Total Complaints
25 filings
BMW 325I · model year
25 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993BMW325I carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, 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 1993 325I is engine and engine cooling:cooling system:radiator assembly with 4 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:module (4) and vehicle speed control:linkages (2). 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 1993 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.
Total Complaints
25 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING, THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING AND THE RADIATOR FAN WAS INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE RESERVOIR FOR THE RADIATOR WAS NOT MOUNTED CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
Mileage: 155,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING AND THE TEMPERATURE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ACCURATE TEMPERATURES. LATER, THE HEATING UNIT FAILED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE BECAUSE THE FAILURES WERE OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT LOCATED A RECALL, BUT WAS UNSURE IF HER VIN WAS INCLUDED BECAUSE SHE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
THE SEALS ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK LEAKED GAS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD ONLY HAPPEN IF THE SENDING UNIT SEALS ARE DEFECTIVE. *SC THE DEALER FOUND THAT A HOSE AND SENDING UNIT SEALS WERE LEAKING FUEL ON TOP OF THE TANK *JB
THE SUBFRAME CRACKED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. THE CRACK IS LOCATED ON THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHED. I M AFRIAD THAT THE REAR AXLE MAY FALL OFF THE VEHICLE DURING DRIVING. I HAVE FOUND OTHER OWNER COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ON THE E36 DESIGN. THIS IS A WEAKNES ON THE SURFRAME THAT CASUES IT TO FAIL IN FATIGUE. I AM A METALLURGICAL ENGINEER AND HAVE VISUALLY INSPECTED THE CRACK. IT DID NOT SHOWN ANY CORROSION, THUS INDICIATING THAT IT IS NOT A ENVIRONMENTAL INDUCE FAILURE. THIS PROBLREM IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM IN AN INADEQUATELY DESGINED COMPONENT. A SUBFRAME IS A STRUCTURE COMPONENT AND SHOULD FAIL UDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.THE ESTIMATE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS OVER $4000.00. IHAVE CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATION, THE REPRESENTATIVE HAS DENIED THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO LET ME TALL TO HER SUPERVISOR. I BELIEVE THIS IS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE AND HOPE THAT NHTSA CAN ASSIST THE CAR OWNERS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.*AK
HEADLIGHTS: HEADLIGHTS ON LIGHT TRUCKS AND SUV'S ARE TOO HIGH. THIS CAUSES CAR DRIVERS TO BE BLINDED, SO THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE TO DRIVE. A SECONDARY EFFECT IS TO CAUSE ROAD RAGE, WITH CONSEQUENCES RANGING FROM NONE TO MURDER. FMVSS SHOUD BE CHANGED TO LIMIT THE HEIGHT OF HEADLIGHTS.*AK
RECALL 98V178000; VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED SIX TIMES FOR ENGINE COOLING THERMOSTAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
DRIVERS SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT ALWAYS AND THE SEATBELT WITH BE LOOSE AND UNSAFE.*AK
CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER FOR RECALL 98V178000 REPAIRS. DEALERSHIP REMEDIED VEHICLE AS STATED IN RECALL, BUT CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
JACK LUG WRENCH THAT COMES EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE WILL BEND AND BREAK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. CONSUMER ONLY HAD USED JACK ONES.*AK
CONSUMER SAID CHECK COOLANT LIGHT CAM ON AT 37,901 MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP HOUSING/ COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR, AND THERMOSTAT. CAR WAS SITTING FOR ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE PROBLEM CAME BACK AT 88,253 MILES, CONSUMER TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE COOLANT LIGHT WAS COMING ON. DLR REPLACED RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP. IN 1998, RECEIVED A RECALL ON RADIATOR CAP. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CAP. *AK
CONSUMER SAID CHECK COOLANT LIGHT CAM ON AT 37,901 MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP HOUSING/ COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR, AND THERMOSTAT. CAR WAS SITTING FOR ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE PROBLEM CAME BACK AT 88,253 MILES, CONSUMER TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE COOLANT LIGHT WAS COMING ON. DLR REPLACED RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP. IN 1998, RECEIVED A RECALL ON RADIATOR CAP. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CAP. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILED. *MJS
CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILED. *ET
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AFTER COMING OUT OF A CAR WASH. WATER GOT INTO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER COST OF APPROXIMATELY $900 OR MORE. AN ADDITIONAL $200 OR MORE WOULD BE CHARGED TO INSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT REOCCUR. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
STEERING LOCKS UP INTERMITTENLY IN THE START POSITION, WINDOWS AND SUNROOF INOPERATIVE, GAS INTERMITTENLY GIVES INCORRECT READING OF FUEL
STEERING LOCKS UP INTERMITTENLY IN THE START POSITION, WINDOWS AND SUNROOF INOPERATIVE, GAS INTERMITTENLY GIVES INCORRECT READING OF FUEL
STEERING LOCKS UP INTERMITTENLY IN THE START POSITION, WINDOWS AND SUNROOF INOPERATIVE, GAS INTERMITTENLY GIVES INCORRECT READING OF FUEL
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN WATER FROM RAIN OR CAR WASH FILLS UP IN THE DRAIN WHERE COMPUTER PROCESSOR IS PLACED. YH
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN WATER FROM RAIN OR CAR WASH FILLS UP IN THE DRAIN WHERE COMPUTER PROCESSOR IS PLACED. YH
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER CAR WASH DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION/CLOGGING OF THE ECM. MJS
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.