1997 BMW 740IL Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 740IL years
- About as many complaints as other years 4th of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 BMW 740IL. That ranks 4th out of 7 740IL model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (6 complaints, 32%), typically at around 55,500 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 19owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 BMW 740IL 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 6 | 32% | 55,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 26% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 21% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 5% | 134,043 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 5% | 137,117 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 5% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 5% | 68,158 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 5% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 5% | 137,117 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 5% | 137,117 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 5% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 BMW 740IL recalls (1)
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.
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.
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.
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…
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
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…
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…
Other BMW 740IL years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 740IL | 26 | 1 |
| 2000 740IL | 20 | 1 |
| 1999 740IL | 6 | 0 |
| 1998 740IL | 26 | 0 |
| 1997 | 19 | 1 |
| 1996 740IL | 11 | 1 |
| 1995 740IL | 12 | 3 |
See all BMW 740IL 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 740IL?
Owners most often report suspension, engine and engine cooling, steering problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 BMW 740IL?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 BMW 740IL a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 740IL model years, the 1997 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.