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1997 BMW 740IL

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 11 of 19 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 4 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

1 reports
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68,158 miles · Apr 20, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AT A CERTIFIED USED DEALERSHIP. WE FUELED IT UP AND DROVE IT AROUND THAT NIGHT AND PARKED IT AT OUR HOME. THE NEXT MORNING IT SMELLED TERRIBLY OF GASOLINE SO I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS CRUSHED IN AND IT WAS POURING GASOLINE ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. THEIR WAS …

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MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AT A CERTIFIED USED DEALERSHIP. WE FUELED IT UP AND DROVE IT AROUND THAT NIGHT AND PARKED IT AT OUR HOME. THE NEXT MORNING IT SMELLED TERRIBLY OF GASOLINE SO I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS CRUSHED IN AND IT WAS POURING GASOLINE ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. THEIR WAS A PUDDLE APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET WIDE UNDER THE CAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE SHOCKED. WE BOTH ASSUMED THAT THEY NEVER FILLED THE TALK SO THE PROBLEM WASN'T KNOWN. THEY REPLACED THE TANK FREE OF CHARGE AND ONCE AGAIN I FILLED THE TANK AND DROVE IT AROUND FOR THE WEEKEND. I NOTICED THE GASOLINE SMELL AGAIN AND LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE TANK CRUSHED IN AGAIN AND THE FUEL LEAKING OUT. I RAN A GOOGLE SEARCH ON THIS AND FOUND OUT THAT I WAS NOT ALONE. THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A PURGE LINE THAT CAUSES THE TALK TO IMPLODE ON ITSELF. I AM VERY SURPRISED TO NOT FIND A RECALL ON THIS. I WOULD THINK THAT AVOIDING A CAR FIRE WOULD BE A CONCERN FOR THE NHTSA. I HOPE WITH ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THEY FORCE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583779

Official recalls

1

97V140000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.