IllustrationTHE BRACE HOLDING ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS BROKE OFF. IT SEEMS IF BROKE OFF AT THE WELDS. THE STRAP WAS JUST HANGING AND ONLY THE OTHER WAS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE. *TR
1994 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 325I 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: 4 of 17 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.
- Electrical System. 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. 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.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
3 reportsFUEL GAUGE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. BMW'S FROM 70'S TO '07 HAVE BEEN NOTED BY OWNERS AS BEING A PERSISTENT PROBLEM. MOST DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SENDING UNITS. MANY OWNERS END UP HAVING THE SENDERS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES D/T MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE SENDING UNITS. MY E36 HAS 2 SENDING UNITS AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE R…
Read full complaint
FUEL GAUGE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. BMW'S FROM 70'S TO '07 HAVE BEEN NOTED BY OWNERS AS BEING A PERSISTENT PROBLEM. MOST DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SENDING UNITS. MANY OWNERS END UP HAVING THE SENDERS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES D/T MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE SENDING UNITS. MY E36 HAS 2 SENDING UNITS AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MULTIPLE TIMES. AND THE SAME FOR MANY OTHER OWNERS ON BMW ONLINE BOARDS/FORUMS. I'VE BEEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC WHERE I MERELY MISSED AN ACCIDENT BY MANEUVERING W/O ENGINE POWER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. BMW HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS AND SHOULD RECALL THE FAILED UNITS THAT JUST KEEP FAILING. *TR
FUEL LINE LEAKS REALLY BAD CAN CAUSE FIRE HAZARD IN THE ENGINE IS HOT BUT THE BMW DEALER JUST SAID THAT THE RUBBER HOSE CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME.*AK
Official recalls
398V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
Aug 4, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
97V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 19, 1997
THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
96V111000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Jul 1, 1996
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.