1997 BMW 740IL Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 1about this part
- Share
- 5%of 19 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 134,043miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 1 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 BMW 740IL, 5% of the 19 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 134,043 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
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.
“Car was running fine, was at a stop light and the car shut off had a really strong electrical smell coming from the engine compartment. Opened up the hood and had a flame down at the thermostat area. Quickly put it out and pushed the car off to the side of the road. Had to have a tow truck come tow the car and bring my family out of the freezing cold as well. The thermostat and wiring from the ecu down to the thermostat had to be replaced as well as a fuse that had blown in the main engine harness. Old part was disposed of as well as the wiring.”
NHTSA complaint #10218592, filed 2008-02, 134,043 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10249437Jan 16, 2024The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- 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:
Electrical system: other model years
Other parts of the 1997 BMW 740IL
6 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsSteering
4 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 BMW 740IL
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology