FaultScore report
Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 1989 BMW 325I with NHTSA between 1999 and 2007. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
10
Complaints
1
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 160,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 127,500 miles
Median failure at 242,000 miles
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.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER CAME TO A STOP WHEN VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8011789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1989 BMW 325I - FUEL LINE DISINTEGRATION. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 1994 - WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE FIXED - DEALER DECLINE "NO OUTSTANDING RECALL", CALLED BMW 800 831 1117 ON 2/6/2007 - PROVIDED VIN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN RECALL 94V066000 IS BEING EXPERIENCED BY THIS VEHICLE. IF BMW FIXED IT, THE FIX IS DEFECTIVE. A 1989 CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE FUEL LINES DEGRADING AN SPILLING GASOLINE ON THE ENGINE. SEEMS THE RECALL NEEDS ANOTHER RECALL OR THERE WILL BE A FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #10181821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH OF PURCHASE DATE (. CAR BOUGHT USED, FROM MECHANIC/BMW AUTHORIZED REPAIR SERVICE (SAME MECHANIC IN FOLLOWING NARRATIVE). NOTICED 1): COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON; COOLANT LEVEL SLIGHTLY LOW; TOLD PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE COMPUTER CHIP, TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN BECAUSE LIGHT COMING ON MORE OFTEN, COOLANT LEVEL LOW TO EMPTY IN OVERFLOW AFTER MEDIUM-LONG DISTANCE DRIVE (75 - 100 MILES); TOLD TO JUST KEEP PUTTING COOLANT IN OVERFLOW, NOTHING WAS WRONG; ASKED MECHANIC TO CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM EVERY TIME WE BROUGHT CAR IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES, BUT TRAVEL DISTANCE IS LESS (50-75 MILES), BROUGHT IN AGAIN, TOLD RADIATOR LEAKING; MECHANIC PUT STOP-LEAK IN IT; SAME PROBLEM, EVEN LESS TRAVEL DISTANCE (30 MILES); REPLACED RADIATOR; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED,(AFTER DRIVING 25-35 MILES), TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; TRAVEL DISTANCE 13 MILES, LIGHT GOES ON, ENGINE MAKES LOUD NOISE; TOOK CAR IN, TOLD COOLANT GOT INTO ENGINE AND HEAD OR ENGINE BLOCK PROBABLY CRACKED AS A RESULT OF OVER-HEATING, EVEN THOUGH TEMP GAUGE NEVER INDICATED ANY OVERHEATING; TOLD FOR FIRST TIME THAT TEMP GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER AFTER COOLANT FALLS BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL: TOLD THIS WAS A BMW PROBLEM BECAUSE OF WHERE THE SENSOR IS LOCATED; TOLD PROBLEM COULD BE SOLVED WITH A "STOP-LEAK" TYPE OF PRODUCT FOR THE ENGINE; SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN:LIGHT ON, COOLANT LEVEL 0; FINALLY JUST TOLD 8-22-05 THE HEAD IS CRACKED. 2):FRONT WINDOW WOUOLD NOT DEFROST, EVEN WHEN WE WIPED IT OFF. 3): SMELL OF GASOLINE: TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP FOR THE COOLANT PROBLEM THIS LAST TIME FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. WE HAVE SPENT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS PRIOR TO THIS LATEST DIAGNOSIS, NOW MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL COST US AT MINIMUM 1400 FOR A USED HEAD. DEFROST PROBLEM NOT SOLVED; GASOLINE SMELL STILL THERE.
NHTSA complaint #10134019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH OF PURCHASE DATE (. CAR BOUGHT USED, FROM MECHANIC/BMW AUTHORIZED REPAIR SERVICE (SAME MECHANIC IN FOLLOWING NARRATIVE). NOTICED 1): COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON; COOLANT LEVEL SLIGHTLY LOW; TOLD PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE COMPUTER CHIP, TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN BECAUSE LIGHT COMING ON MORE OFTEN, COOLANT LEVEL LOW TO EMPTY IN OVERFLOW AFTER MEDIUM-LONG DISTANCE DRIVE (75 - 100 MILES); TOLD TO JUST KEEP PUTTING COOLANT IN OVERFLOW, NOTHING WAS WRONG; ASKED MECHANIC TO CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM EVERY TIME WE BROUGHT CAR IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES, BUT TRAVEL DISTANCE IS LESS (50-75 MILES), BROUGHT IN AGAIN, TOLD RADIATOR LEAKING; MECHANIC PUT STOP-LEAK IN IT; SAME PROBLEM, EVEN LESS TRAVEL DISTANCE (30 MILES); REPLACED RADIATOR; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED,(AFTER DRIVING 25-35 MILES), TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; TRAVEL DISTANCE 13 MILES, LIGHT GOES ON, ENGINE MAKES LOUD NOISE; TOOK CAR IN, TOLD COOLANT GOT INTO ENGINE AND HEAD OR ENGINE BLOCK PROBABLY CRACKED AS A RESULT OF OVER-HEATING, EVEN THOUGH TEMP GAUGE NEVER INDICATED ANY OVERHEATING; TOLD FOR FIRST TIME THAT TEMP GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER AFTER COOLANT FALLS BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL: TOLD THIS WAS A BMW PROBLEM BECAUSE OF WHERE THE SENSOR IS LOCATED; TOLD PROBLEM COULD BE SOLVED WITH A "STOP-LEAK" TYPE OF PRODUCT FOR THE ENGINE; SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN:LIGHT ON, COOLANT LEVEL 0; FINALLY JUST TOLD 8-22-05 THE HEAD IS CRACKED. 2):FRONT WINDOW WOUOLD NOT DEFROST, EVEN WHEN WE WIPED IT OFF. 3): SMELL OF GASOLINE: TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP FOR THE COOLANT PROBLEM THIS LAST TIME FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. WE HAVE SPENT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS PRIOR TO THIS LATEST DIAGNOSIS, NOW MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL COST US AT MINIMUM 1400 FOR A USED HEAD. DEFROST PROBLEM NOT SOLVED; GASOLINE SMELL STILL THERE.
NHTSA complaint #10134019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH OF PURCHASE DATE (. CAR BOUGHT USED, FROM MECHANIC/BMW AUTHORIZED REPAIR SERVICE (SAME MECHANIC IN FOLLOWING NARRATIVE). NOTICED 1): COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON; COOLANT LEVEL SLIGHTLY LOW; TOLD PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE COMPUTER CHIP, TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN BECAUSE LIGHT COMING ON MORE OFTEN, COOLANT LEVEL LOW TO EMPTY IN OVERFLOW AFTER MEDIUM-LONG DISTANCE DRIVE (75 - 100 MILES); TOLD TO JUST KEEP PUTTING COOLANT IN OVERFLOW, NOTHING WAS WRONG; ASKED MECHANIC TO CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM EVERY TIME WE BROUGHT CAR IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES, BUT TRAVEL DISTANCE IS LESS (50-75 MILES), BROUGHT IN AGAIN, TOLD RADIATOR LEAKING; MECHANIC PUT STOP-LEAK IN IT; SAME PROBLEM, EVEN LESS TRAVEL DISTANCE (30 MILES); REPLACED RADIATOR; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED,(AFTER DRIVING 25-35 MILES), TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; TRAVEL DISTANCE 13 MILES, LIGHT GOES ON, ENGINE MAKES LOUD NOISE; TOOK CAR IN, TOLD COOLANT GOT INTO ENGINE AND HEAD OR ENGINE BLOCK PROBABLY CRACKED AS A RESULT OF OVER-HEATING, EVEN THOUGH TEMP GAUGE NEVER INDICATED ANY OVERHEATING; TOLD FOR FIRST TIME THAT TEMP GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER AFTER COOLANT FALLS BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL: TOLD THIS WAS A BMW PROBLEM BECAUSE OF WHERE THE SENSOR IS LOCATED; TOLD PROBLEM COULD BE SOLVED WITH A "STOP-LEAK" TYPE OF PRODUCT FOR THE ENGINE; SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN:LIGHT ON, COOLANT LEVEL 0; FINALLY JUST TOLD 8-22-05 THE HEAD IS CRACKED. 2):FRONT WINDOW WOUOLD NOT DEFROST, EVEN WHEN WE WIPED IT OFF. 3): SMELL OF GASOLINE: TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP FOR THE COOLANT PROBLEM THIS LAST TIME FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. WE HAVE SPENT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS PRIOR TO THIS LATEST DIAGNOSIS, NOW MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL COST US AT MINIMUM 1400 FOR A USED HEAD. DEFROST PROBLEM NOT SOLVED; GASOLINE SMELL STILL THERE.
NHTSA complaint #10134019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT SEAT BELT LACHES ARE DIFFICULT TO LATCH. THEY ALSO COME UNLATCHED BY THEMSELVES PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TWO BMW'S AN 87 325E AND AN 89 325I THAT HAVE BOTH HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY UNNERVING TO WONDER WHETHER THE LACH ON THE SEATBELT WILL HOLD YOU IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10053206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, TACHOMETER, MPG GAUGE BATTERIES ON SI BOARD FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, TACHOMETER, MPG GAUGE TO STOP WORKING. SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT FROM NOT KNOWING ENGINE TEMP.
NHTSA complaint #10042963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED.
NHTSA complaint #10012488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER CAME TO A STOP WHEN VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8011789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE SHIFTING GEAR TO DRIVE AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UP TO 60 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8011788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #703945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.