NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 BMW 740ILA Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 BMW 740ILA has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 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 1998 BMW 740ILA. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1998 BMW 740ILA owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 BMW 740ILA, describing incidents dated June 4, 1998 to July 24, 2007.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Of the 3 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10218612 · Filed February 20, 2008
MY CAR STUMBLED LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY HOUSE. A FEW HUNDRED FEET LATER IT STALLED COMPLETELY. AT FIRST THE GARAGE THOUGHT IT WAS A FAILED FUEL PUMP. AFTER REPLACING THE PUMP, THE CAR STUMBLED AGAIN AND THE ECU (ENGINE COMPUTER) CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER TOWING THE CAR TO A SECOND GARAGE THEY FOUND A BAD…
ODI #10197337 · Filed July 24, 2007
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - 1998 740IL. I BOUGHT A CPO BMW 740IL WITH 35,000 MILES. NOW I HAVE 65,600 MILES ON THE CAR AND I TOO AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER CPO WARRANTY, I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I WAS GETTING A CHECK TRANS MESSAGE, WHICH I HAVE…
ODI #536933 · Filed June 16, 1998
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND EVERYTHING LOCK UPS - STEERING INCLUDED.

Read all 3 complaints

BMW/REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL

NHTSA #98V142000 · Power Train — Driveline — Differential Unit · NHTSA notice

Reported June 22, 1998 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 1,100 vehicles

Owners notified December 28, 1998 · Vehicles built November 3, 1997 – November 28, 1997 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DIFFERENTIAL PINION SHAFT WITHIN THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE ASSEMBLY WAS PRODUCED WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE SURFACE HARDENING. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE SHAFT EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WEAR.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE A NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND, ULTIMATELY, FAILURE OF THE SHAFT AND LOSS OF DRIVE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 28, 1998.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 BMW 740ILA. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 BMW 740ILA.

Fuel System, Gasoline; Electrical System

ODI #10218612

Fire

Incident: February 14, 2004 · Filed: February 20, 2008

MY CAR STUMBLED LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY HOUSE. A FEW HUNDRED FEET LATER IT STALLED COMPLETELY. AT FIRST THE GARAGE THOUGHT IT WAS A FAILED FUEL PUMP. AFTER REPLACING THE PUMP, THE CAR STUMBLED AGAIN AND THE ECU (ENGINE COMPUTER) CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER TOWING THE CAR TO A SECOND GARAGE THEY FOUND A BAD GROUND ON THE HARNESS COMING OFF OF THE THERMOSTAT THAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL AS WELL AS THE ECU FIRE. THEY ALSO FOUND THAT THE EGS (TRANSMISSION COMPUTER) HAD BEEN DESTROYED BY THIS BAD GROUND ALSO. TOTAL REPAIR BILL FOR THIS FAILURE, ~$4500. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10197337

Incident: July 24, 2007 · Filed: July 24, 2007

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - 1998 740IL. I BOUGHT A CPO BMW 740IL WITH 35,000 MILES. NOW I HAVE 65,600 MILES ON THE CAR AND I TOO AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER CPO WARRANTY, I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I WAS GETTING A CHECK TRANS MESSAGE, WHICH I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS FOR. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ERROR, SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT READ THE CODE ON THE COMPUTER. WELL NOW THE TRANSMISSION WON\'T GO IN PARK OR REVERSE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE CAR IS OUT OF CP WARRANTY. DAMAGE RESULTING = LOOKS LIKE I HAVE TO PAY $7,000 FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AS THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR HAS EXPIRED. THE CAR IS NOT WORTH MORE THAN $12,000 NOW. *TR

Unknown or Other

ODI #536933

Incident: June 4, 1998 · Filed: June 16, 1998

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND EVERYTHING LOCK UPS - STEERING INCLUDED.

Other BMW 740ILA model years

Check your 1998 BMW 740ILA VIN

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

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