1995 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 1995 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
- Fuel system436.4%
- Electrical218.2%
- Engine218.2%
- Suspension218.2%
- Interior & seats19.1%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
WHEN STARTING THE CAR I SMELL STRONG ODOR OF GAS THE FUEL AND MPH METER MOVES UP AND DOWN WHEN TURN TO THE LEFT CAR MAKES LOUD RUBBING SOUND AND TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR BRAKE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN STARTING THE CAR I SMELL STRONG ODOR OF GAS THE FUEL AND MPH METER MOVES UP AND DOWN WHEN TURN TO THE LEFT CAR MAKES LOUD RUBBING SOUND AND TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR BRAKE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. *TR
I HAVE PRUCHASED A PRE OWNED - CERTIFIED BMW FROM TISHER AUTO. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 6/23/01. IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN 90 DAYS AND I AM OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR BOTH REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLIES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT . THE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND THE CONSOLE INDICATOR CONFIRMS THIS. THE DEALER SAY THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CONTROL THE FUNCTION OF THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU CAN INFORM ME OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 90 DAYS AND THE REPAIR COST IS $436 DOLLARS. I AM TRYING TO GRASP THE FACT THAT THIS IS A CERTIFIED VEHICLE THAT I PUT JUST OVER 6400 MILES ON. CAN YOU HELP. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE OF MY 1995 BMW 740I FAILED DUE TO ONE OF THE OIL PUMP BOLTS FALLING OUT AND INTO THE ENGINE. THERE IS NO SAFETY DEVICE ON THESE BOLTS TO PREVENT THEM FROM JUST SLIPPING OUT AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THIS INCIDENT, IF OCCURING IN A BUSY STREET OR FREEWAY COULD ENDANGER OTHER MOTORIST AS WELL AS THE OCCUPANTS OF THE DISABLED VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW'S AND THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THIS YET THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *JB
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING OVER WATER AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HYDROLOCK DUE TO WATER ENTERING THE ENGINE. *SLC
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 STARTING THE CAR I SMELL STRONG ODOR OF GAS THE FUEL AND MPH METER MOVES UP AND DOWN WHEN TURN TO THE LEFT CAR MAKES LOUD RUBBING SOUND AND TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR BRAKE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING IF CONSUMER HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD FRONT SUSPENSION WILL MAKE A CLUNKING LOUD NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKJLG
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND WHILE DRIVING HE STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CEILING AND DASHBOARD.*AK
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 .