1996 BMW 840CI Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jul 17, 2022 · 1 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other 840CI years
Not enough data 2nd of 3 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 1996 BMW 840CI. That ranks 2nd out of 3 840CI model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 100%). Complaints mention 1 fire. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 1996 BMW 840CI problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System1
Exterior Lighting1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System1100%———
Exterior Lighting1100%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

1996 BMW 840CI recalls (1)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Vehicle speed controlAug 19, 1997 · NHTSA campaign 97V131000 · 410,000 vehicles

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.

The Lighting Control Board Module (LKM) of the 1996 BMW 840Ci failed in a manner that caused it to catch fire even though the vehicle was not running at the time, and in fact had not been driven in several days. The fire damaged surrounding modules and wiring inside the passenger compartment of the…

Exterior Lighting · received Jul 17, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11474373

Other BMW 840CI years

← 1995 840CI · 1997 840CI →

YearComplaintsRecalls
1997 840CI21
199611
1995 840CI11

See all BMW 840CI problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.

Similar BMW models

Embed this 1996 BMW 840CI badge on your site

Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1996 BMW 840CI?

Owners most often report electrical system, exterior lighting problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 1996 BMW 840CI?

Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 1996 BMW 840CI a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 840CI model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.