IllustrationORIGINAL LIMITED SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AT 14,347 MILES AND REPLACED AT 18,700 MILES BY DEALER FOR ORIGINAL OWNER. SECOND OWNER COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS AT 70,000 MILES AND SECOND REPLACEMENT OF LIMITED SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS IN PROCESS AT 76. *AK
1993 BMW 325IS
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 325IS 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 16 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 4 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 reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
16 reportsBRAKE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY! DISPLAY ON DASH READS"BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE". (ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY!) DEALER HAS INFORMED US THAT DEFECTIVE BRAKE SWITCH HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. THEY WILL REPLACE SWITCH FOR $100.00. WOULD THIS BE A NORMAL FAILURE RATE ON A 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE? *AK
HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED A YELLOW MILKY COLOR. I HAVE OBSERVED THIS IN OTHER CARS OF SIMILAR TYPE AND BEEN TOLD BY A BMW MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THE BMW'S. THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL HAS COME UNGLUED AND IS BUBBLING. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY A BMW MECHANIC AND AN UPHOLSTERY REPAIRMAN THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCU…
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HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED A YELLOW MILKY COLOR. I HAVE OBSERVED THIS IN OTHER CARS OF SIMILAR TYPE AND BEEN TOLD BY A BMW MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THE BMW'S. THE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL HAS COME UNGLUED AND IS BUBBLING. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY A BMW MECHANIC AND AN UPHOLSTERY REPAIRMAN THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH THE BMW'S. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA CONCERNING BOTH PROBLEMS AND BEEN TOLD THAT THE DEALER MUST MAKE THE REPAIRS. I CONTACTED A DEALER TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTICE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS (98V-178). MJS
CONSUMER WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH. AT THE END WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR ENGINE WAS SLOW AND POWER GONE, ALSO, WHEN STARTING TO GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, POWER FAILED. WASHED CAR AT HOME SAME THING HAPPENED , BUT LESS. WENT BACK TO CAR WASH AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT. CONSUMER WAITED FOR PARTS TO DRY. DEALERSHIP SA…
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CONSUMER WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH. AT THE END WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR ENGINE WAS SLOW AND POWER GONE, ALSO, WHEN STARTING TO GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, POWER FAILED. WASHED CAR AT HOME SAME THING HAPPENED , BUT LESS. WENT BACK TO CAR WASH AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT. CONSUMER WAITED FOR PARTS TO DRY. DEALERSHIP SAID THE DRAIN HOSE GOT CLOGGED, AND THE WATER GOT INTO THE COMPUTER COMPONENT AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR THREE DAYS. DME WAS REPLACED, A BIGGER DRAIN HOSE INSTALLED, AND DRILLED A HOLE INTO THE COMPONENT SO THA T ACCESS WATER COULD DRAIN OUT. BMW SENT A BULLETIN TO DEALERSHIP ON THIS MATTER. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 20 CAR WASHES IN THE SAN FRANANDO AND LOS ANGELAS COUNTIES THAT RECEIVED REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR.*AK
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. THE LOCKING MECHANISIM IS NOT CATCHING SO THE LATCH FAILS TO LOCK. *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.