1986 BMW 325
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
These records cover every 1986 BMW 325. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
3 recalls name the 1986 BMW 325. Newest first.
The malfunction or failure of a coolant system component results in significantly increased coolant temperature and a resulting increase in system pressure.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Brake light switch could overheat, eventually leading to melting of plastic internal parts in area of electrical contacts.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
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.…
Risk and remedy
Remedy
Bolt two specially formed plates to the disengagement element so that steering capability will be retained.
Owner complaints
9 complaints1 involved a crash3 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine
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.
- Engine and engine cooling
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
- Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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
- Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core
Consumer states that dealership stated that they don't know if they can do consumers recall for free. mr
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Constant heating problem, on and off at times, engine got hot and rod started knocking nhtsa ID # 93v01500,# 86v151000. . *Ak
- Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift
Vehicle was jacked up at left front jack point on perfectly flat concrete floor, it rolled rearward, jack footing slipped and vehicle fell on victim.
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
Daughter driving, passengers/driver had on seat belts, clear/sunny day, another car tailgating fast. Started slowing to make lane change, car skidded, brakes locked up, car rolled 6 times, car upside down, driver thrown to passenger's side roof. Seatbelt did not hold. *ak
- Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core
Recall 93v015 heater:defroster:defogger; hot fluid entered compartment and burnt drivers lower leg. Please describe details. tt
- Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner · Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system
Heater IS not powerful enough.
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Heater core failure
There is no summary currently available
- Defective heater cores
Defective heater cores
- Mstr cyl fails to release
There is no summary currently available
- Brakes drag & fail
Summary:the brakes reportedly began to drag and lock withoutwarning during highway driving on 4 vehicles.the cause IS notknown at this time.===
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10249437The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Every BMW 325 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.