Model year record

1995 BMW 740i recalls & problems

The 1995 BMW 740i has 5 safety recalls and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (3 complaints).

Recalls5safety recalls

Complaints9filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

SteeringMay 27, 2010

Linkages › Drag › Link › Connection

Recall 10E021000150 vehicles

Problem: FCP GROTON IS RECALLING CERTAIN STEERING CENTER DRAG LINKS, P/N 32 21 1 096 057, SOLD FROM DECEMBER 1, 2009 THROUGH APRIL 9, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 2001 BMW 740I, 740IL, AND 750IL PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SHAFT OF THE STEERING CENTER TIE ROD MAY SHEAR OFF.
Risk: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT, WITHOUT WARNING, IN IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: FCP GROTON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE TIE ROD WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JUNE 1, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FCP GROTON TOLL-FREE AT 1-877-634-0063.

SuspensionAug 22, 1997

Front › Springs › Coil springs

Recall 97V14000029,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: THE VEHICLE'S RIDE HEIGHT COULD BE AFFECTED CAUSING NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE'S DYNAMIC STABILITY CAN BE AFFECTED REDUCING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND LOWER SPRING MOUNTS.

Vehicle speed controlAug 19, 1997

Vehicle speed control

Recall 97V131000410,000 vehicles

Problem: 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, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.

Fuel system, gasolineDec 11, 1995

Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 95V23800018,000 vehicles

Problem: FUEL SEEPAGE CAN OCCUR BETWEEN A HOSE AND THE METAL FUEL LINE ON EITHER END OF THE HOSE RESULTING IN FUEL ODOR.
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FUEL HOSES, FOUR METAL FUEL LINES AND ASSOCIATED CLAMPS.

SuspensionOct 11, 1995

Rear

Recall 95V1920003,000 vehicles

Problem: THE LOWER SUSPENSION ARM MOUNTING EYE ON THE RIGHT SIDE REAR AXLE HUB CARRIER WAS PRODUCED WITH A CASTING FLAW.
Risk: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE RIGHT SIDE REAR AXLE CARRIER EYE COULD CRACK AND BREAK WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR A CASTING FLAW IN THE RIGHT SIDE REAR AXLE CARRIER AND IF FOUND, REPLACE THE CARRIER.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

740i

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	3	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Storage › Tank assembly	3	—
Electrical systemWiring › Fuses and circuit breakers; Wiring › Interior/under dash	3	—
SuspensionFront	2	—
Fuel/propulsion system	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Fuel system, gasoline
THUMPING NOISES FROM UNDER REAR SEAT OF CAR WHILE DRIVING. FUEL TANK IMPLODING SUCKING ITSELF INWARDS THEN CRACKING CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ON TO PAVEMENT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. DRIVER NOT AWARE OF THIS UNTIL PARKING AND SMELLING FUEL WHILE STANDING NEAR THE CAR. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN DATED FEBRUARY 1998 ON THIS VERY ISSUE WHICH NEVER BECAME A RECALL.
Sep 15, 2013 · 97,500 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
WHEN STARTING THE CAR I SMELL STRONG ODOR OF GAS THE FUEL AND MPH METER MOVES UP AND DOWN WHEN TURN TO THE LEFT CAR MAKES LOUD RUBBING SOUND AND TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR BRAKE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. *TR
May 1, 2012
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE OF MY 1995 BMW 740I FAILED DUE TO ONE OF THE OIL PUMP BOLTS FALLING OUT AND INTO THE ENGINE. THERE IS NO SAFETY DEVICE ON THESE BOLTS TO PREVENT THEM FROM JUST SLIPPING OUT AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THIS INCIDENT, IF OCCURING IN A BUSY STREET OR FREEWAY COULD ENDANGER OTHER MOTORIST AS WELL AS THE OCCUPANTS OF THE DISABLED VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW'S AND THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THIS YET THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Feb 12, 2003 · 65,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE ITEMS MENTIONED, HOWEVER I DON'T HAVE THE CAR ANYMORE IT WAS REOPENED ON DEC. 3, 2002 AND I'M TRYING TO FIGHT THE FINANCE CO. WFS. DT
Jan 2, 2002
Suspension › Front
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING IF CONSUMER HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD FRONT SUSPENSION WILL MAKE A CLUNKING LOUD NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKJLG
Aug 15, 2002
Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND WHILE DRIVING HE STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CEILING AND DASHBOARD.*AK
Feb 8, 2002
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
I HAVE PRUCHASED A PRE OWNED - CERTIFIED BMW FROM TISHER AUTO. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 6/23/01. IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN 90 DAYS AND I AM OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR BOTH REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLIES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT . THE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND THE CONSOLE INDICATOR CONFIRMS THIS. THE DEALER SAY THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CONTROL THE FUNCTION OF THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU CAN INFORM ME OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 90 DAYS AND THE REPAIR COST IS $436 DOLLARS. I AM TRYING TO GRASP THE FACT THAT THIS IS A CERTIFIED VEHICLE THAT I PUT JUST OVER 6400 MILES ON. CAN YOU HELP.…
Sep 6, 2001
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
FUEL IS LEAKING AT POINT WHERE HOSE MEETS METAL FUEL LINE, CAUSING FIRE HAZARD. DEFECT IS SAME AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 95V238000. BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Apr 13, 2001

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.