2001 BMW 740I problems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

On January 22, 20222, I was traveling down highway 400 in Sandy Springs, Georgia and my left (driver's side) // rear tire EXPLODED and I almost lost control of the vehicle. The main part of the tread completely separated from the rest of the tire, but I was able to recover it from down in the woods. I have not taken it to a mechanic or tire shop yet, so I still have the rim that has the remnants of the sidewall attached to it as well as the tread portion of the tire for inspection. I didn't hit a pothole and wasn't aware of any object that I ran over. It was a sunny day; the pavement was dry and it was about 45 degrees. The tires were filled with nitrogen. I inspected all tires before I started driving and I didn't see anything unusual or previous damage. There were no warning lamps or messages before my tire EXPLODED. The car did sustain damage to the driver's side rear bumper cover and possibly suspension components. All four tires were purchased from Costco in September 2020 when the vehicle had 113,429 miles. The vehicle currently has 114,668 miles on the odometer and approx. had 114,648 miles on it at the time of the incident. All four tires are Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4. The front has 235/50ZR 18 and the rear has // had 255/45ZR 18.

NHTSA complaint #11448540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND WAS PARKED WITH EMERGENCY BREAK ENGAGED. KEY WAS NOT INSERTED. DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN, ALL DOORS UNLOCKED. NO RECENT OCCUPANTS OTHER THAN THE DRIVER SEAT. PARKED AT HOME,IN DRIVEWAY, IN GAINESVILLE, GA, US. I UNLOADED SOME GROCERIES THEN CAME BACK TO CLOSE DRIVER DOOR. AS I APPROACHED THE VEHICLE TO CLOSE DRVER SIDE DOOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGE SUDDENLY DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPACT PRIOR TO THIS. IT WAS A HOT DAY.

NHTSA complaint #11341442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND WAS PARKED WITH EMERGENCY BREAK ENGAGED. KEY WAS NOT INSERTED. DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN, ALL DOORS UNLOCKED. NO RECENT OCCUPANTS OTHER THAN THE DRIVER SEAT. PARKED AT HOME,IN DRIVEWAY, IN GAINESVILLE, GA, US. I UNLOADED SOME GROCERIES THEN CAME BACK TO CLOSE DRIVER DOOR. AS I APPROACHED THE VEHICLE TO CLOSE DRVER SIDE DOOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGE SUDDENLY DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPACT PRIOR TO THIS. IT WAS A HOT DAY.

NHTSA complaint #11341442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

VEHICLE HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND WAS PARKED WITH EMERGENCY BREAK ENGAGED. KEY WAS NOT INSERTED. DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN, ALL DOORS UNLOCKED. NO RECENT OCCUPANTS OTHER THAN THE DRIVER SEAT. PARKED AT HOME,IN DRIVEWAY, IN GAINESVILLE, GA, US. I UNLOADED SOME GROCERIES THEN CAME BACK TO CLOSE DRIVER DOOR. AS I APPROACHED THE VEHICLE TO CLOSE DRVER SIDE DOOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGE SUDDENLY DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPACT PRIOR TO THIS. IT WAS A HOT DAY.

NHTSA complaint #11341442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740I. WHILE PULLING INTO A FUEL STATION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAN CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10904829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE THERMOSTAT WIRES WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 9/9/14*CN UPDATED 1/20/2015

NHTSA complaint #10609636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER PURGE LINE IS BLOCKED AND IS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO COLLAPSE.

NHTSA complaint #10446243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

I OWN A 2001 BMW THAT I PURCHASED FROM MY FATHER. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A MAJOR CAR ACCIDENT AND HE WAS THE ONLY OWN. THE BACK SEAT BELTS WERE ALMOST NEVER USED UNTIL I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. WITHIN THE PAST THREE MONTHS I HAVE NOTICE THAT WHEN MY TWIN 4 YEAR OLDS ARE BUCKLED IN THEIR BOOSTER SEATS THE SEAT BELTS SPONTANEOUSLY UNBUCKLE. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW DIRECTLY AND A LOCAL BMW DEALER. BMW SAYS THAT IT COULD BE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE MECHANISM AND THE DEALER SAID MAYBE IT IS JUST THE AGE OF THE MECHANISM CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS WEAR OUT AND BREAK BUT APPARENTLY AM UNDER THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT MY SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAG WILL PROTECT ME AND MY FAMILY IN A CRASH. BMW WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE PART. THE TWO BELTS WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $200 EACH PLUS LABOR. I AM VERY CONCERNED MY CHILDREN WILL BE INJURED SHOULD I BE INVOLVED IN A CAR CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #10322983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BURNED HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THERMOSTAT. FORTUNATELY THE BURNED WIRES WERE ONLY ABOUT 3 INCHES PAST THE CONNECTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10297455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

BURNED HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THERMOSTAT. FORTUNATELY THE BURNED WIRES WERE ONLY ABOUT 3 INCHES PAST THE CONNECTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10297455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2001 BMW 740I - THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT ANY WARNING JUST STOPPED GOING IN REVERSE. AFTER RESEARCH I FIND OUT THIS IS AN ISSUE RAMPANT AMONG BMW'S AND OWNERS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. PLEASE HELP - IT SEEMS AS IF BMW IS AWARE BUT REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE EVEN DEVELOPED A RING FIX TO REPLACE PRODUCTION PARTS THAT FAIL - HOWEVER WILL STILL NOT STAND BEHIND AN OBVIOUS AND UNSAFE SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10246118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, CLEAR WEATHER, AVERAGE TRAFFIC, AND DURING A LANE CHANGE THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL FEEL TO THE STEERING RESPONSE. I SLOWED AND MOVED TO THE LEFT, SHIMMIED THE CAR GENTLY SIDE-SIDE. MAYBE A TIRE LOSING PRESSURE, I THOUGHT. I TOOL THE FIRST EXIT, GOT OUT AND FOUND NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM. I STARTED OUT AGAIN BUT AS I TURNED BACK TO GO STRAIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT ALIGN WITH ITS USUAL 'STRAIGHT' POSITION. I PARKED IT AND CALLED FOR A TOW. AGAIN NOTHING OBVIOUS UNTIL WE LOWERED THE CAR OFF THE FLATBED. THE LEFT REAR TIRE TURNED WITH THE FRONT EDGE IN TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE CAR AND THE OUTSIDE EDGE TURNED OUT. THE TIRE LIGHTLY RUBBED THE INSIDE VENDOR LINER. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE TIE ROD BOLT SHEARED IN HALF WITH THE NUT SIDE MISSING AND THE HEAD SIDE LAYING ON TOP OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM! NO DAMAGE TO THE TIE ROD ENDS INDICATES NO LOOSENING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. BY SHEER BLESSINGS, THE STUB OF THE BOLT HELD THE TIE ROD IN PLACE WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS! THAT RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF THE TIE ROD HAD TOTALLY FREED AS SPEED, ESPECIALLY DURING RUSH HOUR. THIS PART HAD NEVER BEEN SERVICED DURING MY OWNERSHIP OR ACCORDING TO SERVICE RECORDS HELD BY BMW. I ENTER THIS JUST IN CASE THIS PROBLEM TURNS OUT TO BE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN I BELIEVE IT TO BE. I AM LUCKY- FOR $150 AND TOWING, MY CAR IS GOOD. THIS FAILURE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FOUND PRIOR TO PARTS BREAKING. THE BOLT SHEARED FAIRLY CLEANLY.

NHTSA complaint #10152895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION AREA. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND SWAY BAR LINKS. A MONTH LATER A SIMILAR NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CENTER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, TIE ROD ENDS, AND IDLER ARM FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE MECHANIC SHOP WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THIS PROBLEM WAS NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #10144150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION AREA. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND SWAY BAR LINKS. A MONTH LATER A SIMILAR NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CENTER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, TIE ROD ENDS, AND IDLER ARM FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE MECHANIC SHOP WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THIS PROBLEM WAS NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #10144150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION AREA. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND SWAY BAR LINKS. A MONTH LATER A SIMILAR NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CENTER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, TIE ROD ENDS, AND IDLER ARM FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE MECHANIC SHOP WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THIS PROBLEM WAS NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #10144150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION AREA. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND SWAY BAR LINKS. A MONTH LATER A SIMILAR NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CENTER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, TIE ROD ENDS, AND IDLER ARM FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE MECHANIC SHOP WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THIS PROBLEM WAS NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #10144150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

DRIVER'S WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED/BROKE WITH WINDOW IN DOWN POSITION. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT PARTICULAR REGULATOR HAS FAILED. LAST YEAR, THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED - I WAS ABLE TO RAISE THAT WINDOW MANUALLY. IF THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, THE MOTOR WILL CONTINUE TO RUN UNTIL THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IS SELECTED ON THE SWITCH. BOTH FAILURES WERE ACCOMPANIED BY A SOUND SIMILAR TO BREAKING GLASS. I NOTED TODAY WHEN OPERATING THE LEFT REAR WINDOW (TO MINIMIZE THE BUFFETING AT SPEED BECAUSE OF THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW WHICH IS STUCK HALF-WAY DOWN), THE SAME TYPE OF NOISE WAS EVIDENT WHEN OPERATED. I HAVE PURPOSELY NOT OPERATED THE WINDOWS EXCESSIVELY BECAUSE I HAVE BELIEVED THE WINDOW REGULATOR TO BE A WEAK POINT ON THE SEVEN SERIES BMW'S. A FELLOW CO-WORKER WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL REPLACED BOTH REAR REGULATORS ON ONE VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CONDITION COULD POTENTIALLY BE SERIOUS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, AND NOT DISMISSED AS ROUTINE WEAR & TEAR OR MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10107703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.