1988 Bmw 735I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
165,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 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:Radiator Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). 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:Radiator Assembly | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 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). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly 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 10253562 · 2009-01-02 (January 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551420 · 2000-03-16 (March 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 878934 · 2001-01-24 (January 24, 2001)
RECALL 98V178000/ RADIATOR RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED IN JUNE 1999, BUT VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 878934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 884581 · 2001-03-29 (March 29, 2001)
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR RADIATOR CAP. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884581 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 ↗