Total Complaints
5 filings
BMW 325I · model year
1987 BMW 325I
5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987BMW325I carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 325I is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 2 filings, followed by visibility:glass, side/rear (1) and tires (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 1987 325I. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
5
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040825ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RECALL 93V015000, SYSTEM COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN COOLANT TEMPERATURE, WHICH RESULTS IN INCREASED SYSTEM PRESSURE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER TO CALL NHTSA. *AK
20040121SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SEATBELT APPEARS TO LATCH AND MAKES LATCHING SOUND AND FEEL, BUT RELEASES WITH VERY LITTLE FORCE (ABOUT ONE POUND OR LESS). SEATBELT LOOKS NEW. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
20020624CrashTIRES
AFTER ONE TIRE BLEWOUT AND THE CAR LOST CONTROLL THE OTHER TIRE BLEWOUT AS WELL. *AK
19971125VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
VEHICLE WAS ON, DEFROSTER WAS ON. CONSUMER SMELLED BURNING SMELL, PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO INSPECT WHEN SUDDENLY REAR BACK WINDOW EXPLODED/ BROKE. THIS DEFECT COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK
19950912SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE . TT
Compare 1987BMW325I to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 BMW 325I have?▼
The 1987 BMW 325I has 5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 BMW 325I?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 BMW 325I is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR and TIRES.
Is the 1987 BMW 325I safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.