Model year record

1993 BMW 740iL recalls & problems

The 1993 BMW 740iL has 1 safety recall and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (4 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints9filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingJul 1, 1996

Brake lights › Switch

Recall 96V111000180,000 vehicles

Problem: THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

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

740il

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/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	Crashes	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Cooling system	4	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift	2	1	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections	1	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	1	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	1	—
Air bagsFrontal	1	1	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Air bags › FrontalCrash
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE NEW SMALL SAFETY SWITCH WHICH ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO START IN PARK AND NEUTRAL POSITIONS.*YH
May 31, 2002
Vehicle speed controlCrash
WHILE IN PARK AND AFTER TURNING ON IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
May 31, 2002
Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
I SET MEMORY SEAT POSITION 1 AND IT WORKED FINE. I WAS DRIVING HOME AT 70 MPH AND WONDERED IF I SHOULD SET POSITION 2 FOR GRETA. I HIT THE BUTTON MEMORY TWO AND THE SEAT BACK FULLY RECLINED AND WENT ALL THE WAY BACK. BEING SHORT WITH SHORT LEGS I LOST CONTROL FOR A SECOND AND FOUGHT MY WAY TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. THE SEAT MOVED FORWARD BUT THE BACKREST REMAINED STUCK. I DROVE HOME SLOWLY AND CONTACTED THE DEALER. IT WAS FIXED BUT I AM AFRAID IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.*AK
May 22, 2002
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
ENGINE IS LOSING PRESSURE THROUGH CYLINDERS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE. DEALER HAS REPLACED ENGINE BLOCK; HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
May 22, 2002
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
MY CAR STARTED MISSING AND SMOKING ON DEC, 2001. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, AND AFTERTAIRING DOWN THE ENGINE, HE FOUND THAT THE BLOCK WAS DEECTIVE. AND IT WAS CHANGED IN 1999 BY THE DEALER. I HAVE MADE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL. SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD 2 AND 3 BLOCK CHANGES. I AM IN A LEGAL PROCESS DEMANDING BMW T CHANGE IT WITHOUT ANYCHARGE.*AK
Dec 15, 2001
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
KNOWN DEFECT BY MANUFACTURER & DEALER. NOT DISCLOSED UPON SALE. UNWILLING TO FIX NOW. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
Oct 1, 2000
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
THE WATER PUMP FROZE, THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM WAS ON RECALL, HOWEVER NOT COVERED BY DEALER. MJS
Jul 14, 1999
Power train
TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED.
Jan 15, 1997

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