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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.

About this comparison →
26Owner complaints

Model-year median: 12

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
12
199511
199619
199726
19986
199920
200026
2001
Compare all 740IL years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
7Electrical System
6Fuel System, Gasoline
6Power Train
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
All reported categories
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2Exterior Lighting
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Structure
2Suspension
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Visibility
2Air Bags
1Engine
1Equipment
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Steering
1

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

Structure complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
10,000 miles · Feb 27, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureVehicle Speed Control

THIS IS ABOUT MY 1998 740IL BMW. TWO TIMES SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE THE ENGINE REVEVED UP WHEN I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL. I FOUND THE PROBLEM. COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS MERCEDES BENZ, THE ACCELARATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE CLOSER TOGETHER. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL OF THE BMW COMPRESSES FURTH…

Read full complaint

THIS IS ABOUT MY 1998 740IL BMW. TWO TIMES SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE THE ENGINE REVEVED UP WHEN I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL. I FOUND THE PROBLEM. COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS MERCEDES BENZ, THE ACCELARATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE CLOSER TOGETHER. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL OF THE BMW COMPRESSES FURTHER DOWN THAT WITH ANY OTHER CAR. AS A RESULT, IF MY FOOT WAS ONLY ON THE EDGE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BOTTOM OF MY FOOT EXTENDED OVER ONTO THE GAS PEDAL. THE HARDER I PRESSED THE BRAKE, THE MORE GAS I WAS GIVING THE ENGINE. TO A NEW PERSON IN THAT CAR, AS I WAS, THIS WAS A DEADLY CONBINATION. NOW THAT I KNOW, I AM MUCH MORE CAREFUL AND THE SITUATION HAS NOT REOCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314873

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2000
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

MOTOR FOR SHOULDER STRAP WAS REPLACED, IT WOULD NOT RETRACT, LATER THE STRAP FAILED AGAIN AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #558180

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.