The BMW 740iL has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1993–2001. On average a defect was admitted 5.75 years after the car was built, the slowest took 15 years. The most recalled system is Exterior Lighting (2 campaigns). Owners also filed 112 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the BMW 740iL
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Exterior Lighting 2 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The brake lamps in these vehicles are controlled by a switch activated by the movement of the brake pedal. This switch could fail internally, causing it to remain either in the "brake lamps off" position or in the "brake lamps on" position
Risk. If this happens, the brake lamps either will not operate or will be continuously illuminated, regardless of brake pedal position
Fix. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the existing brake lamp switch with an improved switch
What's wrong. The brake light switch can fail allowing the switch to remain in the "brake lights off" position or in the "brake lights on" position
Risk. If this happens, the brake lights either will not operate or will be continuously on, regardless of brake pedal position. Following drivers would not be able to determine whether the vehicle is stopping, increasing the potential for a vehicle accident
Fix. Dealers will replace the existing brake light switch with a newly designed switch
What's wrong. The brake light switch can fail allowing the switch to remain in the "brake lights off" position or in the "brake lights on" position
Risk. If this happens, the brake lights either will not operate or will be continuously on, regardless of brake pedal position. Following drivers would not be able to determine whether the vehicle is stopping, increasing the potential for a vehicle accident
Fix. Dealers will replace the existing brake light switch with a newly designed switch
Suspension 2 Read
What's wrong. 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
Risk. The vehicle's ride height could be affected causing noise while the vehicle is driven. The vehicle's dynamic stability can be affected reducing the driver's ability to maintain control of the vehicle
Fix. Dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts
What's wrong. 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
Risk. The vehicle's ride height could be affected causing noise while the vehicle is driven. The vehicle's dynamic stability can be affected reducing the driver's ability to maintain control of the vehicle
Fix. Dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts
What's wrong. 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
Risk. The vehicle's ride height could be affected causing noise while the vehicle is driven. The vehicle's dynamic stability can be affected reducing the driver's ability to maintain control of the vehicle
Fix. Dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts
Steering 1 Read
What's wrong. Fcp groton is recalling certain steering center drag links, p/n 32 21 1 096 057, sold from december 1, 2009 through april 9, 2010 as replacement equipment for model year 1995 through 2001 bmw 740i, 740il, and 750il passenger vehicles. The shaft of the steering center tie rod may shear off
Risk. This condition would result, without warning, in immediate and complete loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in serious injury or death
Fix. Fcp groton will notify owners and the tie rod will be replaced free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about june 1, 2010. Owners may contact fcp groton toll-free at 1-877-634-0063
What's wrong. Fcp groton is recalling certain steering center drag links, p/n 32 21 1 096 057, sold from december 1, 2009 through april 9, 2010 as replacement equipment for model year 1995 through 2001 bmw 740i, 740il, and 750il passenger vehicles. The shaft of the steering center tie rod may shear off
Risk. This condition would result, without warning, in immediate and complete loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in serious injury or death
Fix. Fcp groton will notify owners and the tie rod will be replaced free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about june 1, 2010. Owners may contact fcp groton toll-free at 1-877-634-0063
What's wrong. Fcp groton is recalling certain steering center drag links, p/n 32 21 1 096 057, sold from december 1, 2009 through april 9, 2010 as replacement equipment for model year 1995 through 2001 bmw 740i, 740il, and 750il passenger vehicles. The shaft of the steering center tie rod may shear off
Risk. This condition would result, without warning, in immediate and complete loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in serious injury or death
Fix. Fcp groton will notify owners and the tie rod will be replaced free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about june 1, 2010. Owners may contact fcp groton toll-free at 1-877-634-0063
Tires 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 18-inch tires. (18-inch tires are standard equipment on the m5 and optional equipment on the 7-series models). The machine used to mount and inflate the tires on the wheels at the assembly plant may have damaged the sidewall of one or more tires. The damaged area could weaken to the point where a sudden loss of air from the tire could occur
Risk. Handling and control would be drastically affected increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. Dealers will inspect the tires and if damage from the mounting machine is found, the tire will be replaced. Owner notification began march 10, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at…
Fuel System, Gasoline 1 Read
What's wrong. Fuel seepage can occur between a hose and the metal fuel line on either end of the hose resulting in fuel odor
Risk. Fuel leakage could potentially result in a vehicle fire
Fix. Dealers will replace the two fuel hoses, four metal fuel lines and associated clamps
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 5.75 years |
| Slowest campaign | 15 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 43.8% |
| Campaigns on record | 7 |
Which 740iL years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Tires | |
| 2000 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 1999 | Steering | |
| 1998 | Steering | |
| 1997 | Steering | |
| 1996 | Steering | |
| 1995 | Steering | |
| 1994 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 1993 | Exterior Lighting |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
Go deeper
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the BMW 740iL have?
7 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1993–2001. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my 740iL still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 5.75 years, and the slowest campaign came 15 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.