1986 BMW 325 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
11
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 1986 BMW 325
The 1986 BMW 325 has received a total of 11 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR. The most commonly reported problems involve the Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemheater Core (2 complaints), Engine (1 complaint), and Engine And Engine Cooling (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1986 BMW 325
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 1986 BMW 325, potentially affecting up to 592,561 vehicles.
Recall 93V015000 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
| 375,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND A RESULTING INCREASE IN SYSTEM PRESSURE.
Consequence: VEHICLES OPERATED UNDER THIS INCREASED COOLING SYSTEMPRESSURE CONDITION CAN SUFFER DAMAGE OR FAILURE OF PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEMSUCH AS (1) LEAKAGE FROM A COOLANT HOSE, (2) LEAKAGE OF THE RADIATOR OREXPANSION TANK, (3) DISCONNECTION OF A HOSE FROM A PIPE OR A FITTING, AND (4)CRACKS IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE. IN SOME CASES,BOILING COOLANT CAN CONTACT THE LOWER RIGHT LEG OF THE DRIVER RESULTING INBURNS. ALSO, ESCAPING COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE VAPORFOGGING OF THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE WINDOWS, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THERMOSTATIC BYPASS VALVE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO CONTROL COOLANT TEMPERATURE IN THE HEATER CORE. ALSO, A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP WILL BE INSTALLED, TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF...
View full details →Recall 86V151000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
| 97,300 vehicles affected
Defect: BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH COULD OVERHEAT, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO MELTING OF PLASTIC INTERNAL PARTS IN AREA OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS.
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SWITCH PLUNGER COULD JAM, RENDERING BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER INOPERATIVE OR CONTINUOUSLY ILLIMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION.
Remedy: REPLACE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH REVISED SWITCH WITH INCREASED ELECTRICAL LOAD CAPACITY.
View full details →Recall 86V138000 — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
| 120,261 vehicles affected
Defect: THE TWO PARTS OF THE STEERING COLUMN DISENGAGEMENT ELEMENT COULD COMPLETELY DISCONNECT IF THE CAR CONTACTS AN OBJECT IN THE ROADWAY OR ELSEWHERE OF SUFFICIENT MASS TO APPLY A SIGNIFICANT FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE STEERING GEARBOX. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: STEERING CONTROL WOULD BE LOST.
Remedy: BOLT TWO SPECIALLY FORMED PLATES TO THE DISENGAGEMENT ELEMENT SO THAT STEERING CAPABILITY WILL BE RETAINED.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1986 BMW 325
11 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1986 BMW 325. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemheater Core | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentmechanicalaccessory Scissorscrewbottle Jacklift | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontretractor | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Components | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
MY 1986 325ES BMW OVER HEAT. CHANGE THE FLUIDS, PERFORM SEVERAL CHECKS AND IT IS STILL OVER HEATING. HAS THERE BEEN ANY RECALL ON THE HEATING OR COOLING SYSTEM.
CAR HAS OVERHEATED SINCE 2000. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY 86 BMW 325 BUT I JUST LOOKED UP RECALLS AND SAW WERE OVERHEATING WAS A PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR MODEL CAR. *TR
DEFECT IN ELECTRONIC LOCKING DEVICE. UNABLE TO OPEN PASSENGER DOORS (FRONT AND BACK), EITHER MANUALLY (FROM INSIDE) OR WITH KEY (FROM OUTSIDE). HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN DO CONSUMERS RECALL FOR FREE. MR
CONSTANT HEATING PROBLEM, ON AND OFF AT TIMES, ENGINE GOT HOT AND ROD STARTED KNOCKING NHTSA ID # 93V01500,# 86V151000. . *AK
View all Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemheater Core complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1986 BMW 325
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1986 BMW 325 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1986 BMW 325
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1986 BMW 325
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 1986 BMW 325.
Investigation DP92004 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM Closed
Opened:
DEFECTIVE HEATER CORES
Other Model Years of the BMW 325
- 1984 BMW 325 — 5 complaints
- 1985 BMW 325 — 1 complaint
- 1986 BMW 325 (current)
- 1987 BMW 325 — 30 complaints
- 1988 BMW 325 — 9 complaints
- 1989 BMW 325 — 13 complaints
- 1990 BMW 325 — 10 complaints
- 1991 BMW 325 — 6 complaints