RoadVitals

1987 BMW 535

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Jun 2, 1997
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Nov 10, 1986
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 BMW 535, most frequently naming the brakes and steering categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes150.0%
  • Steering150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
86V151000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Nov 10, 1986
97,300 units potentially affected
The defect: BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH COULD OVERHEAT, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO MELTING OF PLASTIC INTERNAL PARTS IN AREA OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS.
The risk: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SWITCH PLUNGER COULD JAM, RENDERING BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER INOPERATIVE OR CONTINUOUSLY ILLIMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION.
The remedy: REPLACE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH REVISED SWITCH WITH INCREASED ELECTRICAL LOAD CAPACITY.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA92017ClosedEngineering Analysis

HEATER CORE FAILURE

Opened Jun 2, 1992
Closed Mar 30, 1993

There is no summary currently available

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEMLed to recall 93V015000
EA90002ClosedEngineering Analysis

MSTR CYL FAILS TO RELEASE

Opened Oct 12, 1989
Closed Oct 30, 1990

There is no summary currently available

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PE89142ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

BRAKES DRAG & FAIL

Opened Jul 14, 1989
Closed Oct 12, 1989

SUMMARY:THE BRAKES REPORTEDLY BEGAN TO DRAG AND LOCK WITHOUTWARNING DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING ON 4 VEHICLES.THE CAUSE IS NOTKNOWN AT THIS TIME.===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Steering
Filed Jun 2, 1997

POWER STEERING HOSE CAME LOOSE AND VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ID
517720
Incident
May 17, 1997
Brakes
Filed Sep 24, 1996

ABS PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR FAILURE: DURING PANIC STOPS, BRAKE PEDAL RESISTS BEING PUSHED QUICKLY, CAUSES DECREASE IN ABILITY TO QUICKLY STOP; HAPPENED AT 60,000 MILES, AGAIN AT 120,000.*AK

NHTSA ID
801783
Incident
Aug 30, 1996

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

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

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 535 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996100—
1995000—
1994100—
1993011—
1992212—
1991122—
1990421—
1989721—
1988001—
1987Viewing213—
1986013—
1985105—
1984001—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.