RoadVitals

1998 BMW 740IA

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Dec 9, 2006
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jun 22, 1998
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1998 BMW 740IA, most frequently naming the powertrain (other) category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Powertrain (other)1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
98V142000

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

Jun 22, 1998
1,100 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DIFFERENTIAL PINION SHAFT WITHIN THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE ASSEMBLY WAS PRODUCED WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE SURFACE HARDENING. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE SHAFT EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WEAR.
The risk: THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE A NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND, ULTIMATELY, FAILURE OF THE SHAFT AND LOSS OF DRIVE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 9, 2006

JULY 2004 I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM A/C AND THE REAR OF CAR, I TOOK IT TO BMW DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HEAR NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THEY ASSURED ME THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE NOISE AUGUST 2005 I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, THIS TIME THEY NOTICED THE NOISE, AND STATED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,015.00. HOWEVER, AFTER CHECKING YOUR WEB-SITE,(NHTSA OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION) I SEE THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 18, 1998 FOR THE VERY PROBLEM THAT I TOOK THIS CAR TO THE DEALER FOR. THE DEALER NEVER MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS TO BE A FREE REMEDY. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10175681
Incident
Jul 1, 2004
Mileage
85,987 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

B650916

EQUIPMENT

Radio / Navigation / Head Unit Identification Guide

121999

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INFORMATION ON PROGRAMMING ME7.2 ENGINE CONTROL MODULES WITH CD 18. *TT

651998

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

SUBJECT PERTAINING TO DSP AMPLIFIER SWITCHING TO

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 740IA by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000000—
1999220—
1998Viewing110—
1997000—
1995010—
1994110—
1993010—
1992010—
1991010—
1990010—
1989010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.