1997 BMW 740I Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1997 BMW 740I, and owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1997 BMW 740I
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Coil springs (suspension)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Road grit and gravel associated with winter road conditions can penetrate the rubber of the lower front spring mounts and accumulate in the mounts causing notches or pits to develop. These notches can develop cracks resulting in breakage of a bottom coil of the spring.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts.
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Vehicle speed control
The cruise control and throttle cables are attached to the same throttle valve actuating lever at the throttle housing. It is possible that the plastic bushing on either cable could break due to environmental influences coupled with vibration. If the bushing breaks, the outer cable housing can separate from the bushing. In this case,…
Remedy: Dealers will install a spring steel clip on the outer tube of each cable in the area of the adjusting screw and plastic bushing. The clip is designed to prevent the outer tube from dislodging from the bushing.
3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 BMW 740I have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 67,188 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Consumer complained about a cooling system problem. The hose that was connected to the radiator melted from the heat that came from the engine.*ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 5, 2004 · Engine and engine cooling
“There seems to be a common defect in the '1995-'01 BMW 740 series gas tank. There is a problem that occurs that creates a vaccum in the tank which then makes the tank implode. It just crush in upon it”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 28, 2003 · Fuel system, gasoline
Compare BMW 740I model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 740I model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 BMW 740I | 2 | 15 |
| 1994 BMW 740I | 2 | 7 |
| 1995 BMW 740I | 4 | 9 |
| 1996 BMW 740I | 2 | 1 |
| 1997 BMW 740I | 2 | 3 |
| 1998 BMW 740I | 0 | 8 |
| 1999 BMW 740I | 0 | 8 |
| 2000 BMW 740I | 1 | 12 |
| 2001 BMW 740I | 3 | 15 |
| 2012 BMW 740I | 1 | 4 |
| 2013 BMW 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 BMW 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 BMW 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 BMW 740I | 0 | 12 |
| 2017 BMW 740I | 0 | 7 |
| 2018 BMW 740I | 0 | 5 |
| 2019 BMW 740I | 1 | 4 |
| 2020 BMW 740I | 2 | 1 |
| 2021 BMW 740I | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 BMW 740I | 9 | 12 |
| 2024 BMW 740I | 5 | 3 |
| 2025 BMW 740I | 3 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1997 BMW 740I
How do I know if my 1997 BMW 740I has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1997 BMW 740I; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 97V131000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.