This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
No warning other than a slight anit-freeze smell. Upon checking out the odor, upper radiator neck between hose clamp and radiator just broke off spewing scalding hot fluid everywhere. Luckily hood was not completely open at the time. Radiator needed to be replaced, not repairable. Old part tossed.
Faulty radiators that have a design flaw that allows for the radiator neck to break off without notice and spray hot coolant everywhere. This problem is well known just visit roadfly.org E38 message board and search for "radiator neck." This typically occurs between 50,000-70,000 miles.
Radiator blew at 70mph on the freeway. This is a known problem with this model and BMW noth America refuses to admit there is a problem. Luckily no injuries were caused, but easily could have as the entire engine bay was sprayed with hot coolant. Antifreeze also sprayed down side of vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Concord, CA, USA