1996 BMW 325 problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

1996 BMW 325 at a glance

Safety recallsNone

Owner complaints5

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1996 BMW 325 recalls 0

No NHTSA safety-recall campaigns are on record for the 1996 BMW 325.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1996 BMW 325 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Structure

Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

Equipment

Test all accessories — sunroof, climate, seats, electronics — for proper operation.

Seat Belts

Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

Fuel System

Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

Gasoline

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Latches/locks/linkages

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 8

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered.

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

Bulletin B510819 · Electrical System, Visibility · Jan 2024

REPLACEMENT OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TW

Bulletin 62 02 97 · Electrical System · Apr 1997

COOLANT HOSE RUBBING. *TW

Bulletin 11 01 97 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 1997

CENTRAL LOCKING SWITCH - CERTAIN CENTRAL LOCKING SWITCHES MAY BE OVERLY SENSITIVE TO VIBRATION, SUCH AS THAT ENCOUNTERED WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROAD SURFACES - IN SUCH CASES, THE DOORS OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE CENTRALLY LOCKED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CENTRAL LOCK…

Bulletin 61 19 96 · Structure · Jan 1997

CHILD AIRBAG LETTER, WARNING LABEL AND SAFETY REFERENCE CARD. *TW

Bulletin 72/07/96 · Equipment · Dec 1996

WIND NOISE DIAGNOSTICS. *TW

Bulletin 41/03/96 · Structure · Nov 1996

TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAULT CODE 40. *TW

Bulletin 24/06/94R · Power Train · Nov 1996

WHINING NOISE DURING CD OPERATION. *TW

Bulletin 65/17/96 · Equipment · Oct 1996

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the 325. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the BMW 325

Einheits-Pkw der Wehrmacht – literally: "standard passenger motor-car of the Wehrmacht" – was Nazi Germany's plan for a new, multi-purpose fleet of all wheel drive off-road vehicles, based on just three uniform chassis, specifically designed and built for the Wehrmacht. The plan was formulated in 1934, and vehicles were built from 1936 to 1943. This vehicle was manufactured by Ford and Horch.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1996 BMW 325 vehicles on record

1996 BMW 325WBACB71070AP56009

1996 BMW 325WBACC31080EN21052

1996 BMW 325WBACA91080JF31308

1996 BMW 325WBACC31020EN32791

1996 BMW 325WBACC110X0EM49467

1996 BMW 325WBACF91050EW84817

1996 BMW 325WBACE31070EU36102

Other BMW 325 model years

1996 BMW 325 — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 BMW 325 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists no safety-recall campaigns for the 1996 BMW 325. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1996 BMW 325?

Across all 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are structure, equipment, seat belts.

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.