Total Complaints
3 filings
BMW 740I · model year
1997 BMW 740I
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997BMW740I carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 1997 740I is engine and engine cooling:cooling system:radiator assembly with 1 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (1) and engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hoses/lines/piping/fittings (1). 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 1997 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.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040305ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE HOSE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE RADIATOR MELTED FROM THE HEAT THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE.*AK
Mileage: 55,000
20031028FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THERE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT IN THE '1995-'01 BMW 740 SERIES GAS TANK. THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS THAT CREATES A VACCUM IN THE TANK WHICH THEN MAKES THE TANK IMPLODE. IT JUST CRUSH IN UPON ITSELF UNTIL IT POPS OR A SEAM BREAKS SOMEWHERE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME YESTERDAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD 17 GALLONS OF GAS SPEWING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL I WAS IN MY PARKING GARAGE WHICH IS IN A 49 STORY BUILDING. THE JERSEY CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME THEN BROUGHT IN THEIR HAZMAT TEAM. THEY RECOVERED/CLEANED UP MAYBE 7 GALLONS WHILE IN THE GARAGE SO ABOUT 10 GALLONS SPILLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF BMW HAD RECALLED THE CAR ON THIS ITEM. IT HAS HAPPENED TO AT LEAST 6 OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS MESSAGE BOARD THAT I'M A PART OF: HTTP://BIMMER.ROADFLY.ORG/BMW/FORUMS/E38/ I'M JUST GLAD THAT NO ONE GOT HURT AND THAT MY 3 AND 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS WERE NOT IN THE CAR. BUT
Mileage: 79,375
20030530ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
UPPER NIPPLE WITH HOSE CONNECTOR ON RADIATOR IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND BREAKS OFF WITH FRAGMENTS LEFT IN THE HOSE. THIS REALLY SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF PLASTIC AS INTENSELY HOT WATER PASSES THROUGH IT ALL THE TIME. THIS AMOUNTS TO AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR.*AK
Compare 1997BMW740I to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 BMW 740I have?▼
The 1997 BMW 740I has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 BMW 740I?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 BMW 740I is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS.
Is the 1997 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.