1989 Bmw 535I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
213,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 1; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2003 | 1 |
2001: 4; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10041152 · 2003-10-03 (October 3, 2003)
I BOUGHT THIS BMW 535I FROM CARSWELL CARS 1174 RIVERSIDE DRIVE MACON,GA 31201 ON SEPTEMBER 17,2003. THERE PHONE NUMBER IS [phone removed]. I ONLY HAVE THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS, MY FOUR DAUGHTER AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND PEOPLE WAS YELLING ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE .MY DAUGHTER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I ASKED THE OWNER OF THE CAR LOT IF ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND HE SAID NO. I REALLY NEED SOMEBODY HELP I AM SINGLE MOM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 213,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 560649 · 2001-04-04 (April 4, 2001)
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION 98V17800 AFTER ALREADY HAVING RADIATOR CAP AND RADIATOR REPAIRED DUE TO OVERHEATING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 884164 · 2001-03-26 (March 26, 2001)
RECALL 98V178000, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN MARCH OF 2001, BUT REPLACED RADIATOR CAP IN JUNE OF 1999, DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT/ WATERPUMP TWICE, AND ALL BELTS. STILL HAS PROBLEM OF OVERHEATING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 888373 · 2001-05-16 (May 16, 2001)
RADIATOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO OVERHEATING. ALSO, HEATING CORE WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED, AND ANTIFREEZE WAS SPROUTING OUT. RECEIVED RECALL 93V015000 NOTICE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS INFORMED NO REPLACEMENT TO RADIATOR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 888373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 894963 · 2001-08-22 (August 22, 2001)
CONSUMER IS CALLING DEALER IN REGARD TO NHTSA RECALL 98V17800 FOR ENGINE COOLANT REPAIRS. BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD SOME OF THE WORK PERFORMED PRIOR TO RECALL. MANUFACTURER HAS OFFERED TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF RECALL COST, BUT REFUSED TO REMEDY REMAINING WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 894963 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
Reported: 1998-08-04 (August 4, 1998)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗