1988 BMW 325I Problems
- Complaints
- 5filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 161,000miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 BMW 325I (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 1988 BMW 325I. The part named most often is brakes, with 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by engine cooling (1) and seats (1). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 161,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes2 40%
- Engine cooling1 20%
- Seats1 20%
- Body and structure1 20%
Example complaints
Brakes: “My anti-lock brake light just came on one day, then I started feeling and hearing like a thump or bounce in the right passenger tire/wheel. Had tire checked nothing wrong , no problem with brakes ?”
NHTSA complaint #10153401, filed 2006-03Engine cooling: “The contact owns a 1988 Bmw 325I. The contact stated that a gasket failed in the vehicle. The heater was activated and caused the system pressure to increase, which caused the gasket to burst. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign id number 93v015000 (visibility:defroster/defogger system:windshield:heater core), but the dealer stated that they would not repair the gasket. Instead, they will install a revise radiator cap and a bypass valve at the cost of $1,000-$1,500. The contact stated that this will not correct the failure with his vehicle. The failure mileage was 135,000. …”
NHTSA complaint #10256575, filed 2009-01, 135,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 135,000 and 187,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1988 BMW 325I in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10249437Jan 16, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors), Electrical system. The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Other model years of the BMW 325I
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 515 | 77,000 | 7 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 71 | 80,000 | 4 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2004 | 147 | 80,500 | 4 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 199 | 75,000 | 7 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 162 | 80,050 | 6 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 151 | 100,000 | 6 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1995 | 31 | 150,000 | 2 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 17 | 60,000 | 3 | — | 20 | — | Stable |
| 1993 | 21 | 155,000 | 3 | — | 20 | — | Stable |
| 1992 | 40 | 158,000 | 4 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 5 | 165,200 | 0 | — | 18 | — | Not enough data |
| 1989 | 8 | 160,000 | 0 | — | 18 | — | Not enough data |
| 1988 | 5 | 161,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All BMW 325I model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 BMW 325I have?
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 1988 BMW 325I as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 BMW 325I is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 1.
Has the 1988 BMW 325I been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1988 BMW 325I reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 161,000 miles and the middle half falls between 135,000 and 187,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.