NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 BMW 740I Recalls & Complaints

The 1999 BMW 740I has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 8 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1999 BMW 740I. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1999 BMW 740I owner complaints

Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 BMW 740I, describing incidents dated March 10, 2003 to November 30, 2015.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 3 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Of the 8 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10810495 · Filed December 15, 2015
BMW E38 HAVE A HIGH TENDENCY FOR THE GUIDES FOR THE CAMSHAFT CHAIN (S) TO FRACTURE AND COME APART. THIS LEADS TO PLASTIC PIECES TO CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, PLASTIC AND METAL SHAVINGS TO BE OBSERVED IN THE LOWER OIL PAN AS WELL AS JUMP IN TIMING FOR THE OWNER WHO HAS TO EITHER PAY$$$ OR JUNK THE…
ODI #10443494 · Filed January 11, 2012
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK APPROXIMATELY 3AM IN THE MORNING AND I WAS GETTING CLOSE TO MY TURN AND I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND I HIT A POT HOLE.. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOY ALMOST CAUSE ME TO WRECK MY CAR... *TR
ODI #10366431 · Filed November 16, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 740I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SLIGHT PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY LOCKED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT THEN BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE…

Read all 8 complaints

REPLACEMENT STEERING CENTER DRAG LINK

NHTSA #10E021000 · Steering — Linkages — Drag — Link — Connection · NHTSA notice

Reported May 27, 2010 · FCP GROTON, LLC

Potentially affected: 150 vehicles

Owners notified May 28, 2010

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT, WITHOUT WARNING, IN IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

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 <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1999 BMW 740I. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

8 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 BMW 740I.

Engine

ODI #10810495

Incident: November 30, 2015 · Filed: December 15, 2015

BMW E38 HAVE A HIGH TENDENCY FOR THE GUIDES FOR THE CAMSHAFT CHAIN (S) TO FRACTURE AND COME APART. THIS LEADS TO PLASTIC PIECES TO CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, PLASTIC AND METAL SHAVINGS TO BE OBSERVED IN THE LOWER OIL PAN AS WELL AS JUMP IN TIMING FOR THE OWNER WHO HAS TO EITHER PAY$$$ OR JUNK THE CAR. THE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST UTILIZED CARBON FIBER GUIDES. MANY OF THESE FAILURES OCCUR EVEN BEFORE 125K.. I FIND IT INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT SOMEONE WHO PAYS 70K FOR THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE TO ENDURE SPENDING ANOTHER 5-6K TO GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN. JUST LOOK AT YOUTUBE.COM AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I AM REFERRING TO. WISH I'D BOUGHT A USED FORD.

Air Bags

ODI #10443494

Incident: January 10, 2012 · Filed: January 11, 2012

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK APPROXIMATELY 3AM IN THE MORNING AND I WAS GETTING CLOSE TO MY TURN AND I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND I HIT A POT HOLE.. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOY ALMOST CAUSE ME TO WRECK MY CAR... *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10366431

Incident: October 1, 2010 · Filed: November 16, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 740I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SLIGHT PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY LOCKED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT THEN BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAS SINCE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,900.

Tires

ODI #10194218

Incident: June 2, 2007 · Filed: June 26, 2007

KUHMO TIRES - ZRATED 235/50/18 TIRES ON 1999 BMW 740I - TIRES ONE MONTH OLD. LOW USAGE - SIDEWALL BLOW OUT WITH NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO SIDEWALL. DEFECT IN TIRE.*AK

Power Train

ODI #10143533

Incident: April 30, 2004 · Filed: November 23, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V005000 CONCERNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. ALSO, HE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS PREVIOUSLY. THE DEALER REPAIRED A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Electrical System

ODI #10014108

Incident: March 10, 2003 · Filed: April 8, 2003

TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT ARE ALL INDICATING FAILURE. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. BRAKES APPEAR TO WORK OK BUT WARNING LIGHTS CAUSE CONCERN. *NLM

Air Bags

ODI #10008636

Filed: February 19, 2003

THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB

Air Bags

ODI #10007338

Crash

Filed: February 13, 2003

CONSUMER HIT A TREE, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB

Other BMW 740I model years

Check your 1999 BMW 740I VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 740I at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a BMW VIN