1998 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 1998 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
- Engine327.3%
- Electrical218.2%
- Visibility218.2%
- Airbags19.1%
- Brakes19.1%
- Powertrain (other)19.1%
- Driver assistance19.1%
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
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 REPAIRS.. I'M DISTRAUGHT THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS CAR CRASH..NOT SURE WHAT TO DO?.. BUT ACCRD.. TO MANY BMW OWNERS I FIND ON THE NET THERE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM W/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.. IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FOR DRIVERS THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME INVESTIGATION IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE .. *TR
ENGINE FAILED ENTIRELY, WHILE PASSING A VEHICLE. DRIVER ABLE TO RETAIN ENOUGH CONTROL TO BRING CAR TO HALT SAFELY ON SHOULDER. CAR TOWED TO TECHNICIANS. UPON INSPECTION, A HOLE WAS FOUND IN A CYLINDER, CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAIURE TECHNICIANS INDICATE THAT ELECTRONIC FIRING FAILED, CAUSING A HOLE TO BE BURNED IN THE WALL OF CYLINDER! ENGINE A COMPLETE LOSS. QUITE LUCKY NO ONE WAS KILLED IN THIS ACCIDENT WAITING TO BECOME A CATASTROPHE!*AK
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
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 REPAIRS.. I'M DISTRAUGHT THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS CAR CRASH..NOT SURE WHAT TO DO?.. BUT ACCRD.. TO MANY BMW OWNERS I FIND ON THE NET THERE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM W/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.. IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FOR DRIVERS THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME INVESTIGATION IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE .. *TR
ENGINE FAILED ENTIRELY, WHILE PASSING A VEHICLE. DRIVER ABLE TO RETAIN ENOUGH CONTROL TO BRING CAR TO HALT SAFELY ON SHOULDER. CAR TOWED TO TECHNICIANS. UPON INSPECTION, A HOLE WAS FOUND IN A CYLINDER, CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAIURE TECHNICIANS INDICATE THAT ELECTRONIC FIRING FAILED, CAUSING A HOLE TO BE BURNED IN THE WALL OF CYLINDER! ENGINE A COMPLETE LOSS. QUITE LUCKY NO ONE WAS KILLED IN THIS ACCIDENT WAITING TO BECOME A CATASTROPHE!*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 740I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INNERLINE OF THE FOUR DOORS HAD BECOME DISCOLORED AND WAS OBSCURING HER VISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DISCOLORATION WAS CAUSED BY THE MATERIAL THEY USED TO HELP AGAINST THE WINDOW BEING SHATTERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
WINDOW SHADE FAILED. *YC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DESPITE DIRECT HIT TO DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AT SIGNIFICANT SPEED WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. WE WANT TO OBTAIN AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL OF THIS SINCE THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS (AND WE DISPUTE) THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 REPAIRS.. I'M DISTRAUGHT THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS CAR CRASH..NOT SURE WHAT TO DO?.. BUT ACCRD.. TO MANY BMW OWNERS I FIND ON THE NET THERE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM W/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.. IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FOR DRIVERS THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME INVESTIGATION IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE .. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 REPAIRS.. I'M DISTRAUGHT THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS CAR CRASH..NOT SURE WHAT TO DO?.. BUT ACCRD.. TO MANY BMW OWNERS I FIND ON THE NET THERE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM W/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.. IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FOR DRIVERS THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME INVESTIGATION IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE .. *TR
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
UPON STARTING VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO REVERSE GEAR, ENGINE REVVED HIGH/VEHICLE MOVED BACKWARDS, BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO STOP VEHICLE, WHEN PUT INTO NEUTRAL ENGINE REVVED TO 6000-7000 RPMS. VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF/RESTARTED, PROBLEM WAS GONE.
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 .