Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1990 BMW 325
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seats
220.0%
Airbags
220.0%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Other & Unspecified
110.0%
Doors, Latches & Locks
110.0%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
110.0%
Lights
110.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
110.0%
Engine & Cooling
110.0%
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.
Jun 1995peak 4Jul 2006
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 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.
EA92017Opened 2 Jun 1992Closed 30 Mar 1993VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HEATER CORE FAILURE
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Poolesville, MDCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT END COLLISON; REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE; THREE CAR COLLISION; ONE SENSOR CRUSHED UPON IMPACT. TT
NHTSA complaint #966229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poolesville, MDCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT END COLLISON; REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE; THREE CAR COLLISION; ONE SENSOR CRUSHED UPON IMPACT. TT
NHTSA complaint #966229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Chandler, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
NHTSA complaint #10162706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BAY Head, NJ
SEATS
BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE; IN ADDITION, CANNOT OPEN THE UNLOCKED DOOR FROM INSIDE/ DRIVER'S SEAT WOBBLES AND SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED, BURNING DRIVER.
NHTSA complaint #514427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BAY Head, NJ
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE; IN ADDITION, CANNOT OPEN THE UNLOCKED DOOR FROM INSIDE/ DRIVER'S SEAT WOBBLES AND SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED, BURNING DRIVER.
NHTSA complaint #514427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BAY Head, NJ
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE; IN ADDITION, CANNOT OPEN THE UNLOCKED DOOR FROM INSIDE/ DRIVER'S SEAT WOBBLES AND SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED, BURNING DRIVER.
NHTSA complaint #514427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BAY Head, NJ
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE; IN ADDITION, CANNOT OPEN THE UNLOCKED DOOR FROM INSIDE/ DRIVER'S SEAT WOBBLES AND SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED, BURNING DRIVER.
NHTSA complaint #514427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER HAD RECALL #93V015000, FIXED A YEAR AGO, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR ENGINE COOLING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR OVERHEATED . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #801978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.