1997 BMW 740I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 740I years
- Not enough data 12th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 BMW 740I. That ranks 12th out of 20 740I model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (2 complaints, 67%), typically at around 55,000 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 3owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 BMW 740I problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 67% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 33% | 79,375 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 BMW 740I recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:front:springs:coil springs
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: The cruise control and throttle cables are attached to the same throttle valve actuating lever at the throttle housing. It is possible that the plastic bushing on either cable could break due to environmental influences coupled with vibration. If the bushing breaks, the outer cable housing can separate from the bushing. In this case, during application of the throttle pedal without cruise control being engaged, the outer tube could catch on the edge of the broken bushing.
Risk: This could cause the throttle valve to remain partially open. It his were to occur, the car might not decelerate as expected increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a spring steel clip on the outer tube of each cable in the area of the adjusting screw and plastic bushing. The clip is designed to prevent the outer tube from dislodging from the bushing.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Consumer complained about a cooling system problem. The hose that was connected to the radiator melted from the heat that came from the engine.*ak
There seems to be a common defect in the '1995-'01 bmw 740 series gas tank. There is a problem that occurs that creates a vaccum in the tank which then makes the tank implode. It just crush in upon itself until it pops or a seam breaks somewhere. This happened to me yesterday while i was driving to…
Upper nipple with hose connector on radiator is made of plastic and breaks off with fragments left in the hose. This really should not be made of plastic as intensely hot water passes through it all the time. This amounts to an expensive repair.*ak
Other BMW 740I years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 740I | 0 | 3 |
| 2024 740I | 3 | 5 |
| 2023 740I | 12 | 9 |
| 2021 740I | 1 | 2 |
| 2020 740I | 1 | 2 |
| 2019 740I | 4 | 1 |
| 2018 740I | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 740I | 7 | 0 |
| 2016 740I | 12 | 0 |
| 2015 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 740I | 4 | 1 |
| 2001 740I | 15 | 3 |
| 2000 740I | 12 | 1 |
| 1999 740I | 8 | 0 |
| 1998 740I | 8 | 0 |
| 1997 | 3 | 2 |
| 1996 740I | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 740I | 9 | 4 |
See all BMW 740I problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 BMW 740I?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 BMW 740I?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 BMW 740I a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 740I model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.