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1989 BMW 325I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 3 of 8 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

8 reports
160,000 miles · Feb 6, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

1989 BMW 325I - FUEL LINE DISINTEGRATION. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 1994 - WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE FIXED - DEALER DECLINE "NO OUTSTANDING RECALL", CALLED BMW 800 831 1117 ON 2/6/2007 - PROVIDED VIN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN RECALL 94V066000 IS BEING EXPERIENCED BY THIS VE…

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1989 BMW 325I - FUEL LINE DISINTEGRATION. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 1994 - WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE FIXED - DEALER DECLINE "NO OUTSTANDING RECALL", CALLED BMW 800 831 1117 ON 2/6/2007 - PROVIDED VIN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN RECALL 94V066000 IS BEING EXPERIENCED BY THIS VEHICLE. IF BMW FIXED IT, THE FIX IS DEFECTIVE. A 1989 CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE FUEL LINES DEGRADING AN SPILLING GASOLINE ON THE ENGINE. SEEMS THE RECALL NEEDS ANOTHER RECALL OR THERE WILL BE A FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10181821

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVisibility

PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH OF PURCHASE DATE (. CAR BOUGHT USED, FROM MECHANIC/BMW AUTHORIZED REPAIR SERVICE (SAME MECHANIC IN FOLLOWING NARRATIVE). NOTICED 1): COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON; COOLANT LEVEL SLIGHTLY LOW; TOLD PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE COMPUTER CHIP, TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; …

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PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN WITHIN APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH OF PURCHASE DATE (. CAR BOUGHT USED, FROM MECHANIC/BMW AUTHORIZED REPAIR SERVICE (SAME MECHANIC IN FOLLOWING NARRATIVE). NOTICED 1): COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON; COOLANT LEVEL SLIGHTLY LOW; TOLD PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE COMPUTER CHIP, TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN BECAUSE LIGHT COMING ON MORE OFTEN, COOLANT LEVEL LOW TO EMPTY IN OVERFLOW AFTER MEDIUM-LONG DISTANCE DRIVE (75 - 100 MILES); TOLD TO JUST KEEP PUTTING COOLANT IN OVERFLOW, NOTHING WAS WRONG; ASKED MECHANIC TO CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM EVERY TIME WE BROUGHT CAR IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES, BUT TRAVEL DISTANCE IS LESS (50-75 MILES), BROUGHT IN AGAIN, TOLD RADIATOR LEAKING; MECHANIC PUT STOP-LEAK IN IT; SAME PROBLEM, EVEN LESS TRAVEL DISTANCE (30 MILES); REPLACED RADIATOR; SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED,(AFTER DRIVING 25-35 MILES), TOLD TO KEEP EYE ON COOLANT LEVEL; TRAVEL DISTANCE 13 MILES, LIGHT GOES ON, ENGINE MAKES LOUD NOISE; TOOK CAR IN, TOLD COOLANT GOT INTO ENGINE AND HEAD OR ENGINE BLOCK PROBABLY CRACKED AS A RESULT OF OVER-HEATING, EVEN THOUGH TEMP GAUGE NEVER INDICATED ANY OVERHEATING; TOLD FOR FIRST TIME THAT TEMP GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER AFTER COOLANT FALLS BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL: TOLD THIS WAS A BMW PROBLEM BECAUSE OF WHERE THE SENSOR IS LOCATED; TOLD PROBLEM COULD BE SOLVED WITH A "STOP-LEAK" TYPE OF PRODUCT FOR THE ENGINE; SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN:LIGHT ON, COOLANT LEVEL 0; FINALLY JUST TOLD 8-22-05 THE HEAD IS CRACKED. 2):FRONT WINDOW WOUOLD NOT DEFROST, EVEN WHEN WE WIPED IT OFF. 3): SMELL OF GASOLINE: TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP FOR THE COOLANT PROBLEM THIS LAST TIME FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. WE HAVE SPENT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS PRIOR TO THIS LATEST DIAGNOSIS, NOW MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL COST US AT MINIMUM 1400 FOR A USED HEAD. DEFROST PROBLEM NOT SOLVED; GASOLINE SMELL STILL THERE.

NHTSA ODI #10134019

127,500 miles · Jan 14, 2004
Seat Belts

FRONT SEAT BELT LACHES ARE DIFFICULT TO LATCH. THEY ALSO COME UNLATCHED BY THEMSELVES PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TWO BMW'S AN 87 325E AND AN 89 325I THAT HAVE BOTH HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY UNNERVING TO WONDER WHETHER THE LACH ON THE SEATBELT WILL HOLD YOU IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10053206

242,000 miles · Oct 15, 2003
Electrical System

ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, TACHOMETER, MPG GAUGE BATTERIES ON SI BOARD FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, TACHOMETER, MPG GAUGE TO STOP WORKING. SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT FROM NOT KNOWING ENGINE TEMP. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10042963

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10012488

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER CAME TO A STOP WHEN VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER CAR.*AK *MJ

NHTSA ODI #8011789

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE SHIFTING GEAR TO DRIVE AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UP TO 60 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8011788

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 1999
Service Brakes, Air

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #703945

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.