U.S. public vehicle records

1990 Bmw 735I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

4 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

100 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1990 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	1	25.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System

Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly

Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	2
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly	1
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights	1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	1

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 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: 0

Under 25,000 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.

1997

1999

2003

1997: 1; 1999: 2; 2003: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. 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.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 835454 · 1999-03-04 (March 4, 1999)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 835454 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

25.0%Usable mileage1 / 4 records

100.0%Valid incident date4 / 4 records

100.0%Valid filing date4 / 4 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 4 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	218.2% ODI 542449 VEHICLE VIBRATION CONSTANTLY IN THE FRONT END CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRES. Look up ODI 542449 at NHTSA ↗	3100.0% ODI 547534 ENGINE CONTINUALLY OVERHEATING AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS, COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS DUE TO OVERHEATING, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER EXPERIENCED FAILURES PRIOR TO NOTICE (98V-178). MJS Look up ODI 547534 at NHTSA ↗	250.0% ODI 10020085 · 100 mi THE COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AT ANY SPEEDNLM THE HOSES RADIATOR AND CAP WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVER HEAT. TS *JB Look up ODI 10020085 at NHTSA ↗	2100.0% ODI 548035 TAIL LIGHT BULB FAILED. MJS Look up ODI 548035 at NHTSA ↗	233.3% ODI 744191 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 … Look up ODI 744191 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly	150.0% ODI 744340 WHILE DRIVING 35MPH THE DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSED. THE HEATING SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING, IT RUNS CONTINEOUSLY AND CANNOT BE SHUT OFF, AND IT LOSES WATER AND OVERHEATS ON OCCASSIONS.I BLEW AN ENGINE AT 55MPH, DISCOVERED THAT OIL WEREN'T REACHING THE ENGINE EVENTHOUGHT THE OILSTICK SHOWED FULL. I BOUGHT A NEW ENGINE FROM BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE, INSTALLED TOTAL SPENT $10,000.00, THE REPAIR OF THE SEAT AND AND HEATING SYSTEM IS STILL PENDING AND I AM REQUESTING SOME KIND OF RE-IMBURSEMENT FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR, NEED A NEW SEAT AND REPAIR OF THE HEA… Look up ODI 744340 at NHTSA ↗	218.2% ODI 878934 RECALL 98V178000/ RADIATOR RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED IN JUNE 1999, BUT VEHICLE OVERHEATED AGAIN. *AK Look up ODI 878934 at NHTSA ↗	133.3% ODI 870254 THERMOSTAT BROKE AND BLEW A HOSE/HEATER DEVELOPED A CRACK, AND THIS FOGGED UP THE WINDOW. CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE. ALSO, ANTIFREEZE SMELL WAS IN THE CABIN, AND WATER PUMP BROKE. *AK Look up ODI 870254 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 835454 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 Look up ODI 835454 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	233.3% ODI 746946 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 Look up ODI 746946 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	218.2% ODI 540576 TAIL LIGHT FAILURE. Look up ODI 540576 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 548035 TAIL LIGHT BULB FAILED. MJS Look up ODI 548035 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	116.7% ODI 847702 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 Look up ODI 847702 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 716219 THIS MUSTARD COLORED RELAY WENT BAD AND CAUSED ME TO BE PULLED OVER AND WARNED, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. UPON SPEAKING WITH OTHER 7 SERIES BMW OWNERS I FOUND THAT THEY ALSO HAD THIS RELAY FAIL. VERY DANGEROUS! *AK Look up ODI 716219 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle Speed Control	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	218.2% ODI 705601 POWER STEERING SERVO VALVE LEAKS OIL/ ENGINE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING CAR TO CRASH, CAUSING INJURY, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. *MJS Look up ODI 705601 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 547534 ENGINE CONTINUALLY OVERHEATING AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS, COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS DUE TO OVERHEATING, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER EXPERIENCED FAILURES PRIOR TO NOTICE (98V-178). MJS Look up ODI 547534 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Ignition:Module	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 547534 ENGINE CONTINUALLY OVERHEATING AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS, COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS DUE TO OVERHEATING, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER EXPERIENCED FAILURES PRIOR TO NOTICE (98V-178). MJS Look up ODI 547534 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 716254 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… Look up ODI 716254 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	Too few reports for a range	100 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10020085 · 100 mi THE COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AT ANY SPEEDNLM THE HOSES RADIATOR AND CAP WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVER HEAT. TS *JB Look up ODI 10020085 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1994: 0 complaints · 1995: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1994	0	0	0
1995	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1994	0	0	0
1995	1	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly	Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights	Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	—	0	1 ODI 835454 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 Look up ODI 835454 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 835454 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 Look up ODI 835454 at NHTSA ↗	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	0	—	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly	1 ODI 835454 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 Look up ODI 835454 at NHTSA ↗	0	—	1 ODI 835454 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 Look up ODI 835454 at NHTSA ↗	0
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights	1 ODI 835454 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 Look up ODI 835454 at NHTSA ↗	0	1 ODI 835454 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 Look up ODI 835454 at NHTSA ↗	—	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.