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U.S. public vehicle records

Bmw 740I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

122 owner complaints analyzed

23 distinct recall campaigns

60,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1993 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 59 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 122 complaints (15.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2117.2%
Transmission and shifting108.2%
Electrical and battery issues75.7%
Fuel system concerns75.7%
Engine operation64.9%
Steering behavior64.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
19
Engine
14
Service Brakes
8
Unknown Or Other
8
Engine And Engine Cooling
7
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
7
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System19
Engine14
Service Brakes8
Unknown Or Other8
Engine And Engine Cooling7
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine7
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission6

Electrical System: 19; Engine: 14; Service Brakes: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
16
25,000 to 49,999
8
50,000 to 74,999
12
75,000 to 99,999
13
100,000 to 149,999
9
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00016
25,000 to 49,9998
50,000 to 74,99912
75,000 to 99,99913
100,000 to 149,9999
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 63 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
3
2001
5
2002
8
2003
14
2004
6
2005
4
2006
1
2007
3
2008
4
2009
3
2010
4
2011
4
2012
5
2013
1
2014
3
2015
2
2016
2
2017
6
2018
3
2019
2
2020
4
2021
1
2022
6
2023
2
2024
10
2025
9
2026
7
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20003
20015
20028
200314
20046
20054
20061
20073
20084
20093
20104
20114
20125
20131
20143
20152
20162
20176
20183
20192
20204
20211
20226
20232
202410
20259
20267

2000: 3; 2001: 5; 2002: 8; 2003: 14; 2004: 6; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 6; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 6; 2023: 2; 2024: 10; 2025: 9; 2026: 7

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10227662 · 2008-05-13 (May 13, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 740I. WHILE DRIVING 73 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PREVENT A CRASH FROM OCCURRING. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILAGES WERE 120,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227662 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10246543 · 2008-10-23 (October 23, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BMW 740I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED UP AT FULL THROTTLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO OVER 100 MPH WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, AS WELL AS ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. HE DROVE TO A SERVICE STATION AND SOMEONE DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY NORMALLY WITHOUT USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE BMW DEALER ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM ON OCTOBER 2…

Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246543 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10054756 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)

I HAVE LISTED A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT ARE EQUAL TO THE TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING. TELL IF THIS TRUE AND WHAT CAN I DO. I HAVE A 1994 BMW 740I WITH 89,000 MILES. 1) 740I M60 SLIGHT SHAKING VIBRATING AT IDLE HELLO, MY 740I MODEL 1994 95,000 MILES (BUILT SPET. 1993) IS SHAKING A LITTLE AT IDLE. I HEARD ABOUT THE NIKASIL ISSUE, BMW SHOP SAYS THAT'S NOT THE REASON. THE AIR PRESSURE HAS BEEN TESTED FOR LEAKAGE (AT OIL FILL IN) AND WITH 2.5 (OF WHATEVER) IT IS OKAY, SAYS THE MECHANIC. 3.5 AND ABOVE WOULD BE BAD, HE SAYS. THEIR SOLUT…

Owner-reported narrative. 89,411 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054756 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8010419 · 2002-05-23 (May 23, 2002)

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, IT ROLLS BACK LIKE VECHICLE IS STILL IN REVERSE. DEALER CONTACTED.*JB REPLACED BUSHINGS AND IDLER ARM AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. LEFT VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACED. REPLACED POWER STEERING RETURN CLAMP. REPLACED FRONT CONVERTER TO WELD. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8010419 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10448791 · 2012-02-21 (February 21, 2012)

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2002 AT 96K MILES IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, SINCE BUYING VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD WATER PUMP FAILURE TWICE, REPLACED RADIATOR TWICE , HOSES & RINGS..TWO BATTERY'S FRONT BUMPER, CATALYTIC CONVERTOR L. BAY, CHANGED.. BRAKES & ROTORS CHANGED NOV. 11...... 3 WEEKS LATER AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK .. I GOT A TRANSMISSION FAILURE.. AND THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.. THE CAR GOES IN REVERSE BUT NOT FORWARD.. I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THIS CAR 15 -16K MILES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD ALL THESE CHRONIC …

Owner-reported narrative. 111 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448791 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10217561 · 2008-02-10 (February 10, 2008)

SMOKE FROM ENGINE AND BURNING WIRES AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AT THE PLUG TO THE ENGINE COOLING THERMOSTAT SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHED WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217561 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10353261 · 2010-09-01 (September 1, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 740I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED GAS LEAKING OUT OF THE GAS TANK ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. A DAY LATER, THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY PUT A PATCH ON THE GAS TANK SO THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC. A LOCAL MECHANIC AGAIN REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY CLEANED UP THE FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO T…

Owner-reported narrative. 58,471 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353261 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10567195 · 2014-02-27 (February 27, 2014)

THUMPING NOISES FROM UNDER REAR SEAT OF CAR WHILE DRIVING. FUEL TANK IMPLODING SUCKING ITSELF INWARDS THEN CRACKING CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ON TO PAVEMENT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. DRIVER NOT AWARE OF THIS UNTIL PARKING AND SMELLING FUEL WHILE STANDING NEAR THE CAR. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN DATED FEBRUARY 1998 ON THIS VERY ISSUE WHICH NEVER BECAME A RECALL.

Owner-reported narrative. 97,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567195 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10080084 · 2004-06-28 (June 28, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT DUPLICATED. CONSUMER TOLD THE MECHANIC THAT WIRES, AND OTHER PARTS TO THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080084 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10061111 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FUEL PUMP FAILED. *AK *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061111 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 859309 · 2000-03-28 (March 28, 2000)

WHILE DRIVING POWER SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE KEPT MOVING FORWARD, PINNING THE DRIVER AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER REMOVED THE CONTROL UNIT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF REPLACEMENT, NOW SEAT CANNOT BE MOVED MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY. *AK *ML

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 859309 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2012
1
2013
1
2014
1
2015
1
2016
0
2017
0
2018
0
2019
1
2020
2
2021
2
2023
9
2024
5
2025
3
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20121
20131
20141
20151
20160
20170
20180
20191
20202
20212
20239
20245
20253

2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 0; 2017: 0; 2018: 0; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2023: 9; 2024: 5; 2025: 3

Year-by-year records

Bmw 740I model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
1993132Not available
1994620
199594+2
199612-2
1997320
199840-2
1999800
2000121+1
2001153+2
201241Not available
2013110
2014110
2015110
2016120-1
2017700
2018500
201941+1
202012+1
2021120
2023119Not available
202435-4
202503-2