SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1988 BMW 325I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
5Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
19850
19865
19875
19888
19895
19904
1991
Compare all 325I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Power Train
1Seats
1Structure
1
All reported categories
Visibility
1

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: 2 of 5 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
135,000 miles · Jan 28, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A GASKET FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED AND CAUSED THE SYSTEM PRESSURE TO INCREASE, WHICH CAUSED THE GASKET TO BURST. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 93V015000 (VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:HEATER CORE), BUT T…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A GASKET FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED AND CAUSED THE SYSTEM PRESSURE TO INCREASE, WHICH CAUSED THE GASKET TO BURST. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 93V015000 (VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:HEATER CORE), BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE GASKET. INSTEAD, THEY WILL INSTALL A REVISE RADIATOR CAP AND A BYPASS VALVE AT THE COST OF $1,000-$1,500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WILL NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 02-23-09 *BF UPDATED 02/29/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10256575

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.