RoadVitals

1988 BMW 735I Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 BMW 735I, 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

  • 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.

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.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jan 2, 2009

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 · filed Mar 29, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Sep 2, 1999

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

NHTSA ID 705601 · filed Apr 13, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 716228 · filed Dec 19, 1999

TAIL LIGHT FAILURE.

NHTSA ID 540576 · filed Sep 2, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE TILTING AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. MJS

NHTSA ID 549223 · filed Oct 26, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 705601 · filed Apr 13, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE HAS HAD COOLING SYSTEM FAILURES CONTINUALLY ON SEVERAL COMPONENTS, RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR COOLING SYSTEM, HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO YEAR BUILT.

NHTSA ID 542449 · filed Nov 5, 1998

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

Data on this page last refreshed .