1997 BMW 740IL problems
NHTSA has received 27 complaints about the 1997 BMW 740IL, and 22% of them involve suspension. Next are cooling system (15%) and steering (15%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 27 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 74,000 miles 18 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 18 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 74,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire.
It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Car was running fine, was at a stop light and the car shut off had a really strong electrical smell coming from the engine compartment. Opened up the hood and had a flame down at the thermostat area. Quickly put it out and pushed the car off to the side of the road. Had to have a tow truck come tow the car and bring my family out of the freezing cold as well. The thermostat and wiring from the ECU down to the thermostat had to be replaced as well as a fuse that had blown in the main engine harness.
While driving between 40-50 MPH hit a concrete post direct center of vehicle. Theere was deployment of driver's or passenger's side airbags. Also this vehicle is equipped with side airbags which did not deploy. Cause unknown.
Purchased a "certified" BMW 1997 740il in 11/02 with 69,000 miles. In january I noticed a "tin can" popping sound from the rear of the vehicle and a vacuum like sound when opening the gas cap to fuel. I noticed that the driver side gas tank had a dent in it although I had not hit anything. I took the vehicle to john roberts BMW in dallas. The service advisor told me that they had never had any complaints resembling mine and that I must have struck something to damage the tank.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 BMW 740il. While driving 40 MPH, the brake warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The brake lights continued to illuminate, but the brakes were not effective. Also, the coil spring made a loud clunking noise. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 97v140000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs), which was issued in the spring of 1997. The failure and current mileages were 115,000. Update 09/10/08 updated 09/19/08.