The 1992 BMW 735i has 3 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (4 complaints).
Recalls3safety recalls
Complaints6filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
NHTSA recall 98V178000 · Aug 4, 1998 · 340,000 vehicles
Problem: 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.
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
Problem: THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Risk: 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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
Air bags › Frontal
NHTSA recall 96V110000 · Jul 1, 1996 · 75,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING.
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CONTACT RING WIRING COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK. THE AIR BAG READINESS INDICATOR LAMP (SRS OR AIRBAG) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE, AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT VEHICLE COLLISION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOCKING TAB WITH ONE OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
735i
16mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 20 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.4 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Cooling system; Cooling system › Radiator assembly
4
0
0
0
—
Seats Front assembly › Recliner
1
0
0
0
—
Electrical system Wiring › Front underhood
1
0
1
0
—
Latches/locks/linkages Doors › Latch
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Feb 20, 2002Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly CAR OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE TOP RADIATOR HOSE TO FAIL AND ALSO THE THERMOSTAT TO FAIL AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE RECALL. THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS THERE RESPONIBITY TO FIX THE FAILURES. THE $466.30 IS THERE ESTIMATE.*AK
Mar 20, 2002Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT HAND SIDE OF VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT RIGHT DOOR AND REAR RIGHT DOOR OPENED.*AK
Jun 17, 2001Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly I ENDED UP TO REPLACE EVERY COMPONENT IN THE COOLING SISTEM OF A TOTAL COST APROX. $ 2500 AND LATER ON I FOUND HERE ON THE NET THAT THE 735I'S HAVE A RECALL ON THEIR COOLING SISTEM. AFTER ALL THE REPLACEMENTS IN THE ENGINE COOLING SISTEM , MONTHS AFTER, I RECEIVED A NOTE FROM THE BMW DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE RADIATOR CAP. TO LATE. I ALLREADY LOST MORE THAN 2500USD IN REPAIRS. MY QUESTION IS: CAN I GET A REFUND FROM THE BMW MANUFACTURER FOR ALL THE LOSES ? I HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS FROM MY MECHANIC.THANK YOU. *AK
Apr 10, 1995Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system RECALL #98V-178 REPLACES THE RADIATOR CAP BECAUSE THE COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT ROBUST ENOUGH TO HOLD THE PRESSURE OF AN OVERHEATED ENGINE. BMW STATES THAT THE RESULT CAN BE A RUPTURED HEATER CORE AND POSSIBLE HOT COOLAND EXPELLED ON THE DRIVERS LEGS AND STEAMED WINDOWS OBSCURING VISION. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS DO OCCUR AND DID OCCUR ON MY CAR BEFORE THE RECALL. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEATER CORE COST IS ABOUT $2,000. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR OF AN ADMITTED DEFECT AND THE REPLACEMENT OF A $10.00 RADIATOR CAP IS NOT GOING TO HELP. I REPLACED MY CAP BEFOR THE RECALL AFTER THE DAMAGE WAS DONE. WHY DOESNT THE NHTSA DEMAND BMW TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE FAILURES…
Sep 14, 1999 · fireElectrical system › Wiring › Front underhood WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, HARNESS WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. DEALER CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION. *AK
Jun 16, 1997Seats › Front assembly › Recliner THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT RECLINE CABLE SLIPS OUT OF ITS MOTOR ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDERLY FALL BACK UNTILL IT RESTS ON THE REAR SEAT. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AND CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I REPORTED THIS FAILURE TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT REPLACING THE CABLE WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEIR MECHANICS INSERT A PIECE OF WELDING ROD INTO OR ONTO THE CABLE HOUSING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BUT THEY DECLINED TO PERFORM THIS FIX FOR ME WHEN I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I PURCHASED A NEW CABLE BUT THERE IS SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHICH REPLACEMENT PART IS THE CORRECT ONE. I PURCHACED BOTH OF THE TYPES LISTED AND THEY ARE…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.