The 1994 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 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. 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.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Outside door handles on both doors became inoperablewithin a month of each other also trunk latch broke due to the way it is attatched to trunk lid ie two screws thru sheet metal, sheet metal broke around both screws”
“Owner of a 1994 325is. Was driving on highway and transmission suddenly died down (slipped out of gear) almost causing the vehicles behind to almost crash into me. In illinois. Called the national bmw customer center and they say they have no active recall despite numerous complaint of incidents…”
“I am a member of the bmwcca and a bmw automtive enthusiast. I have notice for many years the occurannce of a common failure in e36 and e46 body styles - for all years of production. The rear subframe is attached at four mounting locations to the unibody. The unibody is not reinforced at the…”
“Ltr re a defective hood latch on a 1994 bmw 325is, requesting a defect investigation. While driving, the hood latch disengaged and cause the hood to open. *jb”
“After taking vehicle through a carwash engine hydrolocked and caused fuel to inject into engine. Dealer said engine has to be replaced.*ak consumer states dme shorted out causing it to hydrolock and causing engine and fuel components to be damaged internally. *slc”
“After taking vehicle through a carwash engine hydrolocked and caused fuel to inject into engine. Dealer said engine has to be replaced.*ak consumer states dme shorted out causing it to hydrolock and causing engine and fuel components to be damaged internally. *slc”
“While driving engine overheated. Vehicle had to be towed to dealer, and technician told consumer that was caused by the heating core.*ak”
“I am told that this is an ongoing problem for 3 series bmws where the water backs up under the windshield and it gets into the electronic computer and shorts it out.”
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 325is as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.