IllustrationANYTIME YOU ARE ACCELERATING THE THROTTLE CABLE WILL EITHER GET STUCK OR IF YOU LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL ITS WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY UPON ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. THIS OCCURRED PRETTY REGULARLY UNTIL WE HAD THE THROTTLE CABLE REPLACED. *TR
1996 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: 4 of 11 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.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
3 reportsVEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE RPM'S WILL REV UP TO 3500 RPMS PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WITHOUT A POSSIBLE CRASH. DRIVER WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO SURGE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL. DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACED. CAR WENT BY…
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VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE RPM'S WILL REV UP TO 3500 RPMS PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WITHOUT A POSSIBLE CRASH. DRIVER WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO SURGE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAIL. DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACED. CAR WENT BY ITSELF TO 90 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. REPLACED FRONT THROTTLE BODY GASKET AND IDLE SPEED REGULATOR. *BF *NM
VEHICLE WAS INVOLED IN SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING ONCOMING VEHICLE, APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, AS SOON AS HE LIFTED HIS FOOT FROM PEDAL, VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF. WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON SIDE OF ROA…
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VEHICLE WAS INVOLED IN SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING ONCOMING VEHICLE, APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, AS SOON AS HE LIFTED HIS FOOT FROM PEDAL, VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF. WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON SIDE OF ROAD BEFORE STOPPING. ALS,O BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DELPOY. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Official recalls
197V140000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs
Aug 22, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ROAD GRIT AND GRAVEL ASSOCIATED WITH WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS CAN PENETRATE THE RUBBER OF THE LOWER FRONT SPRING MOUNTS AND ACCUMULATE IN THE MOUNTS CAUSING NOTCHES OR PITS TO DEVELOP. THESE NOTCHES CAN DEVELOP CRACKS RESULTING IN BREAKAGE OF A BOTTOM COIL OF THE SPRING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VEHICLE'S RIDE HEIGHT COULD BE AFFECTED CAUSING NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE'S DYNAMIC STABILITY CAN BE AFFECTED REDUCING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND LOWER SPRING MOUNTS.
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.