Bmw 740IL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
121 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
97,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 75 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 121 complaints (9.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 12.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 11.6% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 5 |
Electrical System: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 8; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Steering: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 12
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 46 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 7; 2001: 7; 2002: 21; 2003: 8; 2004: 9; 2005: 9; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 9; 2009: 8; 2010: 8; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 4; 2016: 7; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 14 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 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 10129484 · 2005-07-20 (July 20, 2005)
RADIATOR FAN EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. PIECES OF FAN FLEW THROUGHOUT ENGINE BAY (HOOD DENTED UPWARDS 2 INCHES) BROKEN PIECES OF FAN LODGED UNDER THROTTLE MECHANISM - WEDGED THROTTLE WIDE OPEN. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELLERATE EVEN UNDER FULL BRAKING (TO LIMIT OF MY STRENGTH). HAD TO SHUT ENGINE OFF AND STEER OFF FREEWAY WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR BRAKES.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113491 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE RPM'S WILL REV UP TO 3500 RPMS PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WITHOUT A POSSIBLE CRASH. DRIVER WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO SURGE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL. DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACED. CAR WENT BY ITSELF TO 90 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. REPLACED FRONT THROTTLE BODY GASKET AND IDLE SPEED REGULATOR. *BF *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 86,312 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 762330 · 2002-05-27 (May 27, 2002)
CLOGGED VENT TUBE AND EXPANSION TANK CAUSED EXCESS VACUUM WHICH COLLAPSED FUEL TANK. TANK CREASED AS A RESULT AND LEAKING GAS ALONG CREASE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 762330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10567419 · 2014-03-05 (March 5, 2014)
THE GAS TANK STARTED TO MAKE POPPING NOISES AND THUMPING SOUNDS. THEN WHEN I REALIZED SOMETHING IS WRONG WHEN THE GAS GAUGE STARTED READING 1/4 TANK WHEN IT WAS EMPTY, STRANGELY WHEN I WAS FILLING UP WITH GAS THE CAP WAS HARD TO REMOVE AND AS SOON AS I REMOVED THE CAP AIR WAS RUSHING IN. I RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT ANY WARNING MANAGED TO GET THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER. LATER ON THE WAY TO WORK I STARTED SMELLING A STRONG GAS ODOR I ASSUMED IT WAS THE CARS SURROUNDING ME. WHEN I WENT ON MY LUNCH BREAK MY COWORKERS INFORMED ME THAT TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10520649 · 2013-06-19 (June 19, 2013)
WHEN I GET INTO MY CAR THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND I CAN'T GET IT UNLOCKED UNLESS I TURN ON AND OFF MY CAUTION LIGHTS OR MOVE THE BUTTON BACK AND FORTH ON THE CONSOLE THAT HAS AN A ON ONE END AND A M ON THE OTHER. AS SOON AS I GET OUT OF THE CAR IT LOCKS AND WON'T MOVE UNLESS I DO THAT AND I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. IT JUST STARTED WITHIN THE LAST WEEK. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS WILL CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND IF I NEED TO LET THE CAR SIT UNTIL I GET IT FIXED? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 298,765 miles reported. Look up ODI 10520649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227742 · 2008-05-14 (May 14, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW 740IL. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. AS SHE TURNED THE KEY AND REMOVED IT FROM THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. SHE HAD TO REMOVE THE ENGINE FUSES FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC INSTALLED A NEW CYLINDER AND HOUSING. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 203,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227742 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218592 · 2008-02-19 (February 19, 2008)
CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR SHUT OFF HAD A REALLY STRONG ELECTRICAL SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OPENED UP THE HOOD AND HAD A FLAME DOWN AT THE THERMOSTAT AREA. QUICKLY PUT IT OUT AND PUSHED THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK COME TOW THE CAR AND BRING MY FAMILY OUT OF THE FREEZING COLD AS WELL. THE THERMOSTAT AND WIRING FROM THE ECU DOWN TO THE THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS A FUSE THAT HAD BLOWN IN THE MAIN ENGINE HARNESS. OLD PART WAS DISPOSED OF AS WELL AS THE WIRING…
Owner-reported narrative. 134,043 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059250 · 2004-02-18 (February 18, 2004)
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED A LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH WARNING ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAIL SAFE PROGRAM. WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,210 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249908 · 2008-11-26 (November 26, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE WORDS "FAILSAFE MODE" ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE NEEDED AT THE COST OF $6,000. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V005000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VIN. THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 91,690 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 762083 · 2002-05-20 (May 20, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGWAY AND TAKING A TURN OVER A CURVED PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY I FOUND THE POWER IN THE STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD. WHE I TRIED TO BRAKE AND PULL TO THE SIDE THE BRAKE WAS ALSO QUITE HARD. THE CAR HAD THEN TO BE TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHI, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DETECTED AND FIXED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP HAD FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN THE BELTS TO BREAK, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER IN THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES. THIS WAS QUITE A DISTURBING EXPERIENCE WHIEL DRIVING THIS CAR ON …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 762083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 562898 · 2001-09-04 (September 4, 2001)
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING PRIOR TO RECALL. THE DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 562898 at NHTSA ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
1993: 1; 1994: 1; 1995: 3; 1996: 1; 1997: 1; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 1; 2001: 1