Hearth Record

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch (BMW)

Vehicle recall 86V-151. NHTSA received BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE’s report on Nov 10, 1986.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE’s report on Nov 10, 1986. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SWITCH PLUNGER COULD JAM, RENDERING BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER INOPERATIVE OR CONTINUOUSLY ILLIMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION.

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH COULD OVERHEAT, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO MELTING OF PLASTIC INTERNAL PARTS IN AREA OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch.

What should you do?

REPLACE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH REVISED SWITCH WITH INCREASED ELECTRICAL LOAD CAPACITY.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: SYSTEM: BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS WITH HIGH BRAKE LIGHTS.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 97,300 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • BMW 635and 1986 and 1987, before the model years listed here
  • BMW 535and 1986 and 1987, before the model years listed here
  • BMW L7and 1986 and 1987, before the model years listed here
  • BMW 528and 1986 and 1987, before the model years listed here
  • BMW 325and 1986 and 1987, before the model years listed here
  • BMW 735and 1986 and 1987, before the model years listed here
  • BMW 524and 1986 and 1987, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 28, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

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Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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