1999 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 1999 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
- Electrical233.3%
- Brakes116.7%
- Engine116.7%
- Transmission116.7%
- Visibility116.7%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
BATTERY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING PRIOR TO RECALL. THE DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *YH
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
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON DURING A HARD STOP. THE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AT WILL NOW. ABS CONTROLLER HAS FAILED ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP. NO ABS BRAKE CONTROL OR TRACTION CONTROL. DEALERSHIP COMPUTER FIRST SAID IT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SENSOR. REPLACED THAT AND THE SAME LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEN THEY SAY IT IS THE ABS CONTROLLER. THEY WANT $850.00 FOR THE CONTROLLER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
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
FAN CLUTCH BEARING SEIZED WHILE DRIVING HIGH RPM; FAN BLADE BROKE, BROKE DRIVE BELTS, HOSES, WATER PUMP, SHROUD, RADIATOR, AND DAMAGED HOOD. *NLM
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
PREMATURE WEAR OF THE RING GEAR LEAD TO MY REVERSE NOT WORKING IN MY TRANSMISSION. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
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
THE DOUBLE GLAZING GLASS ON MY 1999 BMW 740IL STARTED DELAMINATING AND HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE, I KNOW OF MANY BMW OWNERS WHO COMPLAIN OF THIS DEFECT AND BMWNA IS ACTING LIKE THERE IS NOT ANY PROBLEM. I WENT INTO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER AND THEY SAY EVERY CAR THAT THEY SEE WITH DOUBLE GLAZING IS DELAMINATING! I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT CAN IMPAIR A DRIVERS VIEW WHILE DRIVING AS WELL. *TR
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 .