Vehicle Symptom: The vehicle exhibits a persistent rough idle and engine hesitation specifically when at operating temperature. This issue is most prevalent during "Auto Start/Stop" transitions and while idling in heavy traffic. The engine feels as though it may stall, creating a significant safety concern regarding predictable acceleration and vehicle control in live traffic. Safety Risk: The instability of the engine performance creates an unpredictable driving experience. There is a high risk of the vehicle stalling or failing to accelerate properly when restarting from a stop, which could lead to a rear-end collision or leave the vehicle stranded in a dangerous intersection. Furthermore, despite these clear drivability issues and the engine's erratic behavior, the vehicle has not illuminated a Check Engine Light (CEL), depriving the driver of a necessary safety warning regarding these malfunctions.
NHTSA complaint #11725700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stopping without notice can cause an accident and any of the issues can cause safety issues. What I sent them. I am writing to express my concerns regarding a series of issues with my 2017 BMW 740i and to request your assistance in resolving these matters. I have been working with my local BMW dealership to address several problems, but I believe there may be underlying issues that require further attention. I would appreciate it if you could review my case and consider the points outlined below. Background: Recently, my vehicle was brought in for service to replace the spark plugs and address a few concerns, including the replacement of the fuel tank cover. During this visit, it was discovered that the pressure control valve was faulty and needed replacement. I was not previously informed of any issues with the pressure valve, and I have learned that BMW has issued an extended warranty on this part due to known faults. My understanding is that a faulty pressure valve can cause erratic fuel pressure, leading to premature spark plug failure. Given that my car has only been driven about 8,000 miles annually and is used weekly, not sitting idle for long periods, the spark plugs should still have life left. However, they may have worn prematurely due to the pressure valve issue. Concerns: Pressure Control Valve and Spark Plug Failure: It is highly unusual for three spark plugs to fail simultaneously, as spark plugs generally wear out gradually over time. In most cases, one spark plug would fail before the others if there were a gradual wear issue. The simultaneous failure of three spark plugs suggests a potential underlying issue, such as a problem with the ignition system, electrical issues, or a direct result of a faulty pressure control valve. I request that BMW cover the replacement cost of the spark plugs under the extended warranty for the pressure valve, considering the potential causation between these issues. Hard Jerk When
NHTSA complaint #11610486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apparently BMW models like mine have been having the coolant expansion tanks leaking between 60 and 70 thousand miles. This causes the coolant levels to drop and causes engine failures.
NHTSA complaint #11507195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Active Air Flap fault, Upper and Lower Actuator is not working and that is why engine is overheating. BMW has extended this warranty to 10 years/120K miles for 750 and 550 series manufactured up to Aug 2019. But they have not done that on 740 series. My vehicle has the same problem and should be covered under the same in order to avoid engine damage. Please advice the next step. The fault code are: P05A0, P05AE, P05A2, P059F.
NHTSA complaint #11483478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PULLED IN TO MY HOME TO DISCOVER THAT MY BMW WAS LEAKING OIL AFTER TAKING IT TO A BMW SERVICE CENTER THEY DIAGNOSED AND INDEED I HAD AN OIL LEAK FROM THE GASKET HOUSING SEAL CAR WAS STILL OPERATING FINE UNTIL I TURN THE CAR ON ONE MORNING AND IT JUST KEEP STALLING BEING STUCK AND CONSTANT IDLE THE OIL IS SMUDGE ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND I CAN'T DRIVE WITHOUT VAPORS AND FUMES BEING PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #11184672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I GOT ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON MY BMW; ON EACH OCCASION THE CAR WAS SENT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR TO FIND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER RADIATOR BLINDS ARE AT FAULT AND THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE 2016 BMW 740I IS EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT GRILLE WHERE THE VENTS ARE COVERED BY BLINDS THAT OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND CLOSED WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF ALLOWED SOME TIME FOR WARM AIR TO COME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #11131756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A CHEVY PICKUP PULLED INTO THE ONE WAY ROAD LEADING TO A HOTEL AND IMMEDIATELY WENT AROUND AN ELLIPSE AND HIT ME AS I WAS EXITING MY HOTEL AND GOT HIT IN THE DRIVERS FRONT QUARTER PANEL WHILE HE WAS PULLING AROUND IN THE ELLIPTICAL ONE WAY DRIVE. THE ENGINE WAS CHECKED AND IT NEEDS $5500 WORTH OF MECHANICAL WORK IN ORDER FOR IT "TO BE SAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #11099269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
BMW E38 HAVE A HIGH TENDENCY FOR THE GUIDES FOR THE CAMSHAFT CHAIN (S) TO FRACTURE AND COME APART. THIS LEADS TO PLASTIC PIECES TO CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, PLASTIC AND METAL SHAVINGS TO BE OBSERVED IN THE LOWER OIL PAN AS WELL AS JUMP IN TIMING FOR THE OWNER WHO HAS TO EITHER PAY$$$ OR JUNK THE CAR. THE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST UTILIZED CARBON FIBER GUIDES. MANY OF THESE FAILURES OCCUR EVEN BEFORE 125K.. I FIND IT INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT SOMEONE WHO PAYS 70K FOR THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE TO ENDURE SPENDING ANOTHER 5-6K TO GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN. JUST LOOK AT YOUTUBE.COM AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I AM REFERRING TO. WISH I'D BOUGHT A USED FORD.
NHTSA complaint #10810495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 740I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH IN THE RAIN, HE DROVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT ENTERED THE ENGINE, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR IT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THEY ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA complaint #10454283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2002 AT 96K MILES IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, SINCE BUYING VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD WATER PUMP FAILURE TWICE, REPLACED RADIATOR TWICE , HOSES & RINGS..TWO BATTERY'S FRONT BUMPER, CATALYTIC CONVERTOR L. BAY, CHANGED.. BRAKES & ROTORS CHANGED NOV. 11...... 3 WEEKS LATER AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK .. I GOT A TRANSMISSION FAILURE.. AND THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.. THE CAR GOES IN REVERSE BUT NOT FORWARD.. I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THIS CAR 15 -16K MILES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD ALL THESE CHRONIC REPAIRS.. I'M DISTRAUGHT THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS CAR CRASH..NOT SURE WHAT TO DO?.. BUT ACCRD.. TO MANY BMW OWNERS I FIND ON THE NET THERE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM W/ TRANSMISSION FAILURE BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.. IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FOR DRIVERS THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME INVESTIGATION IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE ..
NHTSA complaint #10448791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SMOKE FROM ENGINE AND BURNING WIRES AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AT THE PLUG TO THE ENGINE COOLING THERMOSTAT SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHED WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER.
NHTSA complaint #10217561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LTR FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWING BMW TO IMPORT AUTOMOBILES INTO THE US MARKET WITH A DEFECTIVE ENGINE**CC THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1994 BMW 740I WHICH HAD A PROBLEM KNOWS AS A LEAK DOWN PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER USED NIKASIL, AN ALUMINUM NIKEL AND SILICON ALLOY TO LINE THE CYLINDERS OF THE M60 ENGINE. THE CROSS-HATCHED NIKASIL LININGS REACT WITH HIGH SULFUR CONTENT GASOLINE. THE REACTION CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE VERY TOP OF THE CYLINDER BORE, WHERE THERE WAS MOST CONTACT OF THE BURNING MIXTURE AND CYLINDER LINING. THE DAMAGED PREVENTED A GOOD SEAL FROM FORMING BETWEEN THE PISTON CYLINDER WALL WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER.
NHTSA complaint #10199160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1994 740I BMW LEAK DOWN PROBLEM THAT DESTROYED THE ENGINE**CC THE LEAK DOWN FLAW CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DEVELOP WORN LININGS AND EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER USED NIKASIL, AN ALUMINUM, NICKEL AND SILICON ALLOY TO LINE THE CYLINDERS OF THE M60 ENGINE. THE CROSS HATCHED NIKASIL LININGS REACTED WITH HIGH SULFUR CONTENT FOUND IN LOWER-QUALITY GASOLINE. THE REACTION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VERY TOP OF THE CYLINDER BORE, WHERE THERE IS MOST CONTACT OF THE BURNING MIXTURE AND THE CYLINDER LINING. THE DAMAGE PREVENTED A GOOD SEAL FROM FORMING BETWEEN THE PISTON AND THE CYLINDER WALL, WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY PERMANENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE SHORT BLOCK WITH THE EQUIVALENT BLOCK USING ALUSIL LININGS, WHICH DO NOT EXHIBIT THE CORROSION PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10178546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.