BMW 740il Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used BMW 740il options? We analyzed 2 model years (2000–2001) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Found a BMW 740il? Check that exact car.
Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the BMW 740il has 46 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls across model years 2000–2001. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2001 drew the most complaints; 2000 drew the fewest.
- Make
- BMW
- Model
- 740il
- Model years analyzed
- 2000–2001 (2 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 46
- Safety recall campaigns
- 4
- Crash-related complaints
- 1
- Fire-related complaints
- 2
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2001 (26 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2000 (20 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Average
By model year
BMW 740il: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
AverageThe BMW 740IL has 46 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. 1 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 46 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 4 federal recall campaigns
- 1 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
4 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2000–2001. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 46 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
46 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
THE INFORMATION PANEL IN FRONT OF THE STERING COLUMN IN THE DASH IS SO PIXALATED THE INFORMATION SUCH AS THE ODOMETER AND OTHER NECESSARY SAFETY INFORMATION IS UNREADABLE. THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED BMW, 18 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE IN 2004 THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES AT THE TIME (NOW 75,000 MILES), SAID IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1500 TO $2000 TO REPLACE AND IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE LIVED WITH IT FOR SOME YEARS NOW AND TRY TO AVOID DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN USED SPARINGLY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO CONDITION THAT WE KNOW OF THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. ONLY HEARSAY, BUT THE BMW SERVICE PERSON TOLD US THAT THIS HAPPENS SOMETIME AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY. WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE OTHERS WITH THE SOME PROBLEM BUT OF COURSE THE DEALER WOULD NOT SAY IN THEIR PROTECTIVE CONVERSATION. I DO NOT BLAME THEM BUT I DO BLAME THEM, THE DEALER, AND BMW FOR NOT GIVING THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND FULL DIDCLOSURE THAT IT WAS NOT NORMAL AND WAS A DEFECT. THANKS TO A NEIGHBOR I LEARNED OF THIS SITE. I HOPE PEOPLE BUYING A NEW BMW EXTENDS THEIR WARRENTY TO INCLUDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
I HAVE A 2000 BMW 740IL THAT IS VERY HARD TO READ FROM THE DASH BOARD OR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I CANNOT READ THE EXACT MILEAGE ON THE CAR, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT COMES TO THE SCREEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS FIX SINCE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ANY IDEA OF WHAT TO DO FROM THIS POINT WILL BE OF GREAT HELP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT WAS BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE BRAKES AND PROCEED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT WITHOUT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, HE AS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE ABS UNIT. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,240 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.
I OWN A 2000 BMW 740IL AND THE REVERSE WENT OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION. AS I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE I FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND KNOWN ISSUE TO BMW. I HAVE KEPT THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE AND WANT TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AS I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE. *TR
THE PROBLEM AREAS OF MISSING PIXELS ARE PRIMARILY LOCATED IN THE DRIVER'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT DISPLAYS ODOMETER & TRIP ODOMETER, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE , AND CHECK CONTROL DISPLAY, SUCH AS WARNINGS/PARKING BRAKE/COOLANT TEMPERATURE /LEVEL/ KEY & SEAT BELT REMINDER, ETC. BMWS HAVE BEEN EVALUATING CASE BY CASE BASIS ON THOSE WHO KNEW WHERE TO COMPLAIN IN BMW ON THIS PROBLEM AND ON WHO COULD GET SERVICE. IT WAS THEIR DISCRETION OF HOW MUCH THEY WOULD COVER TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY BASED ON NON-SENSE CRITERIA , IF YOU'RE THE ORIGINAL OWNER OR NOT, IF YOU OWN OTHER BMW, WHERE YOU PURCHASED YOUR VEHICLE, ETC. THE MAIN PROBLEM, IN MOST CASES, I COULD NOT TELL WHAT WAS THE EXACT ODOMETER OR OTHER WARNING MESSAGES BECAUSE ALL THE PIXELS WERE MISSING DUE TO LOOSE/FAULTY INTERNAL WIRING OF THE DRIVER' S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY. BMW HAD FIXED A LOT OF THESE PIXEL PROBLEMS, BUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE WERE POORLY INFORMED OF WHAT THEY COULD DO. THERE WERE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF CONSUMER WHO HAD VOICED THEIR CONCERN TO BMW DIRECTLY RELATED TO THESE PIXEL PROBLEMS, BUT BMW STILL CONTINUED TO SUPPLY AND INSTALL THE SAME (T DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY. BMW SHOULD BE MANDATED TO MAKE A PERMANENT FIX ON THESE PIXEL PROBLEMS AND MANDATE THEM TO PAY FOR ALL THE COST , PARTS AND LABOR, TO REPAIR/REPLACE A DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *AK
I AM WRITING REGARDING MY 2000 BMW 740IL. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC), AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AT RANDOM INTERVALS. THIS INDICATES THAT THE DYNAMIC STABILITY AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS ARE NO LONGER WORKING. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A CONSISTENT REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE DRIVEN 50 MILES ON POTHOLE-FILLED, RAIN-SLICKED HIGHWAYS AND THE LIGHTS HAVE REMAINED OFF. ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE STARTED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE, STEPPED BACK IN THE HOUSE TO GET SOMETHING, AND COME BACK OUT TO FIND THE LIGHTS ON. TYPICALLY, I'M JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A LEVEL ROAD AND NOT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON. THERE ARE LOTS OF THEORIES AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE RULED OUT TIRES BECAUSE I RECENTLY INSTALLED FOUR NEW TIRES ALL THE SAME, ALL PROPERLY INFLATED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. I HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED, BUT IT WAS OK. MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO IS BMW FACTORY- TRAINED, CLEANED ALL ABS SENSORS, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. WE GOT A FAULT CODE TO REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR SENSOR, WHICH WE DID, BUT STILL GOT THE FAULT CODE AFTER INSTALLING A NEW SENSOR. THERE WERE NO OTHER FAULT CODES. THE INFORMATION ABOVE WAS PROVIDED TO BMW NORTH AMERICA, BUT THEY REFUSED TO INSPECT OR REPAIR THE CAR UNLESS I PAID THEM. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE ABS MODULE BECOMES DEFECTIVE QUITE FREQUENTLY ON BMWS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE SYSTEM REVERTS TO NORMAL OPERATION, THEN SUDDENLY FAILS WITHOUT WARNING. IN LIGHT OF NHTSA'S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF ELECTRONIC STABILITY SYSTEMS, I URGE YOU TO ORDER BMW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ON ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. THANK YOU.
Read 14 more owner reports
TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING A 2000 BMW 740IL WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT FROM A FRIEND, I LEFT MY DRIVEWAY AND ACTIVATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT. AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS, I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. MY WIFE WAS FOLLOWING IN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND PULLED ALONG SIDE ME. I ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW AND WIFE SAID "THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE WINDOW!". I TURNED OFF THE SEAT AND OPENED THE DOOR AND LOOKED AT THE SEAT. THERE WAS A BURNT SPOT APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A DIME HIGH ON THE OUTBOARD BOLSTER OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I TOUCHED THE SPOT AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. MY ONE AND A HALF YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS STRAPPED IN HER CAR SEAT IN THE BACK. BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE, I UNLOCKED ALL THE DOORS IN CASE I HAD TO GO AROUND AND PULL HER FROM THE CAR. AFTER TURNING OFF THE SEAT, THE FIRE STOPPED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON SEVERAL BMW E38 WEBSITES AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS OCCURRENCE. ONE INDIVIDUAL SAID THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN SENT TO BMW DEALERS TO ALERT THEM OF THIS PROBLEM IN SEVERAL LINES OF BMW CARS, INCLUDING SOME NEWER MODELS. FORTUNATELY, I HAD NOT YET UTILIZED THE AUXILIARY CLIMATE CONTROL TIMER FUNCTION THAT ALLOWS THE OWNER TO HAVE THE CAR TURN ON IT'S HEATED SEATS AND STEERING WHEEL AT A PRE-SET TIME BEFORE THE OWNER ENTERS THE CAR. SEEING HOW QUICKLY THE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF THIS FUNCTION HAD BEEN USED, IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC VEHICLE FIRE THAT COULD HAVE CONSUMED THE SEAT, SINCE PRESUMABLY THE OWNER WOULD BE INSIDE THE HOME OR OFFICE AND COULD NOT WITNESS THE FIRE. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SIDEWALL AT THE BEAD HAS CRACKED. THE CRACK IS 10" LONG. THE CRACK IS BEHIND THE BEAD ON THE WHEEL WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR QUICKLY CAUSING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE TIRE FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED 30% OFF OF A NEW TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE IS MICHELIN. THE TIRE LINE/SIZE IS: 25545ZR18.
REAR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 99,000 MILES
I PURCHASED A 2000, BMW 740IL ON APRIL 5, 2005. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE 4 TIMES. EACH TIME THE MONITORING SYSTEM INDICATED LOW COOLANT. THE FIRST 2 TIME, THE ENGIN HAD PLENTY OF FLUID. THE THIRD TIME IT WAS SUGGESTED BY THE DEALER THAT THE SENSOR MAY NEED REPLACING. IT WAS REPLACED ON MAY 2, 2005. ON MAY 7, THE ENGIN MONITORING SYSTEM INDICATED ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT LEVEL. AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED, COOLANT BEGAN TO LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. IMOGENE F. CLARKE
CAR IS SMOKING WHEN STARTED OR IDLING, HAPPENED AFTER OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE. LARGE CLOUDS OF SMOKE, TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, REPLACED MANY ITEMS,COST T ME 1400. NO CHANGE IN PROBLEM. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT'S WRONG. AM CONTACTING BMW MAIN OFFICE. *JB
THE REAR TIRES WERE WORN AND THE CONSUMER COULD SEE THE TIRE BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. MICHELIN 25545R18 PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT NUMBER. *JB
MICHELIN TIRE: SIZE 2554518 A/S PILOT; UPON WALKING AWAY FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A WHITE SUBSTANCE ON THE REAR TIRE. AFTER EXAMINING CLOSER, IT WAS THE TREAD BELTS SHOWING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO SHOWING ON THE OTHER REAR TIRE. MICHELIN HAS BEEN IN CONTACT BUT ISSUE NOT RESOLVED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *NM
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(NHTSA 04C002000) FOR THE CAR SEAT STRAP WEBBING. NO PARTS AVAILABLE. BRITAX E920606 MARATHON OCT 27 2003. *JB
I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING SLIGHT VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE ON I-95. A WHILE LATER, I BEGAN TO SENSE A VERY SLIGHT CONTROL ISSUE WITH THE CAR AS IT SEEMED TO WOBBLE JUST A BIT AND DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO PULL OFF AT THE APPROACHING EXIT. AT THE TOP OF THE EXIT I BEGAN TO MERGE WITH THE OTHER ROAD WHEN I HEARD AND FELT A "THUMP-THUMP" SOUND. I THEN FELT THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE DROP TO THE PAVEMENT WITH A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND AND AN INSTANT LATER I SAW ONE OF MY WHEELS WHIZZING PASS THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND ACROSS THE ROAD INTO THE WOODS ABOUT 150 FEET FROM MY VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS RETRIEVED AND IT SEEMED TO BE PROPERLY INFLATED AND MOUNTED ON THE WHEEL. INSPECTION OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE HUB SHOWED THAT ALL FIVE LUG NUTS HAD BEEN SHEARED WITH THE ENDS STILL FIRMLY IN PLACE. I RETRIEVED THREE OF THE OTHER ENDS OF THE LUG NUTS THAT HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE THREADED PORTIONS DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF UNUSUAL WEAR. THEY SIMPLY ALL SHEARED OFF. A PASSER-BY TOOK DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE HUB, TIRE, AND WHEEL ALONG WITH THE LUG NUTS THAT I NOW HAVE. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INCIDENT SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A CASE OF EITHER (1) MATERIAL FAILURE, OR, (2) PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE WHEELS BY THE DEALER. SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER AND BMW MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST IN DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY WERE SIMPLY INTENT ON HAVING IT CLASSIFIED AS AN "ACCIDENT" THAT WOULD HAVE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR ME AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND NONE FOR THEM. I'M LEFT WONDERING WHETHER MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE IS AN ISOLATED CASE OR ANOTHER UNSUSPECTING DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM UNDER MUCH LESS ADVANTAGEOUS CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD EASILY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF LIFE. CONSEQUENTLY, I'M HOPEFUL THAT SOMEONE AT NHTSA WILL BE ABLE TO GET SOME SOLID ANSWERS ABOUT THE CAUSE AND NOT LEAVE IT TO CONJECTURE BY BMW. *LA
THE DEALER SAYS US SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS CANOT BE ADJUSTED FOR SAFETY REASONS. CONSUMER STATES' THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING FOR THE ROAD AHEAD. CONSUMER FEELS ITS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE AT AN ANGLE WERE THEY ARE POINTING DOWNWARDS INSTEAD OF STRAIGHT AHEAD. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT BUCKETS WITH SAME BUCKETS THAT ARE DEFECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
SPEEDOMETER READS 10% TOO HIGH - DEALER CAN NOT FIX - DOT STANDARD 2.5%. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768326
TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON FREEWAY, TIRE BLEW OUT ON INNER SIDE. HAD TO PULL OVER ON LEFT SIDE OF FREEWAY. HIGHWAY PATROL HAD TO STOP TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY AND HAD ME DRIVE ON FLAT TIRE TO NEAREST EXIT TO A SAFE SPOT FOR CHANGE OFF TIRE. TIRE DEALER FOUD A SMALL NAIL ON FACE OF TIRE. CALLED MICHELIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS TYPE OF TIRE WOULD BLOW OUT WHEN AIR GOT LOW AND TIRE WAS ON FREEWAY BECAUSE TEMPERATURES GOT UP TO 250 DEGREES ON INSIDE OF TIRE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT CONSIDERED A TIRE FAILURE AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT AS A COURTESY THEY WOULD ALLOW ME 50% OFF A REPLACEMENT. I CONSIDER THIS A VERY SERIOUS TIRE FAILURE.*AK I WAS PUT IN A DEADLY SITUATION AND HAD TO BE EXTRICATED BY THE HIGHWAY PATROL BECAUSE THE BLOW OUT DID NOT ALLOW ME TO SAFELY GET OUT OF THE LEFT LANE AND OUT OF HARMS WAY. IF A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE FREEWAY IS THE EXPECTED RESULT OF A SLOW LEAK FROM A SMALL NAIL, THIS TIRE SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT MICHELIN (PHONE 800-847-3435) TOLD ME THAT IF I MADE ANY FURTHER COMPLAINTS TO THE CAR DEALER OR ANYONE ELSE, THEY WOULD DISALLOW THE 50% DISCOUNT ON THE REPLACEMENT TIRE. THIS ALONE SHOULD TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE. (DOT NUMBER: UCX289 TIRESIZE: 235 60 16)
NO CHILD SEAT TETHER APPARATUS, SAME VEHICLE DELIVERED 1 MONTH LATER HAS (3) TETHER APPARATUS HOOKS BUILT INTO CAR. DEALER WANTS OVER $200 TO INSTALL SAME IN MY VEHICLE. MY 1995 BMW 540I HAD ACCESSIBLE HOLES IN WHICH TO INSTALL TETHER HOOKS AT A COST OF $3. WHY WOULD SAME MODEL DELIVERED ONE MONTH LATER BE FULLY EQUIPPED WITH THE SAFETY FEATURE AND MY VEHICLE IS NOT. PLEASE RESPOND. I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, A CAR IN THE OTHER LANE HIT A PIECE OF FIREWOOD AND KNOCKED IT UNDER OUR CAR. THIS CAUSED (FOR SOME REASON) THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON THE DOOR (THE SIDE AIRBAG) TO DEPLOY. WHEN IT DEPLOYED, IT TORE LOOSE A STRIP OF DECORATIVE METAL ON THE INTERIOR. THE STRIP WAS ABOUT 2-3 FEET LONG AND HAD BETWEEN 3 AND 5 1" BOLTS PROTRUDING FROM IT. THE METAL STRIP HIT THE PASSENGER ON THE ARM AND CAUSED AN ABRASION. WE WERE GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS FOR TWO REASONS: (1) WHY DID THAT PARTICULAR BAG DEPLOY WHEN THERE WAS ONLY DAMAGE UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND (2) THE METAL STRIP THAT RIPPED OFF COULD HAVE HIT SOMEONE IN THE EYE OR IN ANOTHER PLACE THAT WOULD CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY. EVEN AS IT WAS, THE PASSENGER'S ARM WAS TOTALLY BRUISED FROM WRIST TO SHOULDER. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE DEALER AND THE BMW COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT, WHO TOLD US WE WOULD HEAR FROM THEM WITHIN 3 DAYS. THIS WAS 4 WEEKS AGO, SO WE OBVIOUSLY ARE NOT GOING TO HEAR FROM THEM NOW.
Showing 20 of 46 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact BMW 740il
These pages show model-year patterns across 2 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used BMW 740il, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The BMW 740il has 46 complaints on record across 2 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The BMW 740il has 4 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 1 of the BMW 740il's 46 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all BMW 740il vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two BMW 740il vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The BMW 740il has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used BMW 740il.
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BMW 740il reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the BMW 740il reliable?
Average. The BMW 740il has 46 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which BMW 740il years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2001 (26 complaints), 2000 (20 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common BMW 740il problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8 complaints); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (6 complaints); AIR BAGS (6 complaints).
Does the BMW 740il have recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the BMW 740il. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.