RoadVitals

1988 BMW 735I

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.
11
Latest Jan 2, 2009
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.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 BMW 735I, most frequently naming the engine, driver assistance and exterior lighting 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

  • Engine541.7%
  • Driver assistance216.7%
  • Exterior lighting216.7%
  • Interior & seats18.3%
  • Steering18.3%
  • Suspension18.3%

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

View all 11
Engine
Filed Jan 2, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 BMW 735I. WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT SMELLED ANTIFREEZE FROM THE VENTS. THE ODOR WAS VERY STRONG AND FORCED HIM TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN. INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS A FILM BUILD-UP OF ANTIFREEZE ON THE FRONT GLASS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

NHTSA ID
10253562
Incident
Dec 30, 2008
Mileage
165,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 29, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR RADIATOR CAP. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
884581
Incident
Mar 28, 2001
Engine
Filed Jan 24, 2001

RECALL 98V178000/ RADIATOR RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED IN JUNE 1999, BUT VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
878934
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Mar 16, 2000

CONSUMERS VEHICLE RECALLED UNDER RECALL (98V-178) FOR COOLING SYSTEM, DEALER REFUSED REPAIR BECAUSE THE RADIATOR WAS MELTED DOWN DUE TO THE DEFECT. NLM

NHTSA ID
551420
Incident
Dec 1, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 19, 1999

MUSTARD COLORED RELAY (TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY) 61 31 1 378 052 SOLDER POINTS FAILED (SAME AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED LKM MOSULE)

NHTSA ID
716228
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 26, 1999

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE TILTING AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. MJS

NHTSA ID
549223
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 2, 1999
Crash reported

CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE WHEN THE BRAKE WERE APPLIED AND VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
845144
Incident
Aug 7, 1999
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Apr 13, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

POWER STEERING SERVO VALVE LEAKS OIL/ ENGINE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING CAR TO CRASH, CAUSING INJURY, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. *MJS

NHTSA ID
705601
Incident
Mar 2, 1999

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 735I by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003002—
2002002—
2001000—
1995110—
1994010—
1993010—
1992630—
1991230—
1990420—
1989310—
1988Viewing111046.2
1987200—

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.