NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 BMW 740IL Recalls & Complaints

The 1999 BMW 740IL has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 6 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 740IL. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1999 BMW 740IL owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 BMW 740IL, describing incidents dated January 12, 1999 to November 1, 2008.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Visibility/Wiper 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10284214 · Filed September 16, 2009
PREMATURE WEAR OF THE RING GEAR LEAD TO MY REVERSE NOT WORKING IN MY TRANSMISSION. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
ODI #10197414 · Filed July 25, 2007
THE DOUBLE GLAZING GLASS ON MY 1999 BMW 740IL STARTED DELAMINATING AND HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE, I KNOW OF MANY BMW OWNERS WHO COMPLAIN OF THIS DEFECT AND BMWNA IS ACTING LIKE THERE IS NOT ANY PROBLEM. I WENT INTO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER AND THEY SAY EVERY CAR THAT THEY SEE WITH DOUBLE GLAZING IS…
ODI #10131588 · Filed August 4, 2005
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON DURING A HARD STOP. THE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AT WILL NOW. ABS CONTROLLER HAS FAILED ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP. NO ABS BRAKE CONTROL OR TRACTION CONTROL. DEALERSHIP COMPUTER FIRST SAID IT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SENSOR. REPLACED THAT AND THE SAME LIGHT WAS…

Read all 6 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 740IL. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 BMW 740IL.

Power Train

ODI #10284214

Incident: November 1, 2008 · Filed: September 16, 2009

PREMATURE WEAR OF THE RING GEAR LEAD TO MY REVERSE NOT WORKING IN MY TRANSMISSION. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

Visibility

ODI #10197414

Incident: July 20, 2004 · Filed: July 25, 2007

THE DOUBLE GLAZING GLASS ON MY 1999 BMW 740IL STARTED DELAMINATING AND HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE, I KNOW OF MANY BMW OWNERS WHO COMPLAIN OF THIS DEFECT AND BMWNA IS ACTING LIKE THERE IS NOT ANY PROBLEM. I WENT INTO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER AND THEY SAY EVERY CAR THAT THEY SEE WITH DOUBLE GLAZING IS DELAMINATING! I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT CAN IMPAIR A DRIVERS VIEW WHILE DRIVING AS WELL. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10131588

Incident: June 16, 2005 · Filed: August 4, 2005

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON DURING A HARD STOP. THE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AT WILL NOW. ABS CONTROLLER HAS FAILED ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP. NO ABS BRAKE CONTROL OR TRACTION CONTROL. DEALERSHIP COMPUTER FIRST SAID IT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SENSOR. REPLACED THAT AND THE SAME LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEN THEY SAY IT IS THE ABS CONTROLLER. THEY WANT $850.00 FOR THE CONTROLLER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

Electrical System

ODI #10073439

Incident: April 27, 2004 · Filed: May 11, 2004

BATTERY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10023965

Incident: June 8, 2003 · Filed: June 29, 2003

FAN CLUTCH BEARING SEIZED WHILE DRIVING HIGH RPM; FAN BLADE BROKE, BROKE DRIVE BELTS, HOSES, WATER PUMP, SHROUD, RADIATOR, AND DAMAGED HOOD. *NLM

Electrical System

ODI #562898

Incident: January 12, 1999 · Filed: September 4, 2001

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING PRIOR TO RECALL. THE DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *YH

Other BMW 740IL model years

Check your 1999 BMW 740IL VIN

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

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