Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
6 reports
213,000 miles · Oct 3, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
I BOUGHT THIS BMW 535I FROM CARSWELL CARS 1174 RIVERSIDE DRIVE MACON,GA 31201 ON SEPTEMBER 17,2003. THERE PHONE NUMBER IS 478-743-2248. I ONLY HAVE THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS, MY FOUR DAUGHTER AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND PEOPLE WAS YELLING ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE .MY DAUGHTER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. BEFORE I…
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I BOUGHT THIS BMW 535I FROM CARSWELL CARS 1174 RIVERSIDE DRIVE MACON,GA 31201 ON SEPTEMBER 17,2003. THERE PHONE NUMBER IS 478-743-2248. I ONLY HAVE THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS, MY FOUR DAUGHTER AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND PEOPLE WAS YELLING ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE .MY DAUGHTER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I ASKED THE OWNER OF THE CAR LOT IF ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND HE SAID NO. I REALLY NEED SOMEBODY HELP I AM SINGLE MOM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10041152
Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER IS CALLING DEALER IN REGARD TO NHTSA RECALL 98V17800 FOR ENGINE COOLANT REPAIRS. BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD SOME OF THE WORK PERFORMED PRIOR TO RECALL. MANUFACTURER HAS OFFERED TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF RECALL COST, BUT REFUSED TO REMEDY REMAINING WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE…
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CONSUMER IS CALLING DEALER IN REGARD TO NHTSA RECALL 98V17800 FOR ENGINE COOLANT REPAIRS. BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD SOME OF THE WORK PERFORMED PRIOR TO RECALL. MANUFACTURER HAS OFFERED TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF RECALL COST, BUT REFUSED TO REMEDY REMAINING WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #894963
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
RADIATOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO OVERHEATING. ALSO, HEATING CORE WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED, AND ANTIFREEZE WAS SPROUTING OUT. RECEIVED RECALL 93V015000 NOTICE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND WAS INFORMED NO REPLACEMENT TO RADIATOR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #888373
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION 98V17800 AFTER ALREADY HAVING RADIATOR CAP AND RADIATOR REPAIRED DUE TO OVERHEATING. *JB
NHTSA ODI #560649
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
RECALL 98V178000, CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN MARCH OF 2001, BUT REPLACED RADIATOR CAP IN JUNE OF 1999, DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. ALSO REPLACED THERMOSTAT/ WATERPUMP TWICE, AND ALL BELTS. STILL HAS PROBLEM OF OVERHEATING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #884164
Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1998
Visibility
VEHICLE RECALLED FOR COOLANT CAP REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT RUPTURE OF HEATER CORE AND INJURIES TO PASSENGERS. HEATER CORE ON VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LEAKING. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO INQUIRE IF HEATER CORE WOULD BE REPLACED WHEN RECALL WAS PERFORMED. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT A LOCAL DEALER. THE LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME THAT HEAT…
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VEHICLE RECALLED FOR COOLANT CAP REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT RUPTURE OF HEATER CORE AND INJURIES TO PASSENGERS. HEATER CORE ON VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LEAKING. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO INQUIRE IF HEATER CORE WOULD BE REPLACED WHEN RECALL WAS PERFORMED. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT A LOCAL DEALER. THE LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME THAT HEATER CORES WERE REPLACED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AND THIS VEHICLE DID NOT FIT THE CRITERIA FOR A REPLACEMENT UNDER BMW GOODWILL. THIS VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WAS WELL CARED FOR BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I WILL NOT ACCEPT A REFUSAL FROM BMW ON THIS MATTER AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MIGHT OFFER. I ALSO FOUND ON THIS SIGHT AN INVESTIGATION OF BMW HEATER CORE FAILURE AND A RECALL#93V015000 OF WHICH I CAN NOT FIND A COPY LISTED. SINCERELY R.J.FOLEY
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1989 BMW 535I Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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