Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1988 BMW 325. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗HEATER:WATER:DEFROSTER:DEFOGGER:HEATER CORE:WATER
- Summary
- 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 OVERHEATING.
FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES:ACCELERATOR:FLEXIBLE
- Summary
- THE OIL DIPSTICK TUBE ATTACHING BRACKET MAY HAVE BEEN BENT DURING PRODUCTION OR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, REDUCING THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE DIPSTICK RING AND THE THROTTLE BELLCRANK LEVER.
- Consequence
- THIS REDUCED CLEARANCE MAY INHIBIT THE RETURN OF THETHROTTLE TO A FULLY CLOSED IDLE POSITION, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ISRELEASED.
- Remedy
- REQUIRES THE CUTTING OFF THE OUTBOARD END OF THE THROTTLE BELLCRANK LEVER TO PROVIDE NECESSARY CLEARANCE.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (7)
7 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The equipment is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 2 | 28.6% |
| Power train | 2 | 28.6% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 14.3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 14.3% |
| Visibility | 1 | 14.3% |
How 1988 compares with other 325 years
Best and worst 325 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 3 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 | 2 |
| 1986 | 9 | 3 |
| 1987 | 15 | 2 |
| 1988 | 7 | 2 |
| 1989 | 11 | 2 |
| 1990 | 6 | 2 |
| 1991 | 6 | 3 |
| 1992 | 23 | 3 |
| 1993 | 8 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1988 325 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1988 BMW 325 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1988 BMW 325 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 93V015000 (visibility), 88V031000 (vehicle speed control). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1988 BMW 325 problems?
Owners filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. Equipment (2), Power train (2), Fuel system (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1988 325 compare with other years?
Among the 1984–1993 BMW 325 model years at least five years old, the 1985 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1992 the most (23). The 1988 drew 7. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.