BMW 740I · model year

1993 BMW 740I

24 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993BMW740I carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1993 740I is engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hoses/lines/piping/fittings with 4 filings, followed by seats:front assembly:power adjust (3) and engine and engine cooling (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 1993 740I. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

24
Complaints
2
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

24 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS4
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1

Recent Complaints

20100901FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 740I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED GAS LEAKING OUT OF THE GAS TANK ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. A DAY LATER, THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY PUT A PATCH ON THE GAS TANK SO THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC. A LOCAL MECHANIC AGAIN REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY CLEANED UP THE FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY ORDERED ANOTHER FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS FUEL WAS ALREADY IMPLODED LIKE THE OTHERS. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THEY TOOK THE OLD FUEL TANKS TO THE DEALER SO THEY COULD SEE HOW THEY IMPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED JULY 10, 2010. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

Mileage: 58,471

20080513SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 740I. WHILE DRIVING 73 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PREVENT A CRASH FROM OCCURRING. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILAGES WERE 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20050329ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED ON MY 1994 BMW 740I. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MODEL YEAR HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM RELATED TO THE SULPHUR CONTENT IN AMERICA GASOLINE. PLEASE INFORM ME OR ANY RECALL OR RECOURSE I MAY BE ABLE TO TAKE REGARDING THIS MATTER. DEMETRIUS BRANDON (505) 265-1130

20040628ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT DUPLICATED. CONSUMER TOLD THE MECHANIC THAT WIRES, AND OTHER PARTS TO THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. AK

20030521SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DRIVER'S SEAT ON MY 1993 BMW 740I RECLINED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. SEAT BACK WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND WILL NOT MOVE. THIS MADE ME LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL OF CAR, LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITH OUT CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB

20030323ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE IS A 1993 BMW 740 WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO AN ENGINE RECALL IN SEPTEMBER OF 1996 AT 67,000 MILES. IMMEDIATELY AND SINCE THAT TIME, THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED DOCUMENTED OIL LEAKS ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: 10/1996, 12/1996, 5/1999, 6/1999, 3/2000, 6/2001, 10/2001, 1/2002, 5/2002, 7/2002, 2/2003. THERE ARE OTHER INCIDENTS OF OIL LEAKS NOT DOCUMENTED. FAIRFAX BMW, OF FAIRFAX VIRGINIA WAS THE SERVICE STATION FOR EACH OF THESE INCIDENTS. MOST OF THE TIME THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETECTED OR IT WAS A GUESS THAT THE OIL GASKET WAS FAULTY (THE OIL GASKETS WERE REPLACED AT LEAST THREE TIMES, IN WHICH THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN TWO DAYS FOR EACH REPLACEMENT). FEBRUARY 2003, THE CAR IS LEAKING OIL AGAIN. FAIRFAX BMW WILL CHARGE MORE THAN $4500 FOR THIS REPAIR IF WE CHOOSE TO BRING IT IN AGAIN. WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE ANOTHER APPROACH TO SOLVING THIS PROBLEM BY CONTACTING YOU. THE CAR HAS 98,000 MILES ON IT (11,000 MILES IN FIVE AND A HALF YEARS). WE HAVE WRITTEN AND CA

Mileage: 67,000

20030220AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO FAULTY MODULE.*JB

20030220AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON IN MY VEHICLE AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE AIRBAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AT A SIGNIFICANT COST. I ASKED THEM IF THE MANUFACTURER COVERED THIS SINCE AN AIRBAG MODULE WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAD MOVING PARTS NOR WAS IT A PART THAT AN OWNER HAS ACCESS TO. THEY TOLD ME ONLY IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT PART. THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO CURRENT RECALLS ON THAT PART BUT I COULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA.

Mileage: 120,000

20021015FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

GASKETS IN ENGINE, OIL PAN, AND INTAKE MANIFOLD HAVE FAILED APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES AFTER ORIGINALS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE SMOKED AND LEAKED OIL ONTO MANIFOLD. MR

20021015FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

GASKETS IN ENGINE, OIL PAN, AND INTAKE MANIFOLD HAVE FAILED APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES AFTER ORIGINALS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE SMOKED AND LEAKED OIL ONTO MANIFOLD. MR

20020514SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WOULD ADJUST AND DROP TO THE FULL RECLINE POSITION, WITH THE LOWER PART MOVING TO THE EXTREME FOWARD POSITON, CONSUMER STATES ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT COMPLETELY, FULLY RECLINED WHICH COULD NOT BE STOPPED OR ADJUSTED WITH THE CONTROLS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PULL OVER, DEALER IS STATING THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND TO REPLACE THE MODULE ELECTRONICS WHICH CONSUMER FEELS IS THE DEFECTIVE PART AND ALSO MAKES A CLICKING NOISE, THE DEALER STATES IT WOULD COSTS SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AND THE COMPUTER CHIPS CONTROL COULD NOT BE ROUTINELT TESTES.*JB

20020514UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CONSUMER STATES THE DASH ELECTRONICS IN THE CLUSTER ARE INOPERATIVE.*JB

20020514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE HOSE CLAMP WAS LEAKING WHICH WAS THEN REPLACED.*JB

20020514FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE CAUGT FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY UP WITH IN MINUTES AFTER LEAVING BMW DEALERSHIP.*AK

20020423ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM REAR TIRE, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

20011218UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CONSUMER STATES THE DASH ELECTRONICS IN THE CLUSTER ARE INOPERATIVE.*JB

20011218ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE HOSE CLAMP WAS LEAKING WHICH WAS THEN REPLACED.*JB

20011016CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC OPERATORS SEAT, IT WOULD COMPLETELY RECLINE TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION, ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT RECLINED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CURB, DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES AND LATER RESULTING IN COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT AND IS CONTINUING MEDICAL TREATMENT, THE DEALER WILL NOT DO ANY TRANSMISSION REPAIRS UNLESS CONSUMER PAYS 8000 DOLLARS, BMW STATED THEY WOULD REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE SEAT CONTROL MODULE IF THE CONSUMER SIGNED A RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY. *SLC

20011016CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC OPERATORS SEAT, IT WOULD COMPLETELY RECLINE TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION, ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT RECLINED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CURB, DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES AND LATER RESULTING IN COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT AND IS CONTINUING MEDICAL TREATMENT, THE DEALER WILL NOT DO ANY TRANSMISSION REPAIRS UNLESS CONSUMER PAYS 8000 DOLLARS, BMW STATED THEY WOULD REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE SEAT CONTROL MODULE IF THE CONSUMER SIGNED A RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY. *SLC

20011016UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CONSUMER STATES THE DASH ELECTRONICS IN THE CLUSTER ARE INOPERATIVE.*JB

Compare 1993BMW740I to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 BMW 740I have?
The 1993 BMW 740I has 24 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 BMW 740I?
The most-complained component for the 1993 BMW 740I is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 1993 BMW 740I safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.