RoadVitals

1985 BMW 735

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 Nov 11, 2017
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 May 22, 1985
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.
4
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 1985 BMW 735, most frequently naming the interior & seats and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 4 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

  • Interior & seats150.0%
  • Tires & wheels150.0%

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
85V065000

WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER

May 22, 1985
40 units potentially affected
The defect: INCORRECT MACHINING OF THE SEATING SURFACE OF THE WHEELS WHERE IT CONTACTS THE HUB OF THE CAR MAY PREVENT THE WHEELS FROM MOUNTING SECURELY TO THE HUB. THIS MAY CAUSE THE WHEEL TO BREAK AND COULD FALL OFF. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE WHEELS COULD LOOSEN AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR. OWNERS SHOULD NOT DRIVE THEIR CARS UNTIL REPAIR WORK HAS BEEN DONE.
The remedy: SCRAPE THE CENTER BORE OF THE RIM SO IT CAN CLEAR THE CENTER OF THE HUB.
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
EA89007ClosedEngineering Analysis

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH

Opened Dec 23, 1988
Closed Jul 26, 1989

===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PE88086ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE

Opened Aug 2, 1988
Closed Dec 23, 1988

There is no summary currently available

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

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

Interior & seats
Filed Nov 11, 2017

I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 735I 1985 CAR IN THE CITY AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW MY SEAT TOTALLY WENT ALL THE WAY BACK I WAS ON MY BACK LUCKILY I DIDN'T HIT ANYBODY LATER ON I LOOKED AT MY SEAT I SAW THE POCKET THE LEATHER POCKET ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT I GOT INTO IT I FOUND A BRACKET A BAR SUPPORT BAR THAT HOLDS THE SEAT TOGETHER TOTALLY SNAPPED IN HALF I HAVE TRIED TO FIND THE SEAT AND REPLACE IT I'VE HAD NO LUCK AT ALL AND GETTING ANYTHING THAT WILL WORK THE SEATS ARE CONSIDERED BUFFALO SEATS THAT'S THE STYLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE I HAVE THINGS PROPPED UP BEHIND THE SEAT TO HOLD THE SEAT UP I CAN'T USE MY CONTROLLERS TO ADJUST THE SEAT BECAUSE THE MAIN BRACKET IS TOTALLY SNAPPED IN HALF IF I DO GET AN ACCIDENT I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A WINDOW

NHTSA ID
11045359
Incident
Apr 27, 2016
Mileage
91,642 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 22, 2003

VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. *MR WHEN THE TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE ANOTHER MOTORIST TRIED TO AVOID HITTING THE TIRE BUT INSTEAD RAN ONTO THE MEDIAN HAD MINOR BUMPER DAMAGE. *SC THE CONSUMER STATED HOURS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS CHANGED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10052184
Incident
Sep 1, 2003

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 735 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998100—
1997100—
1996000—
1995000—
1994000—
1993011—
1992212—
1991522—
1990321—
1989121—
1988822—
1987012—
1986112—
1985Viewing214—
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.