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

Structure complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
187,000 miles · Nov 8, 2004
StructureCrashFireInjury

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 1988 BMW 325IS IN THE RAIN, AND LOST CONTROL. SHE WAS HIT IN A SIDE IMPACT BY A LATE MODEL CHEVROLET CAMARO TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE HIT WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND MY WIFE'S PASSENGER WERE SEVERELY INJURED. I BELIEVE THAT THE BMW'S DOOR DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE, AS THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALMOS…

Read full complaint

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 1988 BMW 325IS IN THE RAIN, AND LOST CONTROL. SHE WAS HIT IN A SIDE IMPACT BY A LATE MODEL CHEVROLET CAMARO TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE HIT WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND MY WIFE'S PASSENGER WERE SEVERELY INJURED. I BELIEVE THAT THE BMW'S DOOR DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE, AS THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY OBLITERATED. THE DOOR DID NOT CRUMPLE, BUT INSTEAD FOLDED INWARD AND UPWARD, FILLING UP THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PLEASE SEE PICTURES AT: HTTP://WWW.SNOWRABBIT.ORG/325IS_ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10098484

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.