IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BMW 325. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BACKFIRE AND LOSE POWER. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO HESITATE AND SHAKE WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY STARTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 206,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,880.
1992 BMW 325
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 325 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 23 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
23 reportsWHEN SHIFTING GEARS FRONT WILL MAKE A CRACKLING NOISE. *AK CONSUMER STATES ENTIRE BACK END SUSPENSION (STRUTS LEFT AND RIGHT) HOLDING THE REAR WHEELS, TRANSMISSION DIFFERENTIALS TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME, DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED, HOWEVER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE LIABILITY OR INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE …
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WHEN SHIFTING GEARS FRONT WILL MAKE A CRACKLING NOISE. *AK CONSUMER STATES ENTIRE BACK END SUSPENSION (STRUTS LEFT AND RIGHT) HOLDING THE REAR WHEELS, TRANSMISSION DIFFERENTIALS TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME, DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED, HOWEVER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE LIABILITY OR INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE PRODUCT DESIGN DEFECT. *SLC
HEATER CORE HAS RUPTURED, CAUSING WINDOWS TO FOG UP. THIS CONDITION MAKES IT HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE. *AK
DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG LIGHT, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STILL ON. *AK
WINDOWS FOG UP AND DO NOT COOL PROPERLY. DEALER NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM. REPAIRWORK NOT DONE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 98V178000, CONSUMER NOTED THERE WAS NO DEALER WITHIN A 500 MILE RADIUS. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SEND ANOTHER DEALER PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
GAS TANKS LEAKS IF THE VEHICLE IS FILLED OVER THE 1/2 FULL MARK, POSSIBLY DUE TO A SEAL FAILURE. *AK
WATER PUMP AND IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURES.
WAS PULLING FROM STOP LIGHT, HAD APPLIED BRAKES SUDDENLY AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED & BROKE DRIVER'S ARM. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. PLASTIC HOUSING OF CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD BROKEN. *AK
RADIATOR HEATER CORE EXPLODED, FILLING VEHICLE WITH STEAM AND SMOKE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.
Official recalls
394V066000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Apr 11, 1994
FEED FUEL HOSES CAN HARDEN AND "SET" OVER TIME, ALLOWING A SEEPAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING. THE CLAMP USED TO HOLD THE HOSE TO THE FITTING IS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HARDENING OF THE FEED FUEL HOSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL SEEPAGE BETWEEN THE FEED FUEL HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING CAN RESULT IN FREE FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: A REDESIGNED FEED FUEL HOSE AND HOSE CLAMP WILL BE INSTALLED TO ALLEVIATE THE FUEL SEEPAGE.
93V015000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:heater Core
Feb 1, 1993
THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND A RESULTING INCREASE IN SYSTEM PRESSURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES OPERATED UNDER THIS INCREASED COOLING SYSTEMPRESSURE CONDITION CAN SUFFER DAMAGE OR FAILURE OF PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEMSUCH AS (1) LEAKAGE FROM A COOLANT HOSE, (2) LEAKAGE OF THE RADIATOR OREXPANSION TANK, (3) DISCONNECTION OF A HOSE FROM A PIPE OR A FITTING, AND (4)CRACKS IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE. IN SOME CASES,BOILING COOLANT CAN CONTACT THE LOWER RIGHT LEG OF THE DRIVER RESULTING INBURNS. ALSO, ESCAPING COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE VAPORFOGGING OF THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE WINDOWS, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THERMOSTATIC BYPASS VALVE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO CONTROL COOLANT TEMPERATURE IN THE HEATER CORE. ALSO, A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP WILL BE INSTALLED, TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
92V055000 · Seats
Apr 14, 1992
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 208. THE DRIVER'S CHEST RESULTANT ACCELERATION EXCEEDED THE ALLOWABLE 60 G'S IN A CRASH TEST WHEN THE SEAT HEIGHT CHANGES ADJUSTMENT UNDER SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURYIN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A DAMPER ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT CUSHION, BETWEEN THE CUSHION FRAME AND THE SEAT TRACK. IN A SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT THE DAMPER WILL HYDRAULICALLY LOCK, PREVENTING A CHANGE IN SEAT HEIGHT.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA95013 · Air Bag Wiring Failure
Opened Mar 31, 1995 · Closed Jul 15, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available
EA92017 · Heater Core Failure
Opened Jun 2, 1992 · Closed Mar 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available