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1997 BMW 840CI Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 1997 BMW 840CI, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
2
owner complaints to NHTSA

1 safety recall for the 1997 BMW 840CI

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

  1. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 97V131000 Reported 410,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    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.

2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 BMW 840CI have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 81,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“1. Headlight adjusters fall off and the pop-up headlights tilt down. 2. Visibility becomes poor at night - a safety problem. 3. Vehicle taken to dealer - parts on backorder since at least november 4,”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 14, 2006 · Exterior lighting

“Adjusters fall off and the headlights tilt down and visibility becomes very poor at night.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 29, 2002 · Exterior lighting

Compare BMW 840CI model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 840CI model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1994 BMW 840CI21
1995 BMW 840CI11
1996 BMW 840CI11
1997 BMW 840CI12

Checking a specific 1997 BMW 840CI

How do I know if my 1997 BMW 840CI 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1997 BMW 840CI; your car may already have been repaired under it.

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

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.