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1990 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

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 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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 reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

5 reports
165,200 miles · Dec 15, 2008
Air BagsInjury

AIR-BAG DEPLOYMENT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251893

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

A MONTH AGO, RESUMING THE CRUISE SETTING ON THE CRUISE CONTROL RESULTED IN THE SPEED JUST ACCELERATING TO WAY BEYOND THE CRUISE SPEED. TRIED TO TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR RESULTING IN THE ENGINE JUST REVVING UP. PUT IT BACK INTO GEAR AND IT CONTINUED RACING AND ACCELERATING. THE ONLY WAY WAS TO HIT THE BRAKE AND SLOW DOWN TO THE CURB …

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A MONTH AGO, RESUMING THE CRUISE SETTING ON THE CRUISE CONTROL RESULTED IN THE SPEED JUST ACCELERATING TO WAY BEYOND THE CRUISE SPEED. TRIED TO TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR RESULTING IN THE ENGINE JUST REVVING UP. PUT IT BACK INTO GEAR AND IT CONTINUED RACING AND ACCELERATING. THE ONLY WAY WAS TO HIT THE BRAKE AND SLOW DOWN TO THE CURB ON A PRETTY BUSY HIGHWAY. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. TOOK IT INTO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHO WANTED A LOAD OF MONEY TO INVESTIGATE. HAVE NOT USED CRUISE SINCE THEN. I THINK THERE IS A MANUFACTURER FLAW AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY BMW. ONCE AGAIN, THIS CAN BE AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I FORGOT THE INCIDENT AND TRIED IT AGAIN THAT RESULTED IN EXACTLY THE SAME FAILURE. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10019832

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

CONSUMER PUT ON SEATBELT, STARTED THE CAR PUT IN REVERSE, AND CAR JERKED AND TOOK OFF BACKWARDS VERY FAST. WENT ACROSS TO YARDS, AND STILL RMP'S WERE REVVING VERY HIGH. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE ON DRIVERS SIDE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. MECHANIC SAID THAT THROTTLE WAS NOT STUCK. ALSO, BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP CAR, CONSUMER FE…

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CONSUMER PUT ON SEATBELT, STARTED THE CAR PUT IN REVERSE, AND CAR JERKED AND TOOK OFF BACKWARDS VERY FAST. WENT ACROSS TO YARDS, AND STILL RMP'S WERE REVVING VERY HIGH. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE ON DRIVERS SIDE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. MECHANIC SAID THAT THROTTLE WAS NOT STUCK. ALSO, BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP CAR, CONSUMER FELT THAT THROTTLE LEAKAGE AND CONTROL AND SUDDEN ACCELARATION PLAYED A BIG PART IN THIS INCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #870372

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 1998
Electrical System

DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE CUTS OUT FOR A SECOND AS WELL THE THE GAUGES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CLUSTER FAIL. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THREE DIFFRENT MECHANICS TWO BMW SPECIALIST AND ONE AND AUTHORIZED DEALER AND NONE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE FAILURE OCCU…

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DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE CUTS OUT FOR A SECOND AS WELL THE THE GAUGES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CLUSTER FAIL. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THREE DIFFRENT MECHANICS TWO BMW SPECIALIST AND ONE AND AUTHORIZED DEALER AND NONE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE FAILURE OCCURES USUALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS WARMED UP AND IS EXCELLERATING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #700607

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER'S CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, AUTO WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 65-70 MPH. CONSUMER FINALLY SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE AUTO TO THE SHOULDER, AND AFTER SITTING WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKES WHILE AUTO WAS STILL REVVING AND ACCELERATING. -SHE THEN WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PUT AUTO IN PARK AND SHUT OFF ENGINE, BUT …

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CONSUMER'S CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, AUTO WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 65-70 MPH. CONSUMER FINALLY SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE AUTO TO THE SHOULDER, AND AFTER SITTING WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKES WHILE AUTO WAS STILL REVVING AND ACCELERATING. -SHE THEN WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PUT AUTO IN PARK AND SHUT OFF ENGINE, BUT THEN AFTER WAITING 2-5 MINUTES, TURNED AUTO ON AGAIN AND THE AUTO CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN PARK. DRIVER FINALLY SHUT AUTO OFF AND CALLED FOR HELP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813160

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.