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.
Reported: 1998-06-22 (June 22, 1998) · Model years: 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DIFFERENTIAL PINION SHAFT WITHIN THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE ASSEMBLY WAS PRODUCED WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE SURFACE HARDENING. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE SHAFT EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WEAR.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE A NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND, ULTIMATELY, FAILURE OF THE SHAFT AND LOSS OF DRIVE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY.
Reported: 1999-01-04 (January 4, 1999) · Model years: 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THICKNESS OF THE MAIN POSITIVE ELECTRICAL CABLE (GENERATOR TO STARTER) INSULATION IS LESS THAN SPECIFIED, MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING ABRADED OR CUT BY THE CLIP THAT SECURES THE CABLE TO THE GENERATOR.
Consequence: THE CABLE INSULATION CAN BE WORN AWAY, EXPOSING THE WIRE. THE WIRE COULD CONTACT THE CLIP OR A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL APPLY A THICKNESS OF INSULATING TAPE TO THE CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE CLIP, AND INSTALL A REVISED CLIP.
Reported: 1999-01-04 (January 4, 1999) · Model years: 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5HP24 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. PREMATURE WEAR OF THE RING GEAR CAN OCCUR, LEADING TO THE LOSS OF 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND REVERSE GEARS.
Consequence: IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS, THE CAR MAY NO LONGER OPERATE IN REVERSE, 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEARS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
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.
75.0%Usable mileage3 / 4 records
75.0%Valid incident date3 / 4 records
100.0%Valid filing date4 / 4 records
75.0%Ordered incident and filing dates3 / 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.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1998
1999
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
1100.0%ODI 716774
MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE WOULD INDICATE AN UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN FOR A COMPONENT WHICH NORMALLY LASTS THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED. POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE LED TO LOSS OF FLUID AND DIFFICULTY TURNING VEHICLE. REPAIR FACILITY TOLD FRIEND WITH IDENTICAL VEHICLE (MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR) THAT HE NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO THE NOISE IT WAS MAKING WITH INSUFFICIENT FLUID. HOSE REPLACEMENT AND FLUID REPLENISHMENT WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.NIGN VEHICLE
LEAKING FUEL LINE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CLOSE TO EXHAUST. LEAKING FUEL IS ALSO VAPORIZED AND FUMES GET INTO VEHICLE AND CAUSE DISCOMFORT AND NAUSEA. FUMES COULD IGNITE HARMING OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS ON THE ROADWAY. THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR OWNERS OF THE BMW E38 AND MANY OTHER MODELS. WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS A DEFECTIVE CLAMP/CLAMPS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON RIGHT HAND DRIVE MODELS. CONTACTED BMW NA FOR HELP ON ISSUE. NO HELP. *TR
JULY 2004 I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM A/C AND THE REAR OF CAR, I TOOK IT TO BMW DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HEAR NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THEY ASSURED ME THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE NOISE AUGUST 2005 I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, THIS TIME THEY NOTICED THE NOISE, AND STATED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,015.00. HOWEVER, AFTER CHECKING YOUR WEB-SITE,(NHTSA OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION) I SEE THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 18, 1998 FOR THE VERY PROBL…
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
1100.0%ODI 716774
MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE WOULD INDICATE AN UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN FOR A COMPONENT WHICH NORMALLY LASTS THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED. POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE LED TO LOSS OF FLUID AND DIFFICULTY TURNING VEHICLE. REPAIR FACILITY TOLD FRIEND WITH IDENTICAL VEHICLE (MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR) THAT HE NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO THE NOISE IT WAS MAKING WITH INSUFFICIENT FLUID. HOSE REPLACEMENT AND FLUID REPLENISHMENT WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.NIGN VEHICLE
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
Fuel System, Gasoline
Too few reports for a range
127,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10343587 · 127,000 mi
LEAKING FUEL LINE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CLOSE TO EXHAUST. LEAKING FUEL IS ALSO VAPORIZED AND FUMES GET INTO VEHICLE AND CAUSE DISCOMFORT AND NAUSEA. FUMES COULD IGNITE HARMING OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS ON THE ROADWAY. THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR OWNERS OF THE BMW E38 AND MANY OTHER MODELS. WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS A DEFECTIVE CLAMP/CLAMPS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON RIGHT HAND DRIVE MODELS. CONTACTED BMW NA FOR HELP ON ISSUE. NO HELP. *TR
JULY 2004 I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM A/C AND THE REAR OF CAR, I TOOK IT TO BMW DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HEAR NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THEY ASSURED ME THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE NOISE AUGUST 2005 I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, THIS TIME THEY NOTICED THE NOISE, AND STATED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,015.00. HOWEVER, AFTER CHECKING YOUR WEB-SITE,(NHTSA OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION) I SEE THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 18, 1998 FOR THE VERY PROBL…
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
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
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
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.
1998: 0 complaints · 1999: 1 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
1998
0
0
0
1999
0
1
1
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
1998
1
0
0
1999
2
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:Engine
Fuel System, Gasoline
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
—
0
0
1ODI 716774
MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE WOULD INDICATE AN UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN FOR A COMPONENT WHICH NORMALLY LASTS THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED. POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE LED TO LOSS OF FLUID AND DIFFICULTY TURNING VEHICLE. REPAIR FACILITY TOLD FRIEND WITH IDENTICAL VEHICLE (MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR) THAT HE NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO THE NOISE IT WAS MAKING WITH INSUFFICIENT FLUID. HOSE REPLACEMENT AND FLUID REPLENISHMENT WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.NIGN VEHICLE
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections
1ODI 716774
MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE WOULD INDICATE AN UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN FOR A COMPONENT WHICH NORMALLY LASTS THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED. POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE LED TO LOSS OF FLUID AND DIFFICULTY TURNING VEHICLE. REPAIR FACILITY TOLD FRIEND WITH IDENTICAL VEHICLE (MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR) THAT HE NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO THE NOISE IT WAS MAKING WITH INSUFFICIENT FLUID. HOSE REPLACEMENT AND FLUID REPLENISHMENT WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.NIGN VEHICLE
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.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Steering assistance concerns
1 mentions · 25.0% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 716774
MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE WOULD INDICATE AN UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN FOR A COMPONENT WHICH NORMALLY LASTS THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED. POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE LED TO LOSS OF FLUID AND DIFFICULTY TURNING VEHICLE. REPAIR FACILITY TOLD FRIEND WITH IDENTICAL VEHICLE (MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR) THAT HE NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO THE NOISE IT WAS MAKING WITH INSUFFICIENT FLUID. HOSE REPLACEMENT AND FLUID REPLENISHMENT WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.NIGN VEHICLE