Known Recalls

Model year record

1989 BMW 735I

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 17 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V178000

Engine and engine cooling: cooling system

Component
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system
Manufacturer
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Vehicles affected
340,000
Reported to NHTSA
1998-08-04
Owners notified
1999-03-31

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system5—
Electrical system2—
Electrical system: ignition: module2—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control2—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads2—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor2—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly1—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core1—

The 1988 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1990 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.