1998 BMW 740I Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 38%of 8 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 49,306miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1998 BMW 740I, 38% of the 8 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 49,306 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I bought this vehicle in 2002 at 96k miles it has been nothing but problems, since buying vehicle, I have had water pump failure twice, replaced radiator twice , hoses & rings..two battery's front bumper, catalytic convertor l. Bay, changed.. Brakes & rotors changed nov. 11...... 3 weeks later as I was driving home from work .. I got a transmission failure.. And the car stopped in the middle of the road.. The car goes in reverse but not forward.. I have only driven this car 15 -16k miles since owning the vehicle I have had all these chronic repairs.. …”
NHTSA complaint #10448791, filed 2012-02, 111 miles“Engine failed entirely, while passing a vehicle. Driver able to retain enough control to bring car to halt safely on shoulder. Car towed to technicians. Upon inspection, a hole was found in a cylinder, causing complete engine faiure technicians indicate that electronic firing failed, causing a hole to be burned in the wall of cylinder! Engine a complete loss. Quite lucky no one was killed in this accident waiting to become a catastrophe!”
NHTSA complaint #10047708, filed 2003-11, 98,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10142928Dec 1, 2017SERVICE ACTION: PROGRAM DME (FOR O2 SENSORS): Due to DME software error, the following oxygen sensors plausibility fault codes may be stored in DME 5.2.1 control module:
Engine cooling: other model years
Other parts of the 1998 BMW 740I
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 BMW 740I
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology