Engine and engine cooling: cooling system (BMW)
Vehicle recall 98V-178. NHTSA received BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE’s report on Aug 4, 1998.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.
The short answer
NHTSA received BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE’s report on Aug 4, 1998. 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?
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.
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.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Engine and engine cooling: cooling system.
What should you do?
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 31, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 340,000 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- BMW 530IAand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 530ITAand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 525ITAand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 540IAand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 540Iand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 530Iand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 535IAand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 325ICAand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 325ICand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 318ICAand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 318ICand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 325ISAand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 325IAand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 318ISAand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 850Iand 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 735Iand 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW M5and 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 535Iand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 525IAand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 525Iand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW M3and 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 325ISand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 325Iand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 318ISand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 318IAand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 318Iand 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 840CIAand 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 735IAand 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 850CSIand 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 850CIand 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 850IAand 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 850CIAand 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 750ILAand 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 740ILAand 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 740IAand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
- BMW 735ILAand 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE.
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.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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.