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FaultScore report

1987 BMW 325 problems

Owners have filed 30 complaints about the 1987 BMW 325 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2003. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the BMW 325
—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

30

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

5

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

How 1987 compares with every other BMW 325

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1987 BMW 325

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 9 30.0%

0 crashes, 3 fires · median 82,000 mi

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 5 16.7%
Electrical System 4 13.3%

0 crashes, 2 fires

Equipment & Accessories 2 6.7%
Seats 2 6.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 2 6.7%
Other & Unspecified 1 3.3%
Doors, Latches & Locks 1 3.3%
Fuel & Propulsion 1 3.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 3.3%
Body & Structure 1 3.3%
Brakes 1 3.3%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jul 1995 peak 16 Oct 2003

NHTSA investigations into the 1987 BMW 325

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA92017 Opened 2 Jun 1992 Closed 30 Mar 1993 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

HEATER CORE FAILURE

EA90002 Opened 12 Oct 1989 Closed 30 Oct 1990 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

MSTR CYL FAILS TO RELEASE

PE89142 Opened 14 Jul 1989 Closed 12 Oct 1989 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKES DRAG & FAIL

SUMMARY:THE BRAKES REPORTEDLY BEGAN TO DRAG AND LOCK WITHOUTWARNING DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING ON 4 VEHICLES.THE CAUSE IS NOTKNOWN AT THIS TIME.===

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Staten Island, NY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

DRIVING AT 55 MPH, ALL INSTRUMENTS READING NORMAL, HEARD A "BANG" , LOST ALL ENGINE POWER AND BRAKES,POWER STEERING. WAS NOT TIMING BELT BECAUSE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO ARREST VEHICLE TACHOMETER WAS WORKING. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART IN NEUTRAL WHILE COASTING, NOR WOULD IT "POP" START. COASTED TO A STOP USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN STOPPED, NOTICED FLAMES FROM UNDER HOOD. LEFT VEHICLE AND WATCHED IT BURN TO OBLIVION. CAUSE OF FIRE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME, INSURANCE WON'T INVESTIGATE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ANY COVERAGE FOR FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #701068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middletown, DE Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, SPREADING TO THE EXHAUST . MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #825128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Allen, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #508309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Allen, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

FUSE BOX CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #508198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, VA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

PARKED VEHICLE AND FIVE MINUTES LATER FIRE STARTED FOLLOWED BY AN EXPLOSION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #981207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 82,000 miles Leakesville, MS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10042844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rhinebeck, NY

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 93V015000. COOLANT LEAKING INTO VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE DUE TO A CRACK IN HEATER CORE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #896970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bellevue, WA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE, ON ONE OCCASION THE SURGE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WENT ONTO A CURB WHICH DAMAGED THE OIL PAN, CONSUMER FEELS THE DEALER SHOULD REIMBURSE HER FOR THE REPAIRS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #557323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kingsburg, CA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

WHILE DRIVING COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. HOSE BLEW OFF COOLANT RESERVOIR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND HOSE WAS REATTACHED. *AK RECALL (93V-015) WORK DONE ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM, AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE THE VEHICLE RUNNING HOTTER THAN BEFORE.

NHTSA complaint #869063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilmington, DE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

COSNUMER RECEIVED RECALL 93V015000 IN EARLY JUNE. CONSUMER CONTACTED UNION PARK BMW LOCATED IN WILMINGTON DELAWARE, TELE#302-658-7245, AND WAS TOLD PARTS WERE ON ORDER, BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHEN PARTS WILL COME IN. CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 2 MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #868610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Daly, CA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

WHILE DRIVING WINDOW GOT FOGGY AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING ON FRONT SEAT FLOOR. TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT CLAMPS WERE TOO TIGHT, FORCING THE COOLANT TO OVERFLOW JUST LIKE STATED IN RECALL 93V015000.

NHTSA complaint #866175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staten Island, NY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

DRIVING AT 55 MPH, ALL INSTRUMENTS READING NORMAL, HEARD A "BANG" , LOST ALL ENGINE POWER AND BRAKES,POWER STEERING. WAS NOT TIMING BELT BECAUSE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO ARREST VEHICLE TACHOMETER WAS WORKING. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART IN NEUTRAL WHILE COASTING, NOR WOULD IT "POP" START. COASTED TO A STOP USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN STOPPED, NOTICED FLAMES FROM UNDER HOOD. LEFT VEHICLE AND WATCHED IT BURN TO OBLIVION. CAUSE OF FIRE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME, INSURANCE WON'T INVESTIGATE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ANY COVERAGE FOR FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #701068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunnyvale, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

ABLE TO SMELL THE GAS FUME, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE FUEL LEAKAGE MAY BE RELATED TO THE TYPE OF GASOLINE ADDITIVE (NTBE?) IN THE CALIFORNIA,

NHTSA complaint #700424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middletown, DE Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, SPREADING TO THE EXHAUST . MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #825128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

SEATS

THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOBBLES.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER WINDOWS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

THE RADIO "STATION" LIGHT BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

REAR DOOR DOESN'T OPEN FROM INSIDE.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

ENGINE BELT REPLACED DUE TO NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE SIDE AND FRONT MOLDING FELL OFF.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO ALLOW KEY TO TURN..

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP

THE BRAKE LIGHT INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Head, NJ

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNED PASSENGER.

NHTSA complaint #515007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.