1998 BMW 740IL Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1998 BMW 740IL, and owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1998 BMW 740IL. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 BMW 740IL have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 122,127 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 4 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The alarm system runs down the battery and the head lights blanks constantly while car is running also back taillight goes off on on on passage side . *tr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 9, 2015 · Electrical system
“The alarm system runs down the battery and the head lights blanks constantly while car is running also back taillight blank off on passage side. *tr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 9, 2015 · Electrical system
Compare BMW 740IL model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 740IL model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 BMW 740IL | 1 | 9 |
| 1994 BMW 740IL | 1 | 3 |
| 1995 BMW 740IL | 3 | 12 |
| 1996 BMW 740IL | 1 | 11 |
| 1997 BMW 740IL | 1 | 19 |
| 1998 BMW 740IL | 0 | 26 |
| 1999 BMW 740IL | 0 | 6 |
| 2000 BMW 740IL | 1 | 20 |
| 2001 BMW 740IL | 1 | 26 |
Checking a specific 1998 BMW 740IL
How do I know if my 1998 BMW 740IL 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.
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.
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.