Total Complaints
6 filings
BMW 735I · model year
1990 BMW 735I
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990BMW735I carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 735I is engine and engine cooling:cooling system with 2 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (1) and exterior lighting:brake lights (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 1990 735I. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030519ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AT ANY SPEED*NLM THE HOSES RADIATOR AND CAP WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVER HEAT. *TS *JB
Mileage: 100
19991220ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
THIS MUSTARD COLORED MODULE CAUSES THE COMPUTER TO WARN THE DRIVER OF A FAILED PARKING LIGHT AND/OR TAIL LIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. EVERY TIME THESE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, THIS MODULE SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE DRIVER. UPON INSPECTING THE LIGHTS WHEN THIS WARNING OCCURS, THE LIGHTS ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. HOWEVER, ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE TIME THESE LIGHTS (THE FRONT LEFT PARKING LIGHT, THE REAR LEFT PARKING LIGHT, AND THE RIGHT REAR MARKER LIGHT IN THE BUMPER) ACTAULLY FAIL. THESE LIGHTS FAIL EVEN THOUGH THEIR FILLAMENTS ARE STILL GOOD. WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM IS A CRACKED SOLDER JOINT INSIDE OF THIS MUSTARD COLORED RELAY. *AK
19990304ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RECALL 96V111000. BRAKE LIGHTS COMPUTER HAS A READOUT THAT SHOWS A DEFECT IN THIS SYSTEM WHICH OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED MANY TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, RECALL 98V178000, COOLING SYSTEM. RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. DEALER CONTACTED AND DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990304EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
RECALL 96V111000. BRAKE LIGHTS COMPUTER HAS A READOUT THAT SHOWS A DEFECT IN THIS SYSTEM WHICH OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED MANY TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, RECALL 98V178000, COOLING SYSTEM. RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. DEALER CONTACTED AND DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990304ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RECALL 96V111000. BRAKE LIGHTS COMPUTER HAS A READOUT THAT SHOWS A DEFECT IN THIS SYSTEM WHICH OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED MANY TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, RECALL 98V178000, COOLING SYSTEM. RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. DEALER CONTACTED AND DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19971204FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING THE FUEL LINE LEAKS GAS ON THE HOT MANIFOLD. *AK
Compare 1990BMW735I to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 BMW 735I have?▼
The 1990 BMW 735I has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 BMW 735I?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 BMW 735I is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS and EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS.
Is the 1990 BMW 735I safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.