RoadVitals

1992 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.
6
Latest Apr 11, 2002
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.
3
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 1992 BMW 735I, most frequently naming the engine, interior & seats and electrical categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are 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

  • Engine350.0%
  • Interior & seats233.3%
  • Electrical116.7%

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

3 campaigns 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
96V111000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Jul 1, 1996
180,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
The risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov
96V110000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Jul 1, 1996
75,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING.
The risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CONTACT RING WIRING COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK. THE AIR BAG READINESS INDICATOR LAMP (SRS OR AIRBAG) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE, AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT VEHICLE COLLISION.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOCKING TAB WITH ONE OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Apr 11, 2002

CAR OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE TOP RADIATOR HOSE TO FAIL AND ALSO THE THERMOSTAT TO FAIL AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS THERE RESPONIBITY TO FIX THE FAILURES. THE $466.30 IS THERE ESTIMATE.*AK

NHTSA ID
760582
Incident
Feb 20, 2002
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 20, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT HAND SIDE OF VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT RIGHT DOOR AND REAR RIGHT DOOR OPENED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8006067
Engine
Filed Jun 17, 2001

I ENDED UP TO REPLACE EVERY COMPONENT IN THE COOLING SISTEM OF A TOTAL COST APROX. $ 2500 AND LATER ON I FOUND HERE ON THE NET THAT THE 735I'S HAVE A RECALL ON THEIR COOLING SISTEM. AFTER ALL THE REPLACEMENTS IN THE ENGINE COOLING SISTEM , MONTHS AFTER, I RECEIVED A NOTE FROM THE BMW DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE RADIATOR CAP. TO LATE. I ALLREADY LOST MORE THAN 2500USD IN REPAIRS. MY QUESTION IS: CAN I GET A REFUND FROM THE BMW MANUFACTURER FOR ALL THE LOSES ? I HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS FROM MY MECHANIC.THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
746946
Engine
Filed Apr 17, 2001

RECALL #98V-178 REPLACES THE RADIATOR CAP BECAUSE THE COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT ROBUST ENOUGH TO HOLD THE PRESSURE OF AN OVERHEATED ENGINE. BMW STATES THAT THE RESULT CAN BE A RUPTURED HEATER CORE AND POSSIBLE HOT COOLAND EXPELLED ON THE DRIVERS LEGS AND STEAMED WINDOWS OBSCURING VISION. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS DO OCCUR AND DID OCCUR ON MY CAR BEFORE THE RECALL. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEATER CORE COST IS ABOUT $2,000. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR OF AN ADMITTED DEFECT AND THE REPLACEMENT OF A $10.00 RADIATOR CAP IS NOT GOING TO HELP. I REPLACED MY CAP BEFOR THE RECALL AFTER THE DAMAGE WAS DONE. WHY DOESNT THE NHTSA DEMAND BMW TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE FAILURES CAUSED BY DESIGN FLAWS?

NHTSA ID
744191
Incident
Apr 10, 1995
Electrical
Filed Sep 14, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, HARNESS WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. DEALER CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
847702
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 31, 1998

THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT RECLINE CABLE SLIPS OUT OF ITS MOTOR ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDERLY FALL BACK UNTILL IT RESTS ON THE REAR SEAT. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AND CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I REPORTED THIS FAILURE TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT REPLACING THE CABLE WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEIR MECHANICS INSERT A PIECE OF WELDING ROD INTO OR ONTO THE CABLE HOUSING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BUT THEY DECLINED TO PERFORM THIS FIX FOR ME WHEN I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I PURCHASED A NEW CABLE BUT THERE IS SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHICH REPLACEMENT PART IS THE CORRECT ONE. I PURCHACED BOTH OF THE TYPES LISTED AND THEY ARE THE SAME LENGTH AS THE OLD CABLE AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE PARTS MAN AT KUNI TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AN SEVERAL MODELS OF BMW NOT JUST THE 735I.

NHTSA ID
701762
Incident
Jun 16, 1997

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.

MSG1016

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

RECALL 96V111 - THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN INVOLVES THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *TW

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—
1992Viewing630—
1991230—
1990420—
1989310—
1988111046.2
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.