The 1995 BMW 325is has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 750,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 7 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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
EQUIPMENT
1
SUSPENSION:REAR
1
Total complaints7
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Cars rpm will not stay stable . Go up @down when idling. Check engine light comes on goes out when accelerating. Replace thermostat . Radiator. Fan and fuel pump prior to this due to car over heating then came failure of cracked cylinder in engine. Still no mechanic can diagnosis even with…”
“Cars rpm will not stay stable . Go up @down when idling. Check engine light comes on goes out when accelerating. Replace thermostat . Radiator. Fan and fuel pump prior to this due to car over heating then came failure of cracked cylinder in engine. Still no mechanic can diagnosis even with…”
“Cars rpm will not stay stable . Go up @down when idling. Check engine light comes on goes out when accelerating. Replace thermostat . Radiator. Fan and fuel pump prior to this due to car over heating then came failure of cracked cylinder in engine. Still no mechanic can diagnosis even with…”
“Dt*: the contact stated while backing up out of a driveway at 5 mph, a noise was heard. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the rear passenger side wheel separated from the control arm support. The bolts that attached the wheel were fractured. Prior to the incident, there were no warning…”
“The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, and the air bags failed to deploy, the consumer was injured. *jb”
“Consumer received recall 98v178000/ manufacturer's recall # same/ coolant system. Consumer took vehicle to ferma bmw on us19 in safety harbor, florida where they denied doing recall work. A mechanic looked at vehicle and engine had cracks from being overheated. Also, consumer stated that vehicle…”
“The radiator malfunctioned about a month ago. It was fixed by an independent mechanic. Consumer noticed that this has happened to other consumers in the area. *ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1995 BMW 325is as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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