1994 BMW 740I Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 BMW 740I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine444.4%
- Steering222.2%
- Driver assistance111.1%
- Suspension111.1%
- Transmission111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
LTR FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWING BMW TO IMPORT AUTOMOBILES INTO THE US MARKET WITH A DEFECTIVE ENGINE**CC THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1994 BMW 740I WHICH HAD A PROBLEM KNOWS AS A LEAK DOWN PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER USED NIKASIL, AN ALUMINUM NIKEL AND SILICON ALLOY TO LINE THE CYLINDERS OF THE M60 ENGINE. THE CROSS-HATCHED NIKASIL LININGS REACT WITH HIGH SULFUR CONTENT GASOLINE. THE REACTION CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE VERY TOP OF THE CYLINDER BORE, WHERE THERE WAS MOST CONTACT OF THE BURNING MIXTURE AND CYLINDER LINING. THE DAMAGED PREVENTED A GOOD SEAL FROM FORMING BETWEEN THE PISTON CYLINDER WALL WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. *JB
1994 740I BMW LEAK DOWN PROBLEM THAT DESTROYED THE ENGINE**CC THE LEAK DOWN FLAW CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DEVELOP WORN LININGS AND EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER USED NIKASIL, AN ALUMINUM, NICKEL AND SILICON ALLOY TO LINE THE CYLINDERS OF THE M60 ENGINE. THE CROSS HATCHED NIKASIL LININGS REACTED WITH HIGH SULFUR CONTENT FOUND IN LOWER-QUALITY GASOLINE. THE REACTION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VERY TOP OF THE CYLINDER BORE, WHERE THERE IS MOST CONTACT OF THE BURNING MIXTURE AND THE CYLINDER LINING. THE DAMAGE PREVENTED A GOOD SEAL FROM FORMING BETWEEN THE PISTON AND THE CYLINDER WALL, WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY PERMANENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE SHORT BLOCK WITH THE EQUIVALENT BLOCK USING ALUSIL LININGS, WHICH DO NOT EXHIBIT THE CORROSION PROBLEM. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
DRIVER TURNED ON TO HEAVILY TRAVELED STATE HIGHWAY WHEN STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN TIRES. CAR TRAVELED ACROSS HIGHWAY AND CAME TO REST JUST SHORT OF DITCH. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 27, 2008. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 11/14/08 *CN UPDATED 11/18/08.*JB UPDATED 12/12/08 *CN UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .