Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1994 BMW 325IS
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
218.2%
Electrical System
218.2%
Transmission & Drivetrain
218.2%
Median failure at 135,000 miles
Doors, Latches & Locks
19.1%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
19.1%
Suspension
19.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Body & Structure
19.1%
Median failure at 272,814 miles
Engine & Cooling
19.1%
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.
Aug 1999peak 2Sep 2017
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Cary, NCCrash
SUSPENSION:REAR
I AM A MEMBER OF THE BMWCCA AND A BMW AUTOMTIVE ENTHUSIAST. I HAVE NOTICE FOR MANY YEARS THE OCCURANNCE OF A COMMON FAILURE IN E36 AND E46 BODY STYLES - FOR ALL YEARS OF PRODUCTION. THE REAR SUBFRAME IS ATTACHED AT FOUR MOUNTING LOCATIONS TO THE UNIBODY. THE UNIBODY IS NOT REINFORCED AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS. FAILURES HAVE OCCURED WHERE THE UNIBODY SHEET METAL CRACKS AND IN MANY CASES THE REAR SUBFRAME IS RIPPED FROM THE CAR. IN GERMANY, BMW HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A RECALL TO REINFORCE THE SUBFRAME ATTACHMENT POINTS. I FEEL IT IS TIME THAT BMW TAKES OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE USA. PLEASE HELP. THIS PROBLEM WILL WORSEN AS THESE CARS AGE AND WILL EVENTAULLY CAUSE FATALITIES. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS - I CAN PROVIDE NUMEROUS PHOTOS FORM CLUB MEMBERS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10120052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 272,814 milesScio, OR
STRUCTURE:BODY
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH DOORS BECAME INOPERABLEWITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER ALSO TRUNK LATCH BROKE DUE TO THE WAY IT IS ATTATCHED TO TRUNK LID IE TWO SCREWS THRU SHEET METAL, SHEET METAL BROKE AROUND BOTH SCREWS
NHTSA complaint #11021665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,000 milesRoselle, IL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OWNER OF A 1994 325IS. WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DIED DOWN (SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR) ALMOST CAUSING THE VEHICLES BEHIND TO ALMOST CRASH INTO ME. IN ILLINOIS. CALLED THE NATIONAL BMW CUSTOMER CENTER AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO ACTIVE RECALL DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINT OF INCIDENTS WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF 325 I IN THE CONSUMER REPORTS SITE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL KEPT AND MAINTAINED PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, SOMEONE CAN GET KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10422665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cary, NCCrash
SUSPENSION:REAR
I AM A MEMBER OF THE BMWCCA AND A BMW AUTOMTIVE ENTHUSIAST. I HAVE NOTICE FOR MANY YEARS THE OCCURANNCE OF A COMMON FAILURE IN E36 AND E46 BODY STYLES - FOR ALL YEARS OF PRODUCTION. THE REAR SUBFRAME IS ATTACHED AT FOUR MOUNTING LOCATIONS TO THE UNIBODY. THE UNIBODY IS NOT REINFORCED AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS. FAILURES HAVE OCCURED WHERE THE UNIBODY SHEET METAL CRACKS AND IN MANY CASES THE REAR SUBFRAME IS RIPPED FROM THE CAR. IN GERMANY, BMW HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A RECALL TO REINFORCE THE SUBFRAME ATTACHMENT POINTS. I FEEL IT IS TIME THAT BMW TAKES OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE USA. PLEASE HELP. THIS PROBLEM WILL WORSEN AS THESE CARS AGE AND WILL EVENTAULLY CAUSE FATALITIES. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS - I CAN PROVIDE NUMEROUS PHOTOS FORM CLUB MEMBERS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10120052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Central Islip, NY
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
LTR RE A DEFECTIVE HOOD LATCH ON A 1994 BMW 325IS, REQUESTING A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. WHILE DRIVING, THE HOOD LATCH DISENGAGED AND CAUSE THE HOOD TO OPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10094352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Perth Amboy, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
AFTER TAKING VEHICLE THROUGH A CARWASH ENGINE HYDROLOCKED AND CAUSED FUEL TO INJECT INTO ENGINE. DEALER SAID ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER STATES DME SHORTED OUT CAUSING IT TO HYDROLOCK AND CAUSING ENGINE AND FUEL COMPONENTS TO BE DAMAGED INTERNALLY. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #893434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Perth Amboy, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER TAKING VEHICLE THROUGH A CARWASH ENGINE HYDROLOCKED AND CAUSED FUEL TO INJECT INTO ENGINE. DEALER SAID ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER STATES DME SHORTED OUT CAUSING IT TO HYDROLOCK AND CAUSING ENGINE AND FUEL COMPONENTS TO BE DAMAGED INTERNALLY. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #893434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER, AND TECHNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE HEATING CORE.
NHTSA complaint #865261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
AIR BAGS
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #851944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albany, NV
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THE 1994 BMW 3 SERIES HAS A CLUTCH LINING PROBLEM THAT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO BUCK AND THROW ITSELF FORWARD WHEN STUCK IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME. ALTHOUGH THIS IS CALLED A MINOR INCOMVENIENCE BY BMW, IT CAN CAUSE A LOW IMPACT ACCIDENT IF THE CLUTCH AND DUAL MASS FLY WHEEL ARE NOT REPLACED.... $2000 LATER.
NHTSA complaint #713340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #848548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
L.a., CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 3 SERIES BMWS WHERE THE WATER BACKS UP UNDER THE WINDSHIELD AND IT GETS INTO THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER AND SHORTS IT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #710164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.