4.0

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,667 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 BMW 740 engine problems

engine problem

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1998 BMW 740 Owner Comments

problem #3

Feb 172015

740 8-cyl

  • 79,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving my BMW 740il on 2-17-2015 when after getting onto the highway and accelerating, there was a loud boom noise and black pieces shot out onto the road in front of me. I immediately got off the first exit only to find that 1.) the car wouldn't stop after I applied the brakes, and 2.) the car continued to accelerate even when my foot was off the accelerator pedal. I went through two intersections, unable to stop, before turning into a big driveway where I set the shifter into reverse, which slowed the car down, and then I put it into park. Steam was shooting out from under the hood and when I checked underneath it, I saw the blades of the fan behind the radiator had all been stripped off the rotor with pieces violently scattered around the engine area. Also, the hose to the coolant reservoir became detached and the hood received two dents from the inside when the fan exploded. The car has since been towed, and repairs have not yet been started. The whole situation was unbelievable. The vehicle had been in tip-top shape and there were no previous signs that anything was inherently wrong. Luckily nothing happened but people could have been seriously hurt or worse by what happened on that day. Please don't hesitate to contact me should you wish to inspect the vehicle prior to repairs. I also took several pictures of the damage.

- Winnetka, IL, USA

problem #2

Dec 012000

740

  • 10,000 miles
This is about my 1998 740il BMW. Two times since owning this vehicle the engine reveved up when I was pushing the brake pedal, nearly causing me to loose control. I found the problem. Compared to my previous Mercedes Benz, the accelarator and brake pedals are closer together. Also, the brake pedal of the BMW compresses further down that with any other car. As a result, if my foot was only on the edge of the brake pedal, the bottom of my foot extended over onto the gas pedal. The harder I pressed the brake, the more gas I was giving the engine. To a new person in that car, as I was, this was a deadly conbination. Now that I know, I am much more careful and the situation has not reoccurred.

- Winter Park, FL, USA

problem #1

Mar 091999

740

  • miles
Upon starting vehicle and shifting into reverse gear, engine revved high/vehicle moved backwards, brakes were applied to stop vehicle, when put into neutral engine revved to 6000-7000 rpms. Vehicle was shut off/restarted, problem was gone.

- Naples, FL, USA

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