IllustrationPOWER STEERING HOSE CAME LOOSE AND VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING.
1987 BMW 535
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 535 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reportsABS PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR FAILURE: DURING PANIC STOPS, BRAKE PEDAL RESISTS BEING PUSHED QUICKLY, CAUSES DECREASE IN ABILITY TO QUICKLY STOP; HAPPENED AT 60,000 MILES, AGAIN AT 120,000.*AK
Official recalls
186V151000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Nov 10, 1986
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH COULD OVERHEAT, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO MELTING OF PLASTIC INTERNAL PARTS IN AREA OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SWITCH PLUNGER COULD JAM, RENDERING BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER INOPERATIVE OR CONTINUOUSLY ILLIMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION.
Remedy: REPLACE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH REVISED SWITCH WITH INCREASED ELECTRICAL LOAD CAPACITY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA92017 · Heater Core Failure
Opened Jun 2, 1992 · Closed Mar 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
EA90002 · Mstr Cyl Fails To Release
Opened Oct 12, 1989 · Closed Oct 30, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE89142 · Brakes Drag & Fail
Opened Jul 14, 1989 · Closed Oct 12, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY:THE BRAKES REPORTEDLY BEGAN TO DRAG AND LOCK WITHOUTWARNING DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING ON 4 VEHICLES.THE CAUSE IS NOTKNOWN AT THIS TIME.===