IllustrationTHE COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AT ANY SPEED*NLM THE HOSES RADIATOR AND CAP WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVER HEAT. *TS *JB
1990 BMW 735I
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 735I 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: 1 of 4 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. 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
4 reportsTHIS MUSTARD COLORED MODULE CAUSES THE COMPUTER TO WARN THE DRIVER OF A FAILED PARKING LIGHT AND/OR TAIL LIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. EVERY TIME THESE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, THIS MODULE SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE DRIVER. UPON INSPECTING THE LIGHTS WHEN THIS WARNING OCCURS, THE LIGHTS ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. HOWEVER, ABOUT…
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THIS MUSTARD COLORED MODULE CAUSES THE COMPUTER TO WARN THE DRIVER OF A FAILED PARKING LIGHT AND/OR TAIL LIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. EVERY TIME THESE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, THIS MODULE SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE DRIVER. UPON INSPECTING THE LIGHTS WHEN THIS WARNING OCCURS, THE LIGHTS ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. HOWEVER, ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE TIME THESE LIGHTS (THE FRONT LEFT PARKING LIGHT, THE REAR LEFT PARKING LIGHT, AND THE RIGHT REAR MARKER LIGHT IN THE BUMPER) ACTAULLY FAIL. THESE LIGHTS FAIL EVEN THOUGH THEIR FILLAMENTS ARE STILL GOOD. WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM IS A CRACKED SOLDER JOINT INSIDE OF THIS MUSTARD COLORED RELAY. *AK
RECALL 96V111000. BRAKE LIGHTS COMPUTER HAS A READOUT THAT SHOWS A DEFECT IN THIS SYSTEM WHICH OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED MANY TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, RECALL 98V178000, COOLING SYSTEM. RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. DEALER CONTACTED AND DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN…
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RECALL 96V111000. BRAKE LIGHTS COMPUTER HAS A READOUT THAT SHOWS A DEFECT IN THIS SYSTEM WHICH OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED MANY TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, RECALL 98V178000, COOLING SYSTEM. RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. DEALER CONTACTED AND DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING THE FUEL LINE LEAKS GAS ON THE HOT MANIFOLD. *AK
Official recalls
298V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
Aug 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 & remedy
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.
96V111000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Jul 1, 1996
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.