMP AND IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURES.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 22, 1998VA

WAS PULLING FROM STOP LIGHT, HAD APPLIED BRAKES SUDDENLY AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED & BROKE DRIVER'S ARM. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. PLASTIC HOUSING OF CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD BROKEN. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Apr 8, 1998SC

RADIATOR HEATER CORE EXPLODED, FILLING VEHICLE WITH STEAM AND SMOKE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Nov 29, 1997SC

HEADLIGHT LENS COVERS WERE ORIGINALLY 100 PERCENT TRANSPARENT. OVER THE YEARS, WITH NO ABUSE, THEY SEEM TO BECOMING INCREASINGLY YELLOWED. IT IS TO THE POINT THAT THEY DIMINISH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Oct 22, 1997GA

THE REAR CROSSMEMBER TO SUBFRAME AND TO THE FLOOR PAN BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE SUBFRAME TO FALL DOWN WHILE DRIVING. COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

Seats
Filed Dec 9, 1996WA

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEATS ROCK ABOUT 2 INCHES PLAY WHEN ADDED FORCE. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Sep 24, 1996NY

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

Electrical System › Starter Assembly
Filed Aug 15, 1996NC

ON THREE OCCASIONS, THE STARTER NEED TO BE REPLACED, DEALER REPLACED TWO BUT NOT THIRD ONE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)
Filed Apr 16, 1996MD

CONSUMER WAS IN AND ACCIDENT AND THE STEERING GEAR NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Mar 14, 1996VA

THE STEERING IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL, CLUTCH SLIPPED IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND MAKES A GRAINDING NOISE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Dec 6, 1995NY

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

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Nov 8, 1995CA

NO GAS IS GETTING TO THE ENGINE. TT

Electrical System
Filed Jul 4, 1995NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTS, CAUSING POWER DOOR LOCKS/WINDOWS/SUN ROOF/SEAT WARMERS TO FAIL.

20 of 23 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20120100Routine
20110100Routine
20100100Routine
20090100Routine
20081100Routine
20070100Routine
20068100Routine
20039000Routine
200226210Do not drive
200131250Do not drive
20000200Do not drive
19992000Routine
19984000Routine
19971000Routine
19964000Routine
199523000Routine
199425100Routine
19938310Routine
1992 — this page23300Routine
19916310Routine
19906200Routine

Compare every 325 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 11, 1994. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.