BMW 7 Series Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

This vehicle is affected by NHTSA Recall 25V644 (starter motor – fire risk). The recall remedy has been listed as “Remedy Not Available” 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 — 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 advises owners to park outside and away from structures, but provides no remedy, no timeline, and no assistance. Multiple inquiries to BMW Recall Support were answered with the same message: there is no known timeframe for parts or repair. I am filing this complaint because the manufacturer has not provided a remedy, has not communicated adequately, and the defect appears to be progressing in a way that increases the risk described by NHTSA. I respectfully request that NHTSA review the extended delay, lack of remedy, lack of notification, and the presence of active symptoms related to this safety defect

Excessive rain condensation is blocking the front drivers headlights. This is a known issue which BMW refuses to repair under my OEM warranty. This is a known issue with many BMW’s leading to safety issues and electrical issues. The water is pooling in my headlight.

The contact owns a 2019 BMW 740I. The contact stated that the leather on the front dashboard had started to peel. Over time, the leather began to shrink and began to roll back towards the windshield. Due to the failure, the contact's vision became obstructed while driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a technician recommended that the dashboard be replaced. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under Warranty. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH. MOST OF THE GLASS EXITED THE VEHICLE ABOVE BUT MANY SHARDS OF SHARP GLASS SPRAYED ALL FOUR PASSENGERS. ALL FOUR PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR CUTS. NO ROCK OR OTHER FOREIGN OBJECT WAS OBSERVED IMPACTING THE VEHICLE. THE GLASS EXPLODED OUT NOT IN. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 7 DEGREES F. THIS OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY 99 BETWEEN WHISTLER BC AND SQUAMASH BC ON FEBRUARY 3, 2019.

The contact own a 2020 BMW 740I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V644000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Took my 2020 BMW 7 Series into BMW San Diego because there was fluid leaking. Upon diagnosis at the dealership, I was notified I needed to replace the front differential as it was coming apart. The leaking fluid was identified as differential fluid. The vehicle has 54,308 miles on it. My research indicates front differentials should not need replacement until nearly 150,000 miles. A broken front differential is considered to be very bad and makes a car unsafe to drive as it causes severe handling issues, loss of control and potential damage to the transmission. A broken differential can cause the vehicle to lock up or lose steering control. Me and my family have been at risk as it is unclear how long this issue has been happening. The problem has been confirmed by BMW San Diego. The cost to replace was quoted as about $10,251. There are no warning lamps, and there are no messages indicating there is a problem with the vehicle. Not sure when the issue started. Apparently, due to my research I’ve learning many 2020 BMW’s seem to need to have the front differential replaced with mileage between 38,000 and 55,000.

On [XXX], while driving on a busy boulevard in Wilmington, Delaware, my 2020 BMW 750i suddenly lost all power (engine and electrical) without any warning. The vehicle completely shut down in traffic, creating an extremely dangerous situation. There were no warning lights or messages before the failure. I called BMW Roadside Assistance for help but was informed that because my warranty had just expired, they canceled the tow truck that was already en route and turned it away. This left me stranded in a live traffic lane until I could arrange my own tow service from Geico. I called Wilmington Police for assistance and eventually had to run a couple of blocks to flag down a police vehicle that arrived and dropped several flares behind my vehicle. The vehicle was later inspected at Union Park BMW (Wilmington, DE), where the technician stated that the failure was due to a defective cell in the main battery. This experience has made me very nervous to drive the car again, as a total loss of power without warning could lead to a collision or injury. I believe this represents a serious safety defect in the vehicle’s electrical or battery system and should be investigated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2020 BMW 750I. The contact stated that while driving in a parking lot at slow speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the expansion tank had cracked and leaked on the fuel rail and the injector had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and covered the injector repair and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

The middle Console on the car has aluminum trim, the trim starts peeling off right at the button where you can open the console and I just hurt my finger as it’s very sharp and cuts the skin right away I will provide also pictures of the problem .

the Panoramic sunroof just exploded out of nowhere at freeway speeds causing glass to go everywhere

November 2023 we purchased 4 new Continental PURECONTACT LS 245/45/R19 from Discount Tire in Evansville Indiana. We’ve driven almost 17,000 miles on the tires. Noticed 2 tires are splitting on the sidewall near the tread. The one I’m reporting is dangerously split (resembles a re-tread tire).

Service Bulletin SI B11 09 17 Same issue with my car, 2017 BMW 750i xDrive. Drivetrain malfunction issues identical to SB noted. My car has a manufactured date 07/2016, one month after SB dates covered, yet same part numbers are used in this month as well. Not fair that other vehicle owners with same part numbers get this covered, as I have to pay over $3k for repair, to then wait IF a SB gets releases, then have to chase BMW file a RP claim. Wastegate issues across all G11 models!

Stopping without notice can cause an accident and any of the issues can cause safety issues. What I sent them. I am writing to express my concerns regarding a series of issues with my 2017 BMW 740i and to request your assistance in resolving these matters. I have been working with my local BMW dealership to address several problems, but I believe there may be underlying issues that require further attention. I would appreciate it if you could review my case and consider the points outlined below. Background: Recently, my vehicle was brought in for service to replace the spark plugs and address a few concerns, including the replacement of the fuel tank cover. During this visit, it was discovered that the pressure control valve was faulty and needed replacement. I was not previously informed of any issues with the pressure valve, and I have learned that BMW has issued an extended warranty on this part due to known faults. My understanding is that a faulty pressure valve can cause erratic fuel pressure, leading to premature spark plug failure. Given that my car has only been driven about 8,000 miles annually and is used weekly, not sitting idle for long periods, the spark plugs should still have life left. However, they may have worn prematurely due to the pressure valve issue. Concerns: Pressure Control Valve and Spark Plug Failure: It is highly unusual for three spark plugs to fail simultaneously, as spark plugs generally wear out gradually over time. In most cases, one spark plug would fail before the others if there were a gradual wear issue. The simultaneous failure of three spark plugs suggests a potential underlying issue, such as a problem with the ignition system, electrical issues, or a direct result of a faulty pressure control valve. I request that BMW cover the replacement cost of the spark plugs under the extended warranty for the pressure valve, considering the potential causation between these issues. Hard Jerk When

The chasis function is limited on this vehicle due to failed right rear air suspension. Leaking right rear strut, and failed air compressor. Additionally, as a result my car needs an alignment. There was a service bulletin in regards to this exact issue in which BMW offered an extended warranty to repair vehicles free of charge up to 8 years/80,000 miles (MC-10215743-9999.pdf) My vehicle is currently at 92,000 miles but within 8 years. I never received the notification. If I would have I could of had the vehicle inspected and fixed within the extended warranty time frame. I'm being told that BMW will not cover the cost because my vehicle is outside of the timeframe they agreed upon in the settlement. The cost is $ 8600.00. This incident is the second issue I've faced. I purchased the vehicle certified from a BMW dealership. The initial problem I faced was with a failing braking system that was fixed through warranty after multiple trips to the dealership. I was at risk of the vehicle not stopping which could have resulted in a terrible accident. Now with this second issue I'm again at risk for my safety. BMW should be held accountable for producing vehicles with such safety concerns and at minimum be responsible for the cost to repair these issues.