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1998 BMW 740I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
8Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
9
19951
19963
19978
19988
199912
200015
2001
Compare all 740I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
3Electrical System
2Visibility
2Air Bags
1Power Train
1
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

3 reports
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111 miles · Feb 21, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2002 AT 96K MILES IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, SINCE BUYING VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD WATER PUMP FAILURE TWICE, REPLACED RADIATOR TWICE , HOSES & RINGS..TWO BATTERY'S FRONT BUMPER, CATALYTIC CONVERTOR L. BAY, CHANGED.. BRAKES & ROTORS CHANGED NOV. 11...... 3 WEEKS LATER AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ..…

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I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2002 AT 96K MILES IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, SINCE BUYING VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD WATER PUMP FAILURE TWICE, REPLACED RADIATOR TWICE , HOSES & RINGS..TWO BATTERY'S FRONT BUMPER, CATALYTIC CONVERTOR L. BAY, CHANGED.. BRAKES & ROTORS CHANGED NOV. 11...... 3 WEEKS LATER AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK .. I GOT A TRANSMISSION FAILURE.. AND THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.. THE CAR GOES IN REVERSE BUT NOT FORWARD.. I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THIS CAR 15 -16K MILES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD ALL THESE CHRONIC REPAIRS.. I'M DISTRAUGHT THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS CAR CRASH..NOT SURE WHAT TO DO?.. BUT ACCRD.. TO MANY BMW OWNERS I FIND ON THE NET THERE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM W/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.. IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FOR DRIVERS THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME INVESTIGATION IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE .. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448791

98,500 miles · Nov 28, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE FAILED ENTIRELY, WHILE PASSING A VEHICLE. DRIVER ABLE TO RETAIN ENOUGH CONTROL TO BRING CAR TO HALT SAFELY ON SHOULDER. CAR TOWED TO TECHNICIANS. UPON INSPECTION, A HOLE WAS FOUND IN A CYLINDER, CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAIURE TECHNICIANS INDICATE THAT ELECTRONIC FIRING FAILED, CAUSING A HOLE TO BE BURNED IN THE WALL O…

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ENGINE FAILED ENTIRELY, WHILE PASSING A VEHICLE. DRIVER ABLE TO RETAIN ENOUGH CONTROL TO BRING CAR TO HALT SAFELY ON SHOULDER. CAR TOWED TO TECHNICIANS. UPON INSPECTION, A HOLE WAS FOUND IN A CYLINDER, CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAIURE TECHNICIANS INDICATE THAT ELECTRONIC FIRING FAILED, CAUSING A HOLE TO BE BURNED IN THE WALL OF CYLINDER! ENGINE A COMPLETE LOSS. QUITE LUCKY NO ONE WAS KILLED IN THIS ACCIDENT WAITING TO BECOME A CATASTROPHE!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10047708

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, ALL COMPONENTS FAIL INCLUDING STEERING.

NHTSA ODI #536645

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.