The 1988 BMW 735i has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 340,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seats. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING98V1780001998-08-04340,000 affected
Defect
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…
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.
Complaints by component
SEATS
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
2crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
1
1crashes1injuries
SUSPENSION:FRONT
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
Total complaints15
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl*the contact owns a 1988 bmw 735i. When the heater was activated, the contact smelled antifreeze from the vents. The odor was very strong and forced him to drive with the windows open. Inside the passenger compartment is a film build-up of antifreeze on the front glass. The vehicle has not been…”
“Consumer received a recall letter for radiator cap. Took to dealer, and they told consumer that radiator needed to be replaced.*ak”
“Recall 98v178000/ radiator recall repairs performed in june 1999, but vehicle overheated again. *ak”
“Consumers vehicle recalled under recall (98v-178) for cooling system, dealer refused repair because the radiator was melted down due to the defect. Nlm”
“Consumer proceeded to put the vehicle in drive when the brake were applied and vehicle was shifted into gear when the vehicle suddenly accelerated causing the vehicle to crash. Vehicle was totaled. Dealer was not contacted. *ak”
“Power steering servo valve leaks oil/ engine accelerated without warning causing car to crash, causing injury, and property damage. *mjs”
“Power steering servo valve leaks oil/ engine accelerated without warning causing car to crash, causing injury, and property damage. *mjs”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 BMW 735i as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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