Model year record

2000 BMW 740iL recalls & problems

The 2000 BMW 740iL has 2 safety recalls and 20 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is tires (4 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints20filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 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.

Exterior lightingFeb 17, 2000

Brake lights › Switch

Recall 00V04800017,700 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION.
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WITH AN IMPROVED 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.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Injuries	Typical mileage*
TiresTread/belt	4	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Abs warning light; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module	3	0	75,000 mi
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel	3	0	75,000 mi
Exterior lightingHeadlights	2	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine	2	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	2	0	—
Air bagsSide/window	1	1	—
Seat beltsIntegrated child seat	1	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	—
WheelsLugs/nuts/bolts/studs	1	0	—
Equipment	1	0	—
Child seatTether › Strap/webbing	1	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
THE INFORMATION PANEL IN FRONT OF THE STERING COLUMN IN THE DASH IS SO PIXALATED THE INFORMATION SUCH AS THE ODOMETER AND OTHER NECESSARY SAFETY INFORMATION IS UNREADABLE. THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED BMW, 18 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE IN 2004 THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES AT THE TIME (NOW 75,000 MILES), SAID IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1500 TO $2000 TO REPLACE AND IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE LIVED WITH IT FOR SOME YEARS NOW AND TRY TO AVOID DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN USED SPARINGLY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO CONDITION THAT WE KNOW OF THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. ONLY HEARSAY, BUT THE BMW SERVICE PERSON TOLD US THAT THIS HAPPENS…
Aug 15, 2005 · 65,000 miles
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
I HAVE A 2000 BMW 740IL THAT IS VERY HARD TO READ FROM THE DASH BOARD OR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I CANNOT READ THE EXACT MILEAGE ON THE CAR, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT COMES TO THE SCREEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS FIX SINCE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ANY IDEA OF WHAT TO DO FROM THIS POINT WILL BE OF GREAT HELP. *TR
Dec 13, 2010 · 97,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT WAS BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE BRAKES AND PROCEED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT WITHOUT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, HE AS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE ABS UNIT. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,240 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.
Jul 12, 2010 · 118,240 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
I OWN A 2000 BMW 740IL AND THE REVERSE WENT OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION. AS I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE I FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND KNOWN ISSUE TO BMW. I HAVE KEPT THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE AND WANT TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AS I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE. *TR
Nov 8, 2009 · 126,000 miles
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
THE PROBLEM AREAS OF MISSING PIXELS ARE PRIMARILY LOCATED IN THE DRIVER'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT DISPLAYS ODOMETER & TRIP ODOMETER, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE , AND CHECK CONTROL DISPLAY, SUCH AS WARNINGS/PARKING BRAKE/COOLANT TEMPERATURE /LEVEL/ KEY & SEAT BELT REMINDER, ETC. BMWS HAVE BEEN EVALUATING CASE BY CASE BASIS ON THOSE WHO KNEW WHERE TO COMPLAIN IN BMW ON THIS PROBLEM AND ON WHO COULD GET SERVICE. IT WAS THEIR DISCRETION OF HOW MUCH THEY WOULD COVER TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY BASED ON NON-SENSE CRITERIA , IF YOU'RE THE ORIGINAL OWNER OR NOT, IF YOU OWN OTHER BMW, WHERE YOU PURCHASED YOUR VEHICLE, ETC. THE MAIN PROBLEM, IN MOST CASES, I COULD NOT TELL…
Apr 1, 2007 · 75,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Abs warning light
I AM WRITING REGARDING MY 2000 BMW 740IL. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC), AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AT RANDOM INTERVALS. THIS INDICATES THAT THE DYNAMIC STABILITY AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS ARE NO LONGER WORKING. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A CONSISTENT REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE DRIVEN 50 MILES ON POTHOLE-FILLED, RAIN-SLICKED HIGHWAYS AND THE LIGHTS HAVE REMAINED OFF. ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE STARTED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE, STEPPED BACK IN THE HOUSE TO GET SOMETHING, AND COME BACK OUT TO FIND THE LIGHTS ON. TYPICALLY, I'M JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A LEVEL ROAD AND NOT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON. THERE…
Dec 17, 2006 · 75,000 miles
Seats › Front assembly › Seat heater/coolerFire
TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING A 2000 BMW 740IL WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT FROM A FRIEND, I LEFT MY DRIVEWAY AND ACTIVATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT. AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS, I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. MY WIFE WAS FOLLOWING IN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND PULLED ALONG SIDE ME. I ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW AND WIFE SAID "THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE WINDOW!". I TURNED OFF THE SEAT AND OPENED THE DOOR AND LOOKED AT THE SEAT. THERE WAS A BURNT SPOT APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A DIME HIGH ON THE OUTBOARD BOLSTER OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I TOUCHED THE SPOT AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. MY ONE AND A HALF YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS…
Mar 26, 2006 · 45,678 miles
Tires
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SIDEWALL AT THE BEAD HAS CRACKED. THE CRACK IS 10" LONG. THE CRACK IS BEHIND THE BEAD ON THE WHEEL WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR QUICKLY CAUSING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE TIRE FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED 30% OFF OF A NEW TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE IS MICHELIN. THE TIRE LINE/SIZE IS: 25545ZR18.
Feb 7, 2006 · 65,036 miles

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