Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1998 BMW 740Ia

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › driveline › differential unit. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit98V142000
Filed Jun 22, 19981,100 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DIFFERENTIAL PINION SHAFT WITHIN THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE ASSEMBLY WAS PRODUCED WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE SURFACE HARDENING. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE SHAFT EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WEAR.

Risk. THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE A NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND, ULTIMATELY, FAILURE OF THE SHAFT AND LOSS OF DRIVE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Dec 9, 200685,987 milesGA

JULY 2004 I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM A/C AND THE REAR OF CAR, I TOOK IT TO BMW DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HEAR NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THEY ASSURED ME THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE NOISE AUGUST 2005 I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, THIS TIME THEY NOTICED THE NOISE, AND STATED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,015.00. HOWEVER, AFTER CHECKING YOUR WEB-SITE,(NHTSA OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION) I SEE THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 18, 1998 FOR THE VERY PROBLEM THAT I TOOK THIS CAR TO THE DEALER FOR. THE DEALER NEVER MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS TO BE A FREE REMEDY. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *JB

1 of 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19992200Routine
1998 — this page1100Routine
19950100Routine
19941100Routine
19930100Routine
19920100Routine
19910100Routine
19900100Routine

Compare every 740Ia year →

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Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jun 22, 1998. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.