IllustrationTHE RADIATOR CAP FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 98V-178, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS DUE TO IMPROPER RADIATOR DESIGN. NLM
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
What owners actually said
17 reportsLEFT REAR SEAT BELT NEVER WORKED, UNIT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND WAS REPLACED, BMW REFUSED TO HELP WITH EXPENSE. *MJS
THE PROBLEM DEALS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE LOCATION OF THE SUPPLY HOSE (PART OF THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM) FROM THE RESERVOIR TANK TO THE RADIATOR. THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WAS ON THE DATE OF THIS REPORT. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT A YEAR A…
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THE PROBLEM DEALS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE LOCATION OF THE SUPPLY HOSE (PART OF THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM) FROM THE RESERVOIR TANK TO THE RADIATOR. THE FIRST TIME THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WAS ON THE DATE OF THIS REPORT. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THE SUPPLY HOSE IS LOCATED RIGHT UNDER THE FAN SHROUD. IT IS HELD UP BY 2 CLAMPS THAT ARE MOLDED ONTO THE FAN SHROUD. THIS WHOLE ASSEMBLY (SHROUD AND CLAMPS) APPEAR TO ME TO BE A PLASTIC MATERIAL. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE SUPPLY HOSE HAS COME LOSE FROM THE CLAMPS THAT ARE MOLDED ONTO THE SHROUD ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME IT SHEARED OFF 2 FAN BLADES AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY BY THE DEALER. THE SECOND TIME IT CAME LOOSE IT THE HOSE SHEARED OFF ALL OF THE FAN BLADES THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT TO THE POITN THE ENGINE WAS RUINED. THE PISTON COMPLETELY TURNED OVER IN THE CYLINDER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. APPARENTLY WHAT HAPPENS IS OVER TIME THESE CLAMPS MOLED ONTO THE SHROUD BECOME HOT AND BRITTLE THUS MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO EVENTUALLY BREAK OFF. DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE SUPPLY HOSE ONCE IT COMES LOOSE FROM THESE CLAMPS IT FALLS DIRECTLY INTO THE FAN BLADES. THE LOOSE HOSE CANNOT AVOID THE FAN. I HAVE LOOKED AT MANY OTHER MAKES OF AUTOMOBILES SINCE THIS HAPPENED THE LAST TIME. IN ALL OF THE OTHER AUTOMOBILES THAT I HAVE LOOKED AT THE SUPPLY HOSE IS ENGINEERED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IF IT DID COME LOOSE FROM THE CLAMPS IT CANNOT BECOME ENTANGLED WITH THE FAN BLADES. IT COULDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE! BASED UPON THIS KNOWLEDGE I BELIEVE THAT BMW HAS ERRED IN THE DESIGN OF THE COOLING SYSTEM, AT LEAST ON THE 3 SERIES. IT IS STILL DESIGNED THAT WAY TODAY. I HAVE TALKED TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL! I WOULD APPRECIATE (IF YOU HAVE TIME) A PHONE CALL SO THAT I COULD EXPLAIN THIS PROBLEM BETTER! THANK YOU! SINCERELY, DANNY L. SMITH. *AK
RECALL COMPONENT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (98V-178), CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING REIMBURSEMENT.
AIR BAG GASKET DISINTEGRATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING THE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. MJS
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. DEALER STATES IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING IT WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL 4000 RPM'S, AND VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE.*AK
THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP COME ON CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER ABOUT SEVEN TIME DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM . TT
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.