1993 BMW 740IL 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 1993 BMW 740IL, 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
- Engine440.0%
- Driver assistance110.0%
- Airbags110.0%
- Powertrain (other)110.0%
- Steering110.0%
- Transmission110.0%
- Interior & seats110.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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
ENGINE IS LOSING PRESSURE THROUGH CYLINDERS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE. DEALER HAS REPLACED ENGINE BLOCK; HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
MY CAR STARTED MISSING AND SMOKING ON DEC, 2001. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, AND AFTERTAIRING DOWN THE ENGINE, HE FOUND THAT THE BLOCK WAS DEECTIVE. AND IT WAS CHANGED IN 1999 BY THE DEALER. I HAVE MADE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL. SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD 2 AND 3 BLOCK CHANGES. I AM IN A LEGAL PROCESS DEMANDING BMW T CHANGE IT WITHOUT ANYCHARGE.*AK
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
WHILE IN PARK AND AFTER TURNING ON IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE NEW SMALL SAFETY SWITCH WHICH ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO START IN PARK AND NEUTRAL POSITIONS.*YH
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
TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED.
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
POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE CAME APART FROM FRAME AREA DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN CAUSING LEAKING.
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
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE NEW SMALL SAFETY SWITCH WHICH ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO START IN PARK AND NEUTRAL POSITIONS.*YH
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
I SET MEMORY SEAT POSITION 1 AND IT WORKED FINE. I WAS DRIVING HOME AT 70 MPH AND WONDERED IF I SHOULD SET POSITION 2 FOR GRETA. I HIT THE BUTTON MEMORY TWO AND THE SEAT BACK FULLY RECLINED AND WENT ALL THE WAY BACK. BEING SHORT WITH SHORT LEGS I LOST CONTROL FOR A SECOND AND FOUGHT MY WAY TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. THE SEAT MOVED FORWARD BUT THE BACKREST REMAINED STUCK. I DROVE HOME SLOWLY AND CONTACTED THE DEALER. IT WAS FIXED BUT I AM AFRAID IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.*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 .