The 1994 BMW 325i has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 930,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING98V1780001998-08-04340,000 affected
Defect
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…
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.
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…
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.
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
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
3
1fires
AIR BAGS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2
1fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
2
CHILD SEAT
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
1
Total complaints23
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The 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”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 bmw 325i. The contact stated that the odometer reading was incorrect. The mileage indicated that the vehicle had 28,000 miles when the title indicated that the mileage was 128,000. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for a diagnostic test. The dealer advised the…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 bmw 325i. The contact stated that the odometer reading was incorrect. The mileage indicated that the vehicle had 28,000 miles when the title indicated that the mileage was 128,000. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for a diagnostic test. The dealer advised the…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 bmw 325i. The contact stated that the odometer reading was incorrect. The mileage indicated that the vehicle had 28,000 miles when the title indicated that the mileage was 128,000. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for a diagnostic test. The dealer advised the…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 bmw 325i. The contact stated that the odometer reading was incorrect. The mileage indicated that the vehicle had 28,000 miles when the title indicated that the mileage was 128,000. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for a diagnostic test. The dealer advised the…”
“Consumer's wife was locked in their 1994 bmw 325i and the doors would not open. *nj the consumer stated the windows and horn did not work either. *jb”
“Consumer's wife was locked in their 1994 bmw 325i and the doors would not open. *nj the consumer stated the windows and horn did not work either. *jb”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1994 BMW 325i as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.