1997 BMW 740ILBmw 740il 1997

Complaint Information: Recalls, Consumer Complaints, Service Bulletins, OBD II Codes

NHTSA Mandated Recalls
  • Recall 87135 [USA]: This condition would result, without warning, in immediate and complete loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in serious injury or death.
    Fcp groton is recalling certain steering center drag links, p/n 32 21 1 096 057, sold from december 1, 2009 through april 9, 2010 as replacement equipment for model year 1995 through 2001 bmw 740i, 740il, and 750il passenger vehicles. The shaft of the steering center tie rod may shear off.
    fcp groton will notify owners and the tie rod will be replaced free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about june 1, 2010. Owners may contact fcp groton toll-free at 1-877-634-0063.
    this recall only pertains to aftermarket fcp groton steering center drag links bearing p/n 32 21 1 096 057 sold from december 1, 2009 through april 9, 2010 and has no relation to any original equipment installed on any vehicles manufactured by bmw.Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov .

  • Recall 14192 [USA]: The vehicle's ride height could be affected causing noise while the vehicle is driven. the vehicle's dynamic stability can be affected reducing the driver's ability to maintain control of the vehicle.
    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Road grit and gravel associated with winter road conditions can penetrate the rubber of the lower front spring mounts and accumulate in the mounts causing notches or pits to develop. These notches can develop cracks resulting in breakage of a bottom coil of the spring.
    dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts.
    owner notification is expected to begin by the end of october 1997.Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

To ensure accuracy and for your safety, it is recommended to do a free VIN recall check here or here [USA] - UK - Canada.

Bulletins

Bulletins are notices put out by manufacturers in conjunction with the NHTSA to notify the public of manufacturing issues or changes.

  • B510819 - 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
  • B122817 - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: Service action: program dme (for o2 sensors): due to dme software error, the following oxygen sensors plausibility fault codes may be stored in dme 5.2.1 control module:
  • B122917 - EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL : Service action: program dme: the incorrect dataset could be programmed into dme 5.2.1 control module.
  • 16 01 98 - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: Information on evaporative emission control and fuel filler cap / filler door labels. *yc
  • 64 01 98 - VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM: Replacement heater cores for e38 vehicles. *yc
  • 34 01 98 - SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: Experiencing an intermittent momentary event where the brake pedal does not immediatlely return. Models built prior to 3/97 *db*yc
  • 16 04 97 - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE: New evaporative (charcoal) canister purge line. All e38 and e39 modele introduced into production approximately 3/97 *db*yc
  • 62 01 98 - SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:PADS: Condition with brake pad warning stays illuminated after brake pad replacement. *yc
  • 04 01 98 - UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Subject on tank ventilation leak couplers. *yc
  • 51 10 97 - UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Service information regarding missing damper pads for break resistant glass. *yc
  • 84 10 97 - UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Installation on mounting brackets for cmt 5000/cpt 6000 phones. *ak
  • 84 01 97 - EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.: Bmw navigation system cd v 05 operating software for mark i system.
  • MSG0350 - EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH: Customers may complain that the illumination for the buttons on the multi function steering wheel flickers. *tw
  • MSG0149 - EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH: Vehicles may have a problem with the dimmer circuit - vehicles released from the vpcs starting 10-04-96 have disabled dimmer switches. *tw
  • 00/11/96R - UNKNOWN OR OTHER: New vehicle preparation and maintenance requirements. *tw
Most Recent Consumer Complaints and Accidents
CrashFireTowedInjuredDeathsFailure
Date
NoNoN NoneNone20180820

Traction control warning light. Bmw service center says that they can't communicate with my vehicle thereby can't diagnose problem(s). Vehicle stationary in shop.

NoNoN NoneNone20160811

I went to the bmw dealer and they say that they have nothing in the computer i think that my safety is first.Thank you

NoNoN NoneNone20160731

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 bmw 740il. While driving over a bump in the road or pothole, the vehicle shook abnormally. Additionally the tie rod failed without warning. There was also an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle when driving various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the bottom springs were fractured. The dealer also advised the contact not to drive the vehicle because it was unsafe. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 39,000. Updated 04/19/17 lj *tr

NoNoN NoneNone20140717

Steering and over all control of the vehicle is compromised for no reason feels like it is disconnecting and loose clanking noises form front suspension all the time on all surfaces also a squeaky old bed frame noise appears . Concerned about family safety the vehicle is well cared for. Feels like a sloppy messy fumbling interaction between car and steering wheel also veers randomly as if it was detached from the steering system. *tr

NoNoN NoneNone20140419

My wife and i purchased this vehicle at a certified used dealership. We fueled it up and drove it around that night and parked it at our home. The next morning it smelled terribly of gasoline so i looked under the car. The driver's side of the fuel tank was crushed in and it was pouring gasoline all over the driveway. Their was a puddle approximately 3 feet wide under the car. I had it towed to the dealer and they were shocked. We both assumed that they never filled the talk so the problem wasn't known. They replaced the tank free of charge and once again i filled the tank and drove it around for the weekend. I noticed the gasoline smell again and looked under the car and was shocked to see the tank crushed in again and the fuel leaking out. I ran a google search on this and found out that i was not alone. There is a known problem with a purge line that causes the talk to implode on itself. I am very surprised to not find a recall on this. I would think that avoiding a car fire would be a concern for the nhtsa. I hope with enough complaints they force a recall. *tr

NoFireN NoneNone20070214

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. Old part was disposed of as well as the wiring. *tr

NoNoN NoneNone20060811

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 *cw updated 09/19/08. *jb

NoNoN NoneNone20040818

The consumer had the same problem as stated in nhtsa recall# 97v140000 : vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Road grit and gravel associated with winter road conditions can penetrate the rubber of the lower front spring mounts and accumulate in the mounts causing notches or pits to develop. These notches can develop cracks resulting in breakage of a bottom coil of the spring. The dealership and the manufacturer informed the consumer her vehicle identifications number was not included in the recall. *jb

NoNoN NoneNone20031213

While using the factory jack to change a tire, the jack became unstable due to the small base that is provided and the car fell off of the jack. The jack was being operated on an asphalt surface. This was a near miss accident that could have easily trapped me under my car. The car is a 1997 740il bmw.*ak

NoNoN NoneNone20030824

There's a major flaw design in the bmw 740i and 740il fgrom years 1995-200. I was just driving and it failed without hesitation. I spoke with a lot of other owners of this model and they had the same peoblem. To some people it happend as they were driving on the highway spilling coolant all over their windshield and losing control of their vehicle. *ak

NoNoN NoneNone20030513

I have had three separate failures of plastic radiator components in my 1997 bmw 740il in the space of 5 months. At first inspection, these appear to me to be thermal fatigue failures indicating some manufacturing defect in the plastic. Bmw denies any such issue and refused to replace the failed components under warranty. The first instance was a minor leak that developed from a small pipe that exits the top of the radiator. Before i had that repaired, the neck of the top inlet to the radiator broke off while i was driving. The radiator had to be replaced. A little over a month later, i saw steam emerging from the radiator and noted a 1/4" split in the center of the intergral fluid reservoir where water was spraying out. This component had not been replaced when the radiator was replaced. As this was not in a typical stress area like a corner, seam or bottom, i believe this was caused by fatigue. The fact that all of these failures occurred on plastic components so close together in their life implies a common failure mechanism to me. The dealer commented that "they see a lot of these kinds of failures." as the vehicle has only 70,000 miles on it, this would seem unusual unless there were some underlying flaw in bmw's design or manufacturing of the cooling system. *nlm

NoNoN NoneNone20021203

Engine rpm will suddenly surge from 8oo to 2500 rpm with no warning. Idle will vary from 800 rpm to 400 rpm and then possibly shoot up to 12-2500 rpm. After 5 attempts dealer unable to correct. Consider this a major safety hazard. Dt

NoNoN NoneNone20020130

While driving 60mph water pump failed, causing steam to come up from hood, resulting in loss of control.*ak consumer stated the radiator hose blew off and the serpentine belt failed when the water pump went out.*jb

NoNoN NoneNone20020107

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. About one month later the tank began to leak and basically imploded from vacuum pressure. I posted my experience on several web sites and received over 20 responses from owners who had the same problem. One of these people sent me a technical bulletin from bmw to its dealers describing the problem as a fuel tank vent which would become stopped up and cause the fuel tank to implode. I went back to the dealer but by this time my vehicle was one month out of warranty. I believe this defect is a potentially deadly hazard and could have easily resulted in an explosion or fire.*ak

NoNoN NoneNone19980630

Passenger unable to unlock power locks manually, leaving passenger trapped in vehicle w/windows up in 95 degree heat. Qcaw

CrashNoN NoneNone

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.

NoNoN NoneNone

There was a recall for a gas leak. Had vehicle serviced a year later and gas leak continues.*ak

NoNoN NoneNone

Air bag indicator light failed twice. *yc

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