1997 Bmw 740 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
131,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 8 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 12.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Banjo Housing | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Banjo Housing: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Seats: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1997: 3; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2009: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 712110 · 1999-09-25 (September 25, 1999)
HI, I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT OR NOT. I HAD A SOUND LIKE AN EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING OF METAL IN THE BACK UNDERNEATH OF CAR. IT SOUNDED LIKE A COOKIE SHEET WHEN IT IS FIRST HEATING UP IN THE OVEN AND IT EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS. THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN BUT SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CALL BMW TECHNICAL SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY HAD A THEORY THAT A SPIDER WAS CLOGGING UP THE FUEL LINE AND THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND RESULTED IN THE GAS TANK COLLAPSING. I BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 712110 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
8 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1991 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 342.9%ODI 827147WHILE MAKING A STOP THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO IDLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK | 133.3%ODI 859303WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 846451ENGINE DIES INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. DEALERINDICATED THA T COMPUTER SHOWED NO DEFECT, AND COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 225.0%ODI 10572970I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT" WHICH APPLIES TO ANOTHER BMW VEHICLE I OWN(2006 X5). I EXPLAINED THAT I OWN A 1997 740I: XXXXXX WHICH HAS THE IDENTICAL ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT AS IDENTIFIED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: THIS ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY COOPER BMW, EDMOND OK ON APRIL 6, 2009, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY ON NOVEMBER 26, 2010: ?CRACKS IN PASS FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT ISTA SHORT TEST DON… | 111.1%ODI 8023915CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 40MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1100.0%ODI 972926INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35MPH AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 861745CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION TRAVELING AROUND 30-35 MPH IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5%ODI 811404WHILE DRIVING 3:00 POSITION , DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT AT 40-45 MPH, THE OTHER AIRBAGS DID DEPLOYED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 222.2% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 963711UNDERHOOD FIRE; TURNED ON IGNITION; SHIFTED TO REVERSE; MOTOR DIED;ATTEMPED TO RESTART;NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD;WITHIN MINUTES, ENGULFED WITH FLAMES. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 8017520SMELLED SMOKE IN CAR BEFORE STARTING ENGINE. GOT OUT/ OPENED PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, AND SAW FIRE COMING OUT DOWN NEAR THE SEAT AREA. TOWED TO BMW, AND THEY STATED A SWITCH MAY HAVE BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THIS FIRE. WHEN AIR GETS TO FIRE IT IGNITES. NORMALLY FIRE WOULD BURN OUT BUT SINCE THE DOOR WAS OPENED AIR GOT TO WIRE AND IGNITED A FLAME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10456399 · 230,000 miWHILE DRIVING MY CAR 1995 740I BMW STARTED SMOKING FROM THE GLOVE BOX AND THE CAR DASH LIGHT FLASHED AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOOD. I CHECK AND THE WIRE HORNEST WAS ON FIRE. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 842599RADIATOR LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE FLUID, PROBLEM RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE COOLANT SYSTEM WHICH WAS RECALLED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HE REFUSED TO REPAIR THE RADIATOR UNLESS IT WAS AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5%ODI 857543WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 75 MPH RADIATOR UPPER NECK TO WHICH WATER HOSE CONNECTS BROKE FROM THE WELD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *ML | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10434756 · 98,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BMW 740I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEAKED WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL ALSO LEAKED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5%ODI 712110HI, I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT OR NOT. I HAD A SOUND LIKE AN EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING OF METAL IN THE BACK UNDERNEATH OF CAR. IT SOUNDED LIKE A COOKIE SHEET WHEN IT IS FIRST HEATING UP IN THE OVEN AND IT EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS. THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN BUT SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CALL BMW TECHNICAL SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY HAD A THEORY THAT A SPIDER WAS CLOGGING UP THE FUEL LINE AND THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND RESULTED IN THE GAS TANK COLLAPSING. I BROUGHT CAR IN AGAIN … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | Too few reports for a range | 131,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11100391 · 131,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 740. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO START THE ENGINE, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FERMAN BMW (31400 US HWY 19 NORTH, PALM HARBOR, FL), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE SPONTANEOUS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. *TT UPDATED 9/24/18*JB |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 6 complaints · 2001: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| 2001 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Air Bags | Air Bags:Frontal | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | Fuel System, Gasoline | Power Train:Axle Assembly:Banjo Housing | Seat Belts | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10572970I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT" WHICH APPLIES TO ANOTHER BMW VEHICLE I OWN(2006 X5). I EXPLAINED THAT I OWN A 1997 740I: XXXXXX WHICH HAS THE IDENTICAL ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT AS IDENTIFIED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: THIS ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY COOPER BMW, EDMOND OK ON APRIL 6, 2009, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY ON NOVEMBER 26, 2010: ?CRACKS IN PASS FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT ISTA SHORT TEST DON… | 1ODI 10572970I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT" WHICH APPLIES TO ANOTHER BMW VEHICLE I OWN(2006 X5). I EXPLAINED THAT I OWN A 1997 740I: XXXXXX WHICH HAS THE IDENTICAL ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT AS IDENTIFIED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: THIS ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY COOPER BMW, EDMOND OK ON APRIL 6, 2009, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY ON NOVEMBER 26, 2010: ?CRACKS IN PASS FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT ISTA SHORT TEST DON… |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Banjo Housing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1ODI 10572970I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT" WHICH APPLIES TO ANOTHER BMW VEHICLE I OWN(2006 X5). I EXPLAINED THAT I OWN A 1997 740I: XXXXXX WHICH HAS THE IDENTICAL ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT AS IDENTIFIED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: THIS ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY COOPER BMW, EDMOND OK ON APRIL 6, 2009, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY ON NOVEMBER 26, 2010: ?CRACKS IN PASS FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT ISTA SHORT TEST DON… | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1ODI 10572970I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT" WHICH APPLIES TO ANOTHER BMW VEHICLE I OWN(2006 X5). I EXPLAINED THAT I OWN A 1997 740I: XXXXXX WHICH HAS THE IDENTICAL ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT AS IDENTIFIED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: THIS ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY COOPER BMW, EDMOND OK ON APRIL 6, 2009, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY ON NOVEMBER 26, 2010: ?CRACKS IN PASS FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT ISTA SHORT TEST DON… |
| Seats | 1ODI 10572970I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT" WHICH APPLIES TO ANOTHER BMW VEHICLE I OWN(2006 X5). I EXPLAINED THAT I OWN A 1997 740I: XXXXXX WHICH HAS THE IDENTICAL ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT AS IDENTIFIED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: THIS ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY COOPER BMW, EDMOND OK ON APRIL 6, 2009, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY ON NOVEMBER 26, 2010: ?CRACKS IN PASS FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT ISTA SHORT TEST DON… | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10572970I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT" WHICH APPLIES TO ANOTHER BMW VEHICLE I OWN(2006 X5). I EXPLAINED THAT I OWN A 1997 740I: XXXXXX WHICH HAS THE IDENTICAL ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT AS IDENTIFIED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 13V-564: THIS ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED BY COOPER BMW, EDMOND OK ON APRIL 6, 2009, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY ON NOVEMBER 26, 2010: ?CRACKS IN PASS FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT ISTA SHORT TEST DON… | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.