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1998 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

20 reports with mileage · 6 unknown

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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 6 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 reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

4 reports
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100,000 miles · Dec 15, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE RING GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE RING GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V005000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #10440098

91,690 miles · Nov 26, 2008
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE WORDS "FAILSAFE MODE" ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STAT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE WORDS "FAILSAFE MODE" ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE NEEDED AT THE COST OF $6,000. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V005000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VIN. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED ON NOVEMBER 26, 2008. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,695 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,690.

NHTSA ODI #10249908

135,800 miles · Nov 2, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL LEVEL OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. THE MECHANIC MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF RECALL …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL LEVEL OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. THE MECHANIC MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF RECALL # 98V142000 SIMILAR TO THIS DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SERVICE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10172477

80,210 miles · Feb 18, 2004
Power Train

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED A LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH WARNING ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAIL SAFE PROGRAM. WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10059250

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.