1988 BMW 735 Problems
- Complaints
- 8filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 202,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 BMW 735 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 1988 BMW 735. The part named most often is air bags, with 2 complaints (25% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (2) and electrical system (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 202,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags2 25%
- Electrical system1 13%
- Engine cooling1 13%
- Steering1 13%
- Tires1 13%
Example complaints
Air bags: “Consumer was rear ended which caused vehicle to hit another another vehicle. In which air bags did not deploy cause unknown. Please give any further details.”
NHTSA complaint #837287, filed 1999-04Vehicle speed control: “After starting vehicle engine took off, and the brakes did not work when applied. Car went through a gate and a backyard. Owner had to shift into neutral to stop the vehicle. Vehicle has not been seen.”
NHTSA complaint #844736, filed 1999-08Electrical system: “The contact owns a 1988 Bmw 735 I. The contact stated that all of the door locks would lock automatically, causing the contact to become trapped inside the vehicle. The contact mentioned that he was unable to unlock the doors manually. The vehicle was inspected and the contact was advised that the anti- theft system malfunctioned, causing the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 202,000 and the current mileage was 202,300. ## VIN passed ## Bmw 735i 1988 ##”
NHTSA complaint #10487355, filed 2012-12, 202,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 202,000 and 202,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
- 90V016000Jan 30, 1990Seat belts › Front › Buckle assemblyCovers: BMW 735 1988–1990, 750 1988–1990, 525 1989–1990 +1 more
Under certain conditions, front seat center, fold-down arm rest may contact the safety belt buckle, causing damage to the release button and preventing the belt tongue from latching when buckling up.
- 88V135000Aug 11, 1988SeatsCovers: BMW 735 1988, 750 1988
The driver and/or passenger seatbacks may not have been fully attached to the seat base reclining arms (attaching brackets).
Recall details for the 1988 BMW 735 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE91151Steering lock-upsClosed · Dec 6, 1991
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10249437Jan 16, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors), Electrical system. The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Other model years of the BMW 735
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1988 | 8 | 202,000 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 BMW 735 have?
NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 1988 BMW 735 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 BMW 735 is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 2 complaints (25% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 2.
Has the 1988 BMW 735 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1988 BMW 735 reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 202,000 miles and the middle half falls between 202,000 and 202,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.