- The problem
- In a fmvss no. 208 30 Miles-per-hour compliance test, an unbelted test driver dummy's chest maximum resultant acceleration was 70.8 G's, which exceeds the maximum allowable value of 60 g's. Also, the unbelted passenger dummy's left femur maximum load was 2361 lbs, which exceeds maximum allowable value of 2250 lbs. The vehicles do not comply with fmvss no. 208, "Occupant crash protection."
- The risk
- Consequence of non-compliance: in the event of an accident, the occupant will be subjected to an increased risk of injury.
- The fix
- On automatic transmission models only, the dealer will replace the transmission support crossmember with a crossmember used on the manual transmission model. Also, the transmission rear bushing supports will be replaced with bushing having different performance characteristics. The steering column front support bearing at the firewall will be replaced with a modified part using a teflon inner surface and teflon spray will be applied to the column housing in the area of the bearing. A brace will be added between the knee bolster support and the steering column.
Vehicle safety record
1994 BMW 325 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 26 complaints about the 1994 BMW 325 with NHTSA, most often about the seats & seat belts (4) and the acceleration & cruise control (4). Those complaints describe 4 crashes and 2 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in August 1994 for the anchorage. For comparison, the 1993 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical 325 year, for its age
#105 most complained-about 1994 vehicle
- Complaints
- 26
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 4
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1994 BMW 325 problems
Share of all 26 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1994 BMW 325 recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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26 complaints about the 1994 BMW 325
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 2.
Car lost power due to problem with transmission. Car has 120,000 miles and new transmission was also required at 55,000 in 2000. Bmw 3 series transmissions seem to be defective. There are numerous complaints of transmissions suddenly failing in 3 series. *Tr
The vehicle's engine failed at 80,000 miles. *Nm the consumer was told that his engine was not repairable because it would not hold oil . *Tc the engine had been well maintained. The consumer was also informed that a new water pump was needed. *Sc *jb
Tire at approximately 60 % tread remaining on tire, the tread pealed off the casing and caused damage to under fender and to rim of car when tire blew and ran on rim off road-no personal injuries. *Ak
Brake light switch was repaired once under recall. Consumer stated that there was a light coming on that said check brake light circuit. Consumer stated this light constantly came on. *Ak consumer feels the brake switch is also faulty, however dealer will not replace it. *Slc
Airbag light is on. Took to dealer, and they said airbag control unit failed. Airbag won't deploy in an accident. *Ak *slc
On certain stretches of california freeways having a long downgrade with car travelling at 55 mph, brakes fade, emit a smell, and it is difficult to slow or stop car unless 2 feet are used on the pedal. This happened twice at two locations (i5 grapevine @ bakersfield heading north, and i580 near livermore heading east).*Ak
All four doors and driver seat rattle constantly. After numerous visits to the dealer, the bmw area rep finally ordered that tape be placed around the doors. This took 4 years to achieve and cured the door rattles for one day, upon which they returned. By the time the area rep returned, the car was out of warranty. I had to move away for a job change. The next step would have been to replace rubber door seals. The dealer also damaged the driver seat, causing it to rattle and squeak, the first visit to repair the door problem. Neither the door or seat rattles have been fixed to this day.*Ak
Unable to unlock steering wheel and gear shift lever with key unless steering wheel is violently pulled. Dealer was notified of this problem many times since car was new but did not/could not correct it.*Ak
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Recall #98v-178.000/Bmw/coolant system: radiator cap malfunctioned, causing three hoses to blow. Also, heater control valve failed and caused steam to enter into vehicle while driving. Approximately a week or less later , a manufacturer's recall notice received. Notified manufacturer, and was informed that coolant system, radiator cap malfuctioning was not the cause of vehicle problem. Seeking help in this matter from nhtsa. *Ak
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE FROM THE BASE. NO CLIPS. *AK
The speedometer of the car suddenly went all the way to the end, passing the maximum number, 160 mph, but the car was going at only 40 mph. While this happened, the odometer of the car was accelerating like it was going at 160+mph, that is in only one mile, the odometer read like it had travelled 4-5 miles. While this was hapenning, the car could not go more than about 55-60 mph. As soon as the rpm touched 3000, the engine would shut off, and when it got below 3000rpm, it would go back on again. I stopped the...
Read the full complaint
car, and started again, and the problem was gone. A few days later, I was going downhill and it happened again. The car was going at 50 mph and the engine shut off, and did not go back on again. While the car was going downhill and speeding up, I was able to start it again. This problem did not happen occasionally. I explained that to open road bmw at 731 us hwy 1 south, edison nj, 08817, tel 732-985-8450, but they said becuse I could not reproduce the problem right there, there was no way they could know what was wrong with the car. The problem became worse more than a year or so later, but still I could not reproduce the problem in front of the dealer. Finally, I took a videotape of the problem, and presented it to the dealer. They fixed the problem for me, but they said my car was not under warranty anymore. I kept explaining to them that the actual mileage of the car was much less than what it showed, but they would not change their minds. They said the problem was the instrument cluster. *Ak
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration, causing a collision.
Accelerator locked up while attempting to enter garage, causing a crash into the house. *Ak
Vehicle took off by itself and the airbag's did not deploy upon impact.Vehicle was totaled.Manufacturer has been notified. Owner states that there is a safety notice campaign. *Ak
Sudden acceleration at 30 to 40 mph when steering and brakes went bad. Dealer can't find problem. *Ak
While driving experienced engine surging, as though in neutral gear, also experienced transmission hesitation while accelerating. *Ak *jb
Rear lower control arm broke, causing temporary loss of control of vehicle.
Trunk hydraulic locking mechanism failed 3 times. *Tt
Windshield arm struck windshield cracking it. Please describe details. Tt
VEHICLE VIBRATION. *TW
Had a frontal collision, driver's air bag did not deploy, totalled vehicle. Tt
Nhtsa recall #94v151000 interior systems shoulder belt; warning illuminates constantly. Northgate bmw made (4) attempts. Tt
At 35mph 12:00 position drivers side airbag did not deploy. Tt
PROBLEM W/ROOF. *SD
BMW 325: every year compared
All 325 years1994 BMW 325 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 BMW 325 | 26 | 1 | F | |
| 1994 BMW 318 | 22 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 1994 BMW 325I | 17 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 1994 BMW 318I | 14 | 2 | D | Compare |
| 1994 BMW 525 | 10 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 1994 BMW 325IS | 10 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 1994 BMW 525I | 7 | 4 | D | Compare |
| 1994 BMW 325IC | 5 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 1994 BMW 318IS | 5 | 2 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1994 BMW 325
Does the 1994 BMW 325 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1994 BMW 325: anchorage (August 1994). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 BMW 325?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the seats & seat belts (4), acceleration & cruise control (4), airbags (4).
How many complaints has the 1994 BMW 325 had?
26 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 30, 1994 and the latest on June 6, 2011. Of these, 4 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1994 BMW 325 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 5 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical BMW 325 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which BMW 325 years have the most complaints?
2001 (31), 1994 (26), 1987 (16). See every BMW 325 year compared.
What should I do if my 1994 BMW 325 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data