Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1990 BMW 535i

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the airbags. It has been recalled 2 times.

Not among the BMW 535i years to avoid. Which BMW 535i years to avoid →

Most common 1990 BMW 535i problems

1 of the 2 complaints (50%) are about the airbags.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration1
100
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags1
101

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System98V178000
Filed Aug 4, 1998340,000 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

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 POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.

Risk. 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.

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch96V111000
Filed Jul 1, 1996180,000 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

All 2 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed May 31, 2000ID

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 3 MPH STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jan 6, 2000DC

THERE WAS A RECALL IN 1997 OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SIMILAR, BMW 525I. NHTSA # 97V131000 CONCERNING RADIATOR CAP. ALSO, SUUDEN ACCELERATION. *AK

All 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2011
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20170100Routine
201612200Routine
201523000Routine
201430200Routine
201339120Routine
201254120Routine
2011112460Routine
201058130Routine
200971120Routine
200874140Routine
19950100Routine
19942100Routine
19930100Routine
19923300Routine
19915300Routine
1990 — this page2200Routine

Compare every 535i year →

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Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 4, 1998. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.