1998 BMW 740ilProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 26 owner complaints about the 1998 BMW 740il, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 9, 2015. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 BMW 740il has problems

26 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling70
Electrical system60
Fuel system, gasoline60
Power train40
Service brakes, hydraulic30
Visibility21
Electronic stability control (ESC)20
Exterior lighting20
Latches/locks/linkages20
10 other systems130

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

1998 BMW 740il recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

1998 vs. every other 740il year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 740il median. How we score

'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What 740il owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

NO WARNING OTHER THAN A SLIGHT ANIT-FREEZE SMELL. UPON CHECKING OUT THE ODOR, UPPER RADIATOR NECK BETWEEN HOSE CLAMP AND RADIATOR JUST BROKE OFF SPEWING SCALDING HOT FLUID EVERYWHERE. LUCKILY HOOD WAS NOT COMPLETELY OPEN AT THE TIME. RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, NOT REPAIRABLE. OLD PART TOSSED.
Complaint 10120227 · May 8, 2005 · 97,000 miles
LOW COOLANT MESSAGE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WITHIN A FEW MILES, RADIATOR CAP OVERPRESURED AND STEAM BURST OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. PULLED OVER AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. REPLACED COOLANT HOSES. 4 MONTHS LATER, LOW COOLANT MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING; STOPPED AT A SERVICE STATION TO…
Complaint 10116384 · Apr 5, 2005 · 80,000 miles
FAULTY RADIATORS THAT HAVE A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS FOR THE RADIATOR NECK TO BREAK OFF WITHOUT NOTICE AND SPRAY HOT COOLANT EVERYWHERE. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN JUST VISIT ROADFLY.ORG E38 MESSAGE BOARD AND SEARCH FOR "RADIATOR NECK." THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS BETWEEN 50,000-70,000 MILES. *LA
Complaint 10043341 · Oct 22, 2003 · 65,656 miles

Own a 1998 740il?

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