1988 BMW 735I Problems
- Complaints
- 11filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 165,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 BMW 735I (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1988 BMW 735I. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 5 complaints (45% of the total), followed by exterior lighting (2) and vehicle speed control (2). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 165,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign filed under the same part.
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.
- Engine cooling5 45%
- Exterior lighting2 18%
- Other or unknown1 9.1%
- Seats1 9.1%
- Steering1 9.1%
- Suspension1 9.1%
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “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 taken to the dealer and no repairs have been made. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle; therefore, no compensation would be made. The failure mileage was 165,000 and current mileage was 172,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10253562, filed 2009-01, 165,000 milesVehicle speed control: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #845144, filed 1999-09Mileage 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 165,000 and 165,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
- 98V178000Aug 4, 1998Engine and engine cooling › Cooling systemCovers: BMW 735I 1988–1995, 735ILA 1988–1995, 740ILA 1988–1995 +28 more
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…
Recall details for the 1988 BMW 735I → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
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, 2024Electrical system, Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Other model years of the BMW 735I
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 6 | — | 3 | — | 16 | — | Not enough data |
| 1988 | 11 | 165,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 BMW 735I have?
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1988 BMW 735I as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 BMW 735I is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 5 complaints (45% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 2.
Has the 1988 BMW 735I been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign 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 735I reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 165,000 miles and the middle half falls between 165,000 and 165,000 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 29, 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.