NHTSA Data Explorer

BMW 740iL

Data refreshed October 26, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the BMW 740iL.

Complaints

299

Active records

Recalls

16

Active records

TSBs

174

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

16

Crashes

16

Fires

17

Top reported issues — BMW 740iL

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

109

Operating state

65

Fluid issue

39

Thermal issue

39

Safety restraint issue

36

Reporting mechanism

34

Noise

33

Engine behavior

29

Safety restraint behavior

24

Access/entry issue

21

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

14

Lighting behavior

13

Driver assistance issue

11

Steering behavior

10

Braking behavior

9

Performance issue

9

Vibration/harshness

8

Electrical issue

7

Infotainment behavior

7

Smell

7

Ride/handling behavior

4

Wiper/washer behavior

3

Recent change

2

Starting behavior

2

Communication/network issue

1

Powering on/off behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2001 BMW 740I

Filed Jan 23, 2022


On January 22, 20222, I was traveling down highway 400 in Sandy Springs, Georgia and my left (driver's side) // rear tire EXPLODED and I almost lost control of the vehicle. The main part of the tread completely separated from the rest of the tire, but I was able to recover it from down in the woods. I have not taken it to a mechanic or tire shop yet, so I still have the rim that has the remnants of the sidewall attached to it as well as the tread portion of the tire for inspection. I…

2001 BMW 740I

Filed Jul 25, 2020


VEHICLE HAD BEEN STATIONARY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND WAS PARKED WITH EMERGENCY BREAK ENGAGED. KEY WAS NOT INSERTED. DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN, ALL DOORS UNLOCKED. NO RECENT OCCUPANTS OTHER THAN THE DRIVER SEAT. PARKED AT HOME,IN DRIVEWAY, IN GAINESVILLE, GA, US. I UNLOADED SOME GROCERIES THEN CAME BACK TO CLOSE DRIVER DOOR. AS I APPROACHED THE VEHICLE TO CLOSE DRVER SIDE DOOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGE SUDDENLY DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD. THERE HAD BEEN NO IMPACT…

2000 BMW E38

Filed Nov 23, 2019


1 injured
Fire

DRIVERS SIDE CAUGHT FIRE WHEN TURNING ON SEAT WARMERS FOR FIRST TIME IN SEASON. JACKET CAUGHT FIRE, ALONG WITH INTERNAL CLOTHING WITH MINOR BURNS.

2001 BMW 740IL

Filed Jun 21, 2019


TAKATA RECALL MY CAR BRAKE LIGHTS JUST STARTED TO STAY ELIMINATED WHEN I AM DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO ADJUSTS ON ITS ON UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE IS WHEN THE VECHILE IS IN MOTION ON ANY HIGHWAY

2001 BMW 740IL

Filed Sep 9, 2018


I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULES IN THE BMW 7 SERIES FROM MODEL YEAR 1995 TO 2001 HAVE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULES THAT ARE FAILING AT A VERY HIGH RATE, LEAVING OWNERS WITHOUT AIRBAGS AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON. THE NEW MODULE FROM BMW IS $1400. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY TO CARS IN COLD CLIMATES.

1997 BMW 740IL

Filed Sep 5, 2018


TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT. BMW SERVICE CENTER SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH MY VEHICLE THEREBY CAN'T DIAGNOSE PROBLEM(S). VEHICLE STATIONARY IN SHOP.

1997 BMW 740

Filed Jun 7, 2018


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 740. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO START THE ENGINE, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FERMAN BMW (31400 US HWY 19 NORTH, PALM HARBOR, FL), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE SPONTANEOUS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE…

2001 BMW 740I

Filed Jun 2, 2018


1 injured
Crash

A CHEVY PICKUP PULLED INTO THE ONE WAY ROAD LEADING TO A HOTEL AND IMMEDIATELY WENT AROUND AN ELLIPSE AND HIT ME AS I WAS EXITING MY HOTEL AND GOT HIT IN THE DRIVERS FRONT QUARTER PANEL WHILE HE WAS PULLING AROUND IN THE ELLIPTICAL ONE WAY DRIVE. THE ENGINE WAS CHECKED AND IT NEEDS $5500 WORTH OF MECHANICAL WORK IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE SAFE TO DRIVE. IVOQ Y N N N 10 V N N

2000 BMW 740I

Filed Sep 13, 2017


WHEN SEAT HEATER SWITCHED ON, A BURNING SMELL RESULTED. I SWITCHED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. INSPECTION OF SEAT AFTERWARDS RESULTED IN FINDING A SPOT WHERE THE LEATHER WAS BURNED. CLEARLY THIS COULD RESULT IN A BURN TO THE DRIVER OR A FIRE.

2001 BMW 740IL

Filed Jun 24, 2017


LCD PIXEL FAILURE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING INDICATORS UNABLE TO SEE SAFETY AND ENGINE WARNINGS

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated October 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.