RoadVitals

1989 BMW 535I

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.
6
Latest Oct 3, 2003
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 Aug 4, 1998
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.
0
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 BMW 535I, most frequently naming the engine and visibility categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 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

  • Engine571.4%
  • Visibility228.6%

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
98V178000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Aug 4, 1998
340,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
The risk: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Oct 3, 2003
Fire reported

I BOUGHT THIS BMW 535I FROM CARSWELL CARS 1174 RIVERSIDE DRIVE MACON,GA 31201 ON SEPTEMBER 17,2003. THERE PHONE NUMBER IS 478-743-2248. I ONLY HAVE THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS, MY FOUR DAUGHTER AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND PEOPLE WAS YELLING ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE .MY DAUGHTER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I ASKED THE OWNER OF THE CAR LOT IF ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND HE SAID NO. I REALLY NEED SOMEBODY HELP I AM SINGLE MOM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10041152
Incident
Sep 19, 2003
Mileage
213,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 22, 2001

CONSUMER IS CALLING DEALER IN REGARD TO NHTSA RECALL 98V17800 FOR ENGINE COOLANT REPAIRS. BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD SOME OF THE WORK PERFORMED PRIOR TO RECALL. MANUFACTURER HAS OFFERED TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF RECALL COST, BUT REFUSED TO REMEDY REMAINING WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
894963
Incident
Mar 26, 2001
EngineVisibility
Filed May 16, 2001

RADIATOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO OVERHEATING. ALSO, HEATING CORE WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED, AND ANTIFREEZE WAS SPROUTING OUT. RECEIVED RECALL 93V015000 NOTICE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS INFORMED NO REPLACEMENT TO RADIATOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
888373
Incident
May 4, 2001
Engine
Filed Apr 4, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION 98V17800 AFTER ALREADY HAVING RADIATOR CAP AND RADIATOR REPAIRED DUE TO OVERHEATING. *JB

NHTSA ID
560649
Incident
Jan 17, 1997
Engine
Filed Mar 26, 2001

RECALL 98V178000, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN MARCH OF 2001, BUT REPLACED RADIATOR CAP IN JUNE OF 1999, DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT/ WATERPUMP TWICE, AND ALL BELTS. STILL HAS PROBLEM OF OVERHEATING. *AK

NHTSA ID
884164
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Visibility
Filed Nov 13, 1998

VEHICLE RECALLED FOR COOLANT CAP REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT RUPTURE OF HEATER CORE AND INJURIES TO PASSENGERS. HEATER CORE ON VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LEAKING. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO INQUIRE IF HEATER CORE WOULD BE REPLACED WHEN RECALL WAS PERFORMED. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT A LOCAL DEALER. THE LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME THAT HEATER CORES WERE REPLACED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AND THIS VEHICLE DID NOT FIT THE CRITERIA FOR A REPLACEMENT UNDER BMW GOODWILL. THIS VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WAS WELL CARED FOR BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I WILL NOT ACCEPT A REFUSAL FROM BMW ON THIS MATTER AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MIGHT OFFER. I ALSO FOUND ON THIS SIGHT AN INVESTIGATION OF BMW HEATER CORE FAILURE AND A RECALL#93V015000 OF WHICH I CAN NOT FIND A COPY LISTED. SINCERELY R.J.FOLEY

NHTSA ID
700590
Incident
Nov 10, 1998

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 535I by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017011—
2016122245.6
2015230245.5
2014302265.3
2013381145.6
2012541141.5
20111124054.9
2010581041.4
2009711039.8
2008741038.5
1995010—
1994210—
1993010—
1992330—
1991530—
1990220—
1989Viewing610—
1988100—
1987001—
1986101—
1985001—

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.