IllustrationVEHICLE 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
1993 BMW 740IL
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 740IL years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 9 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
9 reportsWHILE 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
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…
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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
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
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 L…
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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
KNOWN DEFECT BY MANUFACTURER & DEALER. NOT DISCLOSED UPON SALE. UNWILLING TO FIX NOW. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
THE WATER PUMP FROZE, THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM WAS ON RECALL, HOWEVER NOT COVERED BY DEALER. MJS
TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED.
POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE CAME APART FROM FRAME AREA DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN CAUSING LEAKING.
Official recalls
196V111000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Jul 1, 1996
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.