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1994 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 →
3Owner complaints

Model-year median: 12

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
9
19933
199412
199511
199619
1997
Compare all 740IL years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
2Electrical System
1

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 3 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CONSUMER TEST DROVE THIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED ROUGH IDLE, IN WHICH HE FELT THAT THIS WAS A SIGN OF IMPENDING FAILURE. THE ENGINE IS PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE BEFORE 100K MILES. THE NAKASIL ENGINE IN BMW'S ARE PRONE TO UNNATURAL CYLINDER WALL EROSION, DUE TO THE GASOLINE CONTAINING SULFUR. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATIO…

Read full complaint

THE CONSUMER TEST DROVE THIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED ROUGH IDLE, IN WHICH HE FELT THAT THIS WAS A SIGN OF IMPENDING FAILURE. THE ENGINE IS PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE BEFORE 100K MILES. THE NAKASIL ENGINE IN BMW'S ARE PRONE TO UNNATURAL CYLINDER WALL EROSION, DUE TO THE GASOLINE CONTAINING SULFUR. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY RELATED TO THE ENGINE LEAK, WITH RESULTS, AND ANY CHANGES TO THE ENGINE. *SCC

NHTSA ODI #568089

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS ENGINE IS A NIKASIL ENGINE THAT HAS NOT FAILED YET, BUT WILL FAIL DUE TO THE MATERIAL USED. MR

NHTSA ODI #768481

Official recalls

1

96V111000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.