1995 BMW 325i

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE WENT TO THE HOT POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND OBSERVED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS STEAMING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR RESERVOIR AND THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V178000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

1- STEERING SHAKES A LOT AT SPEED 45 AND OVER AND UNEVEN WEAR ON BOTH FRONT TIRE. 2- THE SHOP LIFTED UP THE CAR AND SAID THAT BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME THAT HOLDING THE SWAY BAR ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE BUT TO GO TO THE DEALER. 3- WELL THE DEALER WAS NOT CO-OPERATIVE ON THE ISSUE AND WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE FIX. *TR

TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO BMW - TO HAVE (THROTTLE RECALL ) WORK PERFORMED. APPARENTLY, IT WAS NOT DONE OR IF IT WAS DONE, WAS NOT TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND NOW, THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP FORWARD, WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, BMW HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE SHORT IN THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE 'CHECK 1 REAR BRAKE LIGHT' WILL ILLUMINATE - FOR ABOUT 5 - 7 MINUTES. AIRBAG LIGHT WILL ALSO COME ON WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. NOW THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC, RPM' IS FINE AT 70 MILES PER HOUR ( NOT SAFE), I WOULD PREFER TO DRIVE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT - IN CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS SAFETY RECALL 98V178000 CONCERNIG ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. HOWEVER , THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT'S COMPLAINED THAT THEY RECALL INVOLVED THE SAME T FAILURE AS THE CONTACT WAS HAVING WITH THIS VEHICLE.. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FIRST OVERHEATED ON 02/04/07, AND THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. SHE WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND THE WEATHER WAS COLD, BUT NICE. ALSO, THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL 97V131000 WITHN WHICH SHE CURRENTLY DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. HOWEVER SHE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT REPAIRED AS WELL. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD IN THIS CASE THAT THE SAFETY RECALL DIED NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE VIN EITHER. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS MADE UNDER THE RECALL. *AK

BOUGHT FOUR GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLE TREAD TIRES (WARRANTY FOR 80,000 - 85,000 MILES) AT BELLE TIRE IN JUNE '05. (TIRES NEVER FELT RIGHT.) BY NOVEMBER '05, AFTER ONLY 10,000 MILES, TIRES WERE WORN TO THE TREAD BAR. BELLE TIRE BLAMED EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE TIRE, WENT TO 3 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND WAITED OVER TWO WEEKS FOR PROBLEM TO BE 'RESOLVED'. ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. ALSO, BELLE TIRE CHARGED FOR AN ALIGNMENT IN JUNE '05, WHEN IN FACT THE LOCATION DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO DO THE ALIGNMENT (GERMAN-ENGINEERED VEHICLES REQUIRE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT). BELLE TIRE REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE ALLEGED 'ALIGNMENT'. *JB

I WAS THE VICTIM OF A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED MY CAR. AFTER I INITIATED THE INSURANCE CLAIM PROCESS I FOUND OUT THAT I BOUGHT A CAR THAT HAD A "SALVAGE TITLE" WHICH I NEVER KNEW IT HAD. THE DEALER SOLD THE CAR TO ME FOR "FULL KELLEY BLUE BOOK PRICE" AND THE FINANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN COLLECTING MY PAYMENTS BASED ON THE CAR BEING A NON-DEFECT TITLE CAR. ALSO MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN ACCEPTING FULL COVERAGE PAYMENTS FROM ME, HOWEVER, AFTER I HAD THE ACCIDENT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DISCOVERED IT WAS A "SALVAGE TITLE", NOW THE INSURANCE COMPANY ONLY WANTS TO PAY FOR THE "SALVAGE VALUE" OF THE CAR. I HAVE A 1995 BMW 325I. THE CAR WAS FINANCED, THROUGH THE AUTO DEALERSHIP FOR $15,000. I WAS NEVER TOLD IT WAS A "SALVAGE TITLED CAR". NOW, THE INSURANCE COMPANY ONLY WANTS TO PAY $3,500. I'VE BEEN PAYING ON THE CAR FOR THREE YEARS, $360 PER MONTH. I STILL OWE $11,000 ON THE FINANCE AGREEMENT. DIDN'T THE FINANCE COMPANY KNOW I'D BOUGHT A SALVAGED VEHICLE? AREN'T ALL THREE ENTITIES GUILTY OF OVERCHARGING ME FOR A SALVAGE VEHICLE?*AK

DEALER RECOMMENDS THAT TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES BE REPLACED BECAUSE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS HAVE WORN, LEAVING BRAKE LIGHTS UNRELIABLE. HOW CAN A NON-MOVING ELECTRICAL PART WEAR OUT? *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE OR FOUR TIMES. *PH *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR SECOND TIME, VEHICLE HAS FEWER THAN 60,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAS A SYSTEM WHICH BASICALLY SHUTS DOWN THE VEHICLE WHEN A "WARNING" IS GENERATED, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE IF I HAVE BEEN ON A FREEWAY. *LA

VEHICLE JUMPED FROM 1ST GEAR TO NEUTRAL.*AK *TS *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GETTING INSPECTED, THE ENGINE IDLED ERRATICALLY. THE DEALER SUSPECTED THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE DME MAIN COMPUTER. SINCE THE VEHICLE RAN WELL AFTER WARMING UP, THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO POSTPONE THE REPAIR WORK. THE VEHICLE SURGED DRAMATICALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S WIFE TO RAM INTO THEIR OTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED DAMAGES TO BOTH. SCC *NLM

I ALSO GET THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THE SHORT IS ACTUALLY IN THE BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING, AND THE METAL CLIP GETS ERODED FROM A HEAT BUILD UP DUE TO THE SHORT. THIS CAUSES A SMALL HOLE IN THE METAL CLIP OF THE BULB, AND THEREFORE, EACH TIME YOU REPLACE THE BULBS, YOU GET A NEW HOLE. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS, AND I JUST KEEP REPLACING THE BULBS AND THE PARTS, SINCE MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. ( I HAVE A '95 325 I THAT I BOUGHT IN '97.) I ALSO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE LOCK MECHANISM - SOMETIMES THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE FRONT SEATS. IT IS JUST EXPECTED THAT BMWS HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. PERHAPS NEXT TIME I WILL GET A HONDA.*JB

CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GETTING THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT FAILURE WARNING. REPLACED THE SWITCH AT DEALER TWICE. REPLACED ALL BULBS SEVERAL TIMES REPLACED FUSE TWICE. CONSTANT PROBLEM AND REPAIR SHOPS ALL SAY BMW HAS CHRONIC ELECTRICAL GLITCHES. I TELL THEM THIS IS NOT A GLITCH, ONE TIME THE BULBS WON'T LIGHT WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES AND I'LL GET REAR-ENDED. DT

SRS WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON AFTER STARTING THEN GOES OUT AFTER ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES. ALWAYS COMES US AS A CODE 24 FOR BELT BUCKLE SWITCH, HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE AND CLEARED CODE. THE CODE REAPPEARS WITHIN 3 WEEKS. THE SWITCH/SENSOR IS A DEALER ITEM AND THEY CHARGE $110 OR SO TO REPLACE IT AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. DT

WATER PUMP FAILED AT 70555 MILES, THERMOSTAT AT 58000 MILES, AUX COOLING FAN AT 80000, AND NOW RADIATOR AT 92K MILES. ALL COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED WITHIN 16 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION FOR INVESTIGATION. DT

LEAKING GAS TANKS , AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE ROUTINE PROBLEMS ON A CAR. OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE SAID THEY HAVE SIMMILAR PROBLEMS BUT SEEM TO JUST SPEND THE MONEY AT THE DEALER TO FIX. DOES THE NTSA KEEP A RECORD OF THESE ACTIVITES? MR

NO SUMMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ON AUGUST 9,2001 A LEFT REAR TIRE DISINTEGRATED AT 60MPH. THE BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE(AFTER CONTENDING THAT IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT) AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRE (STILL UNDER WARRANTEE - ABOUT HALF THE TREAD LEFT). WE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A SLOW LEAK ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND ON THE DAY OF THE FAILURE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP TO BE TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DETECTED IN THE RF TIRE - PRESSURE HAD BEEN CHECKED ON THE REAR. SUBSEQUENTLY WE CONTINUED TO LOOSE AIR IN THE RF TIRE AND EXPERIENCE A SHIMMY IN THE CAR. WE TOOK IT TO A COMPETITIOR WHO IN CHECKING THE TIRE DISCOVERED SIGNIFICANT DELAMINATION ON THE INSIDE EDGE TREAD OF THE TIRE. IN ADDITION THE REMAINING TWO TIRES ALSO SHOWED SIGNS OF DELAMINATION OF TREAD AND BELT. WE SWITCHED TO WINTER TIRES EARLY AND I HAVE THE SUSPECT TIRES IN MY POSSESSION. A CALL TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER OF BRIDGESTONE-FIRESTONE INDICATED NO INTEREST IN CHECKING ON THE POTENTIAL FOR A DEFECT OR COMPENSATION CONSISTENT WITH THE WARRANTY. BECAUSE ALL FOUR TIRES FROM THAT SET DELAMINATED IN THE SAME PLACE AND IN THE SAME WAY AND AT THE SAME TIME I AM HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE COMPANY ALREADY HAS A TRACK RECORD OF FAILURE AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH PERSONNEL INDICATES COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY ISSUES, EVEN AFTER THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHERS WHO MAY NOT BE AS VIGILANT ABOUT TIRES COULD FALL VICTIM TO AUTO ACCIDENTS. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE. I WILL RETAIN THE TIRES FOR INSPECTION PENDING YOUR I

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED 5 MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH AND LOST STEERING POWER AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE/ CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. POWER STEERING PULLEY PUMP BROKE, THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM TO START.*AK