1989 BMW 535I Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 BMW 535I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .