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1999 BMW 740ILA Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1999 BMW 740ILA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

2 safety recalls for the 1999 BMW 740ILA

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Cables (electrical system)

    NHTSA 99V004000 Reported 1,615 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The thickness of the main positive electrical cable (generator to starter) insulation is less than specified, making it susceptible to being abraded or cut by the clip that secures the cable to the generator.

    Remedy: Dealers will apply a thickness of insulating tape to the cable in the area of the clip, and install a revised clip.

  2. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 99V005000 Reported 249 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a 5hp24 automatic transmission. Premature wear of the ring gear can occur, leading to the loss of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and reverse gears.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1999 BMW 740ILA. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Compare BMW 740ILA model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 740ILA model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1988 BMW 740ILA11
1989 BMW 740ILA10
1990 BMW 740ILA10
1991 BMW 740ILA10
1992 BMW 740ILA10
1993 BMW 740ILA10
1994 BMW 740ILA11
1995 BMW 740ILA10
1998 BMW 740ILA13
1999 BMW 740ILA20
2001 BMW 740ILA21

Checking a specific 1999 BMW 740ILA

How do I know if my 1999 BMW 740ILA 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 1999 BMW 740ILA; 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 99V004000).

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

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.