1997 BMW 740 Problems
- Complaints
- 8filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 131,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 BMW 740 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 1997 BMW 740. The part named most often is air bags, with 3 complaints (38% of the total), followed by engine cooling (2) and fuel system (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 131,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags3 38%
- Engine cooling2 25%
- Fuel system1 13%
- Seat belts1 13%
- Seats1 13%
Example complaints
Air bags: “The contact owns a 1997 Bmw 740. After turning the ignition key to start the engine, the passenger side door panel air bag erroneously deployed. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was immediately notified of the failure and the contact was instructed to take the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was taken to ferman Bmw (31400 us hwy 19 north, palm harbor, fl), but the cause of the spontaneous air bag deployment could not be determined and no repairs were performed. The failure mileage was 131,000. Updated 9/24/18”
NHTSA complaint #11100391, filed 2018-06, 131,000 milesFuel system: “Hi, I am not sure if this is a safety defect or not. I had a sound like an expanding and contracting of metal in the back underneath of car. It sounded like a cookie sheet when it is first heating up in the oven and it expands and contracts. The dealer couldn't find anything when I brought it in but said that they were going to call Bmw technical support because they had a theory that a spider was clogging up the fuel line and that this had happened once before to their knowledge and resulted in the gas tank collapsing. …”
NHTSA complaint #712110, filed 1999-09Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 131,000 and 131,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1997 BMW 740 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10249437Jan 16, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors), Electrical system. The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Other model years of the BMW 740
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 9 | 72,500 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 8 | 131,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 7 | 164,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1993 | 7 | 113,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 BMW 740 have?
NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 1997 BMW 740 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1997 BMW 740 is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 3 complaints (38% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 2.
Has the 1997 BMW 740 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1997 BMW 740 reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 131,000 miles and the middle half falls between 131,000 and 131,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.