The 1993 BMW 325is has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 930,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 27 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
5
1injuries
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
1crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1
Total complaints27
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I have a 1993 325is bmw. And there are a number of problems. On rainy days I can hear water in the floor boards. The door panels are both coming ungluded and bubbling. My driver side floor mat hits the gas petal. The check coolant light on my computer is always on, the the coolant is low even…”
“I have a 1993 325is bmw. And there are a number of problems. On rainy days I can hear water in the floor boards. The door panels are both coming ungluded and bubbling. My driver side floor mat hits the gas petal. The check coolant light on my computer is always on, the the coolant is low even…”
“I have a 1993 325is bmw. And there are a number of problems. On rainy days I can hear water in the floor boards. The door panels are both coming ungluded and bubbling. My driver side floor mat hits the gas petal. The check coolant light on my computer is always on, the the coolant is low even…”
“I have a 1993 325is bmw. And there are a number of problems. On rainy days I can hear water in the floor boards. The door panels are both coming ungluded and bubbling. My driver side floor mat hits the gas petal. The check coolant light on my computer is always on, the the coolant is low even…”
“I have a 1993 325is bmw. And there are a number of problems. On rainy days I can hear water in the floor boards. The door panels are both coming ungluded and bubbling. My driver side floor mat hits the gas petal. The check coolant light on my computer is always on, the the coolant is low even…”
“While the vehicle was parked, the consumer noticed a liquid leaking from underneath the vehicle. The consumer was able to drive to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the consumer that the fuel sending unit and fuel pump needed replacement. Please fill in additional information. *jb”
“The rear subframe mount points have ripped in at least one place from the unibody resulting in not being able to safely drive the car. I caught it early so no injury has resulted. This is a common (unacceptable) problem with these cars (bmw e36). *jb”
“I own a 1993 325is which has a tear in the subframe where the suspension component meet. Car was not modified in anyway. I just noticed this loud sound coming from the differential or rear area. Took the car into my mechanic and found out that the subframe was torn apart. Lucky it didn't come out…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1993 BMW 325is as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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