What BMW 740LI owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See BMW 740LI safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 413 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 411 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 208 |
| 2014 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 257 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 310 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 287 |
| 2011 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 255 |
The vehicle systems named most often in BMW 740LI complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
The contact owns a 2022 BMW 740LI. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the Lane Departure feature malfunctioned on several occasions, causing the vehicle to be pulled into another lane or into the opposite direction. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the KAFAS camera and the windshield needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.
The contact owns a 2022 BMW 740LI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V644000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that after walking outside to the parked vehicle, the passengerâs side rear window was open. The failure occurred intermittently; however, on one occasion during the failure, all the windows and the sunroof were opened. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer reset the window system and repaired the window module; howe…
The contact owns a 2022 BMW 740LI. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the contact noticed an abnormal burning odor. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to start the vehicle and called a tow truck. The contact stated that while the tow truck driver was attempting to start the vehicle with the hood opened, the contact noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine starter needed to be replaced. The dealer advised the contact that the original starter would be replaced with a similar starter because the recall remedy for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V6…
This vehicle is affected by NHTSA Recall 25V644 (starter motor â fire risk). The recall remedy has been listed as âRemedy Not Availableâ since September 25, 2025, and remains unavailable more than two months later. BMW did not notify me about this safety recall. I only discovered it after a third-party platform automatically deactivated the vehicle due to the open recall. In addition, this vehicle has recently developed starting issues â it now struggles to start and requires multiple attempts. This may indicate that the defective starter component described in the recall is already failing. Combined with the stated fire risk, this creates a serious daily safety concern. BMW advis…
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 740LI. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift into park (P) and inadvertently shifted into neutral (N). The contact applied the parking brake while the transmission was shifted to neutral (N) to turn off the vehicle. The Transmission Malfunction message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the TCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
While stopped at light car will shut off. You have to restart
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 740LI Sedan. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph when the vehicle backfired which resulted in the vehicle exploding. The drive train malfunction warning light was illuminated. There was black smoking coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle and caught fire. The contact was able to jump out of the vehicle and sustained a sprained ankle and mental trauma. The fire marshals extinguished the fire and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a police lot. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact mentioned that the vehicle went through extensive damage that it was unrecognizable. The failure mileage was approxi…
Vehicle is equipped with soft closing doors. Passenger door actuator malfunctioned which prevented the passenger door from locking. That malfunction short circuited the entire vehicle locking system. It created a unsafe driving condition which locked the driver side door from the inside and outside of the vehicle. Basically locking the driver inside the car. The only way for the driver to exit the vehicle was to climb to another door. If the driver was in a accident and needed to exit the car immediately, he wouldn't be able to do it.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle âÃÂÃÂdischarged batteryâÃÂàcomplaints.
At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. This can be felt (jerking)/ heard via an acoustic acknowledgement (clunk) as seen at the 11 second mark of the video. See attached video V36 01 21.
The Central Information Display goes black intermittently due to resets of the Head Unit (HU-H3). FaultB7F8F9 ÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂHU-H: ResetÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàwill be stored in the HU-H3.
A vehicle arrives at your center to be diagnosed for a micro-leak in the fuel evaporative (EVAP) system(NVLD natural vacuum leak detection). For this condition, the following fault is stored in the DME: 190302 - fuel tank ventilation and scavenging air system, micro-leak: leakage more than 0.5mm For: Model vehicles other that the ones listed above, or for EVAP faults related to a ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂlarge leak,ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàafter confirming that the fuel filler cap is fitted properly, then, proceed to follow the corresponding test plan
SITUATION Unusual noises occur only when operating the steering column in the axial direction. 1. A one-time thump sound at the start of movement Shortly after the steering column starts moving, retracting, or extending, a one-time thump noise is heard. See attached video V32 03 23 2. Humming noise while steering column extends in the axial direction. The sound is only heard when the steering column is extended, not when the steering column is retracted. When the steering column starts to move in the extended direction, the humming noise can be heard. See attached video V32 04 23
Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (- 0x33E) missing, receiver DME, transmitter TFE
Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicleâÃÂÃÂs equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. Additionally, the red anti-theft alarm LED in the interior mirror does not briefly flash every 2 seconds, indicating the alarm is armed.
DIESEL FUEL INJECTORS: LTD WTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES
PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE (PCV) EXTENDED LTD WTY 15 YEARS/150,000 MILES
The carpet welcome light(s) turns on either after a delay, or does not function at all.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2011–2022, owners most often name: electrical system, engine, power train. 32 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.