1997 BMW 740IL problems

POWER TRAIN

TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT. BMW SERVICE CENTER SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH MY VEHICLE THEREBY CAN'T DIAGNOSE PROBLEM(S). VEHICLE STATIONARY IN SHOP.

NHTSA complaint #11124646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT. BMW SERVICE CENTER SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH MY VEHICLE THEREBY CAN'T DIAGNOSE PROBLEM(S). VEHICLE STATIONARY IN SHOP.

NHTSA complaint #11124646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT. BMW SERVICE CENTER SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH MY VEHICLE THEREBY CAN'T DIAGNOSE PROBLEM(S). VEHICLE STATIONARY IN SHOP.

NHTSA complaint #11124646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 740IL. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR POTHOLE, THE VEHICLE SHOOK ABNORMALLY. ADDITIONALLY THE TIE ROD FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOTTOM SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 04/19/17 LJ

NHTSA complaint #10909327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 740IL. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR POTHOLE, THE VEHICLE SHOOK ABNORMALLY. ADDITIONALLY THE TIE ROD FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOTTOM SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 04/19/17 LJ

NHTSA complaint #10909327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

I WENT TO THE BMW DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING IN THE COMPUTER I THINK THAT MY SAFETY IS FIRST.THANK YOU

NHTSA complaint #10895334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

I WENT TO THE BMW DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING IN THE COMPUTER I THINK THAT MY SAFETY IS FIRST.THANK YOU

NHTSA complaint #10895334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

STEERING AND OVER ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPROMISED FOR NO REASON FEELS LIKE IT IS DISCONNECTING AND LOOSE CLANKING NOISES FORM FRONT SUSPENSION ALL THE TIME ON ALL SURFACES ALSO A SQUEAKY OLD BED FRAME NOISE APPEARS . CONCERNED ABOUT FAMILY SAFETY THE VEHICLE IS WELL CARED FOR. FEELS LIKE A SLOPPY MESSY FUMBLING INTERACTION BETWEEN CAR AND STEERING WHEEL ALSO VEERS RANDOMLY AS IF IT WAS DETACHED FROM THE STEERING SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10639599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

STEERING AND OVER ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPROMISED FOR NO REASON FEELS LIKE IT IS DISCONNECTING AND LOOSE CLANKING NOISES FORM FRONT SUSPENSION ALL THE TIME ON ALL SURFACES ALSO A SQUEAKY OLD BED FRAME NOISE APPEARS . CONCERNED ABOUT FAMILY SAFETY THE VEHICLE IS WELL CARED FOR. FEELS LIKE A SLOPPY MESSY FUMBLING INTERACTION BETWEEN CAR AND STEERING WHEEL ALSO VEERS RANDOMLY AS IF IT WAS DETACHED FROM THE STEERING SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10639601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

STEERING AND OVER ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPROMISED FOR NO REASON FEELS LIKE IT IS DISCONNECTING AND LOOSE CLANKING NOISES FORM FRONT SUSPENSION ALL THE TIME ON ALL SURFACES ALSO A SQUEAKY OLD BED FRAME NOISE APPEARS . CONCERNED ABOUT FAMILY SAFETY THE VEHICLE IS WELL CARED FOR. FEELS LIKE A SLOPPY MESSY FUMBLING INTERACTION BETWEEN CAR AND STEERING WHEEL ALSO VEERS RANDOMLY AS IF IT WAS DETACHED FROM THE STEERING SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10639599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

STEERING AND OVER ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPROMISED FOR NO REASON FEELS LIKE IT IS DISCONNECTING AND LOOSE CLANKING NOISES FORM FRONT SUSPENSION ALL THE TIME ON ALL SURFACES ALSO A SQUEAKY OLD BED FRAME NOISE APPEARS . CONCERNED ABOUT FAMILY SAFETY THE VEHICLE IS WELL CARED FOR. FEELS LIKE A SLOPPY MESSY FUMBLING INTERACTION BETWEEN CAR AND STEERING WHEEL ALSO VEERS RANDOMLY AS IF IT WAS DETACHED FROM THE STEERING SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10639601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AT A CERTIFIED USED DEALERSHIP. WE FUELED IT UP AND DROVE IT AROUND THAT NIGHT AND PARKED IT AT OUR HOME. THE NEXT MORNING IT SMELLED TERRIBLY OF GASOLINE SO I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS CRUSHED IN AND IT WAS POURING GASOLINE ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. THEIR WAS A PUDDLE APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET WIDE UNDER THE CAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE SHOCKED. WE BOTH ASSUMED THAT THEY NEVER FILLED THE TALK SO THE PROBLEM WASN'T KNOWN. THEY REPLACED THE TANK FREE OF CHARGE AND ONCE AGAIN I FILLED THE TANK AND DROVE IT AROUND FOR THE WEEKEND. I NOTICED THE GASOLINE SMELL AGAIN AND LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE TANK CRUSHED IN AGAIN AND THE FUEL LEAKING OUT. I RAN A GOOGLE SEARCH ON THIS AND FOUND OUT THAT I WAS NOT ALONE. THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A PURGE LINE THAT CAUSES THE TALK TO IMPLODE ON ITSELF. I AM VERY SURPRISED TO NOT FIND A RECALL ON THIS. I WOULD THINK THAT AVOIDING A CAR FIRE WOULD BE A CONCERN FOR THE NHTSA. I HOPE WITH ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THEY FORCE A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10583779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 740IL. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE, BUT THE BRAKES WERE NOT EFFECTIVE. ALSO, THE COIL SPRING MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V140000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS), WHICH WAS ISSUED IN THE SPRING OF 1997. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/19/08.

NHTSA complaint #10238016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 740IL. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE, BUT THE BRAKES WERE NOT EFFECTIVE. ALSO, THE COIL SPRING MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V140000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS), WHICH WAS ISSUED IN THE SPRING OF 1997. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/19/08.

NHTSA complaint #10238016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

PURCHASED A "CERTIFIED" BMW 1997 740IL IN 11/02 WITH 69,000 MILES. IN JANUARY I NOTICED A "TIN CAN" POPPING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND A VACUUM LIKE SOUND WHEN OPENING THE GAS CAP TO FUEL. I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE GAS TANK HAD A DENT IN IT ALTHOUGH I HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JOHN ROBERTS BMW IN DALLAS. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS RESEMBLING MINE AND THAT I MUST HAVE STRUCK SOMETHING TO DAMAGE THE TANK. ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER THE TANK BEGAN TO LEAK AND BASICALLY IMPLODED FROM VACUUM PRESSURE. I POSTED MY EXPERIENCE ON SEVERAL WEB SITES AND RECEIVED OVER 20 RESPONSES FROM OWNERS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE OF THESE PEOPLE SENT ME A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FROM BMW TO ITS DEALERS DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM AS A FUEL TANK VENT WHICH WOULD BECOME STOPPED UP AND CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO IMPLODE. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER BUT BY THIS TIME MY VEHICLE WAS ONE MONTH OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THIS DEFECT IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY HAZARD AND COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10096241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

THE CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL# 97V140000 : VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ROAD GRIT AND GRAVEL ASSOCIATED WITH WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS CAN PENETRATE THE RUBBER OF THE LOWER FRONT SPRING MOUNTS AND ACCUMULATE IN THE MOUNTS CAUSING NOTCHES OR PITS TO DEVELOP. THESE NOTCHES CAN DEVELOP CRACKS RESULTING IN BREAKAGE OF A BOTTOM COIL OF THE SPRING. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONSUMER HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATIONS NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10089312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

THERE'S A MAJOR FLAW DESIGN IN THE BMW 740I AND 740IL FGROM YEARS 1995-200. I WAS JUST DRIVING AND IT FAILED WITHOUT HESITATION. I SPOKE WITH A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL AND THEY HAD THE SAME PEOBLEM. TO SOME PEOPLE IT HAPPEND AS THEY WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY SPILLING COOLANT ALL OVER THEIR WINDSHIELD AND LOSING CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10052306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

WHILE USING THE FACTORY JACK TO CHANGE A TIRE, THE JACK BECAME UNSTABLE DUE TO THE SMALL BASE THAT IS PROVIDED AND THE CAR FELL OFF OF THE JACK. THE JACK WAS BEING OPERATED ON AN ASPHALT SURFACE. THIS WAS A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE EASILY TRAPPED ME UNDER MY CAR. THE CAR IS A 1997 740IL BMW.

NHTSA complaint #10052305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

I HAVE HAD THREE SEPARATE FAILURES OF PLASTIC RADIATOR COMPONENTS IN MY 1997 BMW 740IL IN THE SPACE OF 5 MONTHS. AT FIRST INSPECTION, THESE APPEAR TO ME TO BE THERMAL FATIGUE FAILURES INDICATING SOME MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE PLASTIC. BMW DENIES ANY SUCH ISSUE AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FAILED COMPONENTS UNDER WARRANTY. THE FIRST INSTANCE WAS A MINOR LEAK THAT DEVELOPED FROM A SMALL PIPE THAT EXITS THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. BEFORE I HAD THAT REPAIRED, THE NECK OF THE TOP INLET TO THE RADIATOR BROKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. A LITTLE OVER A MONTH LATER, I SAW STEAM EMERGING FROM THE RADIATOR AND NOTED A 1/4" SPLIT IN THE CENTER OF THE INTERGRAL FLUID RESERVOIR WHERE WATER WAS SPRAYING OUT. THIS COMPONENT HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED WHEN THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. AS THIS WAS NOT IN A TYPICAL STRESS AREA LIKE A CORNER, SEAM OR BOTTOM, I BELIEVE THIS WAS CAUSED BY FATIGUE. THE FACT THAT ALL OF THESE FAILURES OCCURRED ON PLASTIC COMPONENTS SO CLOSE TOGETHER IN THEIR LIFE IMPLIES A COMMON FAILURE MECHANISM TO ME. THE DEALER COMMENTED THAT "THEY SEE A LOT OF THESE KINDS OF FAILURES." AS THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT, THIS WOULD SEEM UNUSUAL UNLESS THERE WERE SOME UNDERLYING FLAW IN BMW'S DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING OF THE COOLING SYSTEM. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10019215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ENGINE RPM WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FROM 8OO TO 2500 RPM WITH NO WARNING. IDLE WILL VARY FROM 800 RPM TO 400 RPM AND THEN POSSIBLY SHOOT UP TO 12-2500 RPM. AFTER 5 ATTEMPTS DEALER UNABLE TO CORRECT. CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. DT

NHTSA complaint #770596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH WATER PUMP FAILED, CAUSING STEAM TO COME UP FROM HOOD, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE RADIATOR HOSE BLEW OFF AND THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED WHEN THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT.

NHTSA complaint #8014686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A GAS LEAK. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED A YEAR LATER AND GAS LEAK CONTINUES.

NHTSA complaint #8004205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #607444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.