Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 1995 BMW 740I with NHTSA between 2001 and 2014.
The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.
Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 8 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 36
Against the median year of the BMW 740I. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1995 BMW 740I
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
433.3%
Median failure at 97,500 miles
Electrical System
325.0%
Engine & Cooling
325.0%
Median failure at 65,000 miles
Suspension
216.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2001peak 3Feb 2014
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 97,500 milesRedwood City, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THUMPING NOISES FROM UNDER REAR SEAT OF CAR WHILE DRIVING. FUEL TANK IMPLODING SUCKING ITSELF INWARDS THEN CRACKING CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ON TO PAVEMENT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. DRIVER NOT AWARE OF THIS UNTIL PARKING AND SMELLING FUEL WHILE STANDING NEAR THE CAR. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN DATED FEBRUARY 1998 ON THIS VERY ISSUE WHICH NEVER BECAME A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10567195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
SUSPENSION
WHEN STARTING THE CAR I SMELL STRONG ODOR OF GAS THE FUEL AND MPH METER MOVES UP AND DOWN WHEN TURN TO THE LEFT CAR MAKES LOUD RUBBING SOUND AND TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR BRAKE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON.
NHTSA complaint #10474600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN STARTING THE CAR I SMELL STRONG ODOR OF GAS THE FUEL AND MPH METER MOVES UP AND DOWN WHEN TURN TO THE LEFT CAR MAKES LOUD RUBBING SOUND AND TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR BRAKE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON.
NHTSA complaint #10474600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN STARTING THE CAR I SMELL STRONG ODOR OF GAS THE FUEL AND MPH METER MOVES UP AND DOWN WHEN TURN TO THE LEFT CAR MAKES LOUD RUBBING SOUND AND TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR BRAKE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON.
NHTSA complaint #10474600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesRidgecrest, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE OF MY 1995 BMW 740I FAILED DUE TO ONE OF THE OIL PUMP BOLTS FALLING OUT AND INTO THE ENGINE. THERE IS NO SAFETY DEVICE ON THESE BOLTS TO PREVENT THEM FROM JUST SLIPPING OUT AND CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THIS INCIDENT, IF OCCURING IN A BUSY STREET OR FREEWAY COULD ENDANGER OTHER MOTORIST AS WELL AS THE OCCUPANTS OF THE DISABLED VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW'S AND THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THIS YET THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10008266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE ITEMS MENTIONED, HOWEVER I DON'T HAVE THE CAR ANYMORE IT WAS REOPENED ON DEC. 3, 2002 AND I'M TRYING TO FIGHT THE FINANCE CO. WFS. DT
NHTSA complaint #770386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bowie, MD
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING IF CONSUMER HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD FRONT SUSPENSION WILL MAKE A CLUNKING LOUD NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKJLG
NHTSA complaint #8017557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND WHILE DRIVING HE STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CEILING AND DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #8003952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Laurel, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
I HAVE PRUCHASED A PRE OWNED - CERTIFIED BMW FROM TISHER AUTO. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 6/23/01. IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN 90 DAYS AND I AM OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR BOTH REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLIES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT . THE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND THE CONSOLE INDICATOR CONFIRMS THIS. THE DEALER SAY THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CONTROL THE FUNCTION OF THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU CAN INFORM ME OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 90 DAYS AND THE REPAIR COST IS $436 DOLLARS. I AM TRYING TO GRASP THE FACT THAT THIS IS A CERTIFIED VEHICLE THAT I PUT JUST OVER 6400 MILES ON. CAN YOU HELP.
NHTSA complaint #753401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huber Heights, OH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL IS LEAKING AT POINT WHERE HOSE MEETS METAL FUEL LINE, CAUSING FIRE HAZARD. DEFECT IS SAME AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 95V238000. BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #885850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING OVER WATER AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HYDROLOCK DUE TO WATER ENTERING THE ENGINE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #557728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING OVER WATER AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HYDROLOCK DUE TO WATER ENTERING THE ENGINE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #557728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.