BMW 740I Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 23 safety recalls and 130 owner complaints across 22 model years of the BMW 740I (1993–2025). The most-complained-about year is 1993.
Pick your BMW 740I model year
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 BMW 740I | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 BMW 740I | 5 | 3 |
| 2023 BMW 740I | 9 | 12 |
| 2021 BMW 740I | 2 | 1 |
| 2020 BMW 740I | 2 | 1 |
| 2019 BMW 740I | 1 | 4 |
| 2018 BMW 740I | 0 | 5 |
| 2017 BMW 740I | 0 | 7 |
| 2016 BMW 740I | 0 | 12 |
| 2015 BMW 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 BMW 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 BMW 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 BMW 740I | 1 | 4 |
| 2001 BMW 740I | 3 | 15 |
| 2000 BMW 740I | 1 | 12 |
| 1999 BMW 740I | 0 | 8 |
| 1998 BMW 740I | 0 | 8 |
| 1997 BMW 740I | 2 | 3 |
| 1996 BMW 740I | 2 | 1 |
| 1995 BMW 740I | 4 | 9 |
| 1994 BMW 740I | 2 | 7 |
| 1993 BMW 740I | 2 | 15 |
What BMW 740I owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 130 complaints with NHTSA. The 1993 model year has the most, with 15.
All BMW 740I recalls (23)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a BMW 740I, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
-
Service brakes, hydraulic: control module and electronic stability control (esc)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2025 Mini Cooper S, Mini Countryman S All4, X2, 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre, 2023-2025 i7, 7 Series, X7, 2024-2025 i5, 5 Series, 2023-2024 XM, X1, 2024-2025 X6, and X5 vehicles. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the…
Remedy: The Integrated brake system will be inspected and, if necessary, replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417…
-
Service brakes, hydraulic: control module and electronic stability control (esc)
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 X1, X5, X6, X7, XM, 530i, i5, 740i, 760i, i7, and 750e vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the Antilock Brake (ABS) and…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the integrated brake module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed November 22, 2024. Second letters will be mailed once…
-
Electronic stability control (esc): control module and service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module
BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 X1, 2024-2025 X5, 2025 X6, 2023-2025 X7, 740i, 760i, 2024 XM, 530i, 540i, i7, 750e, X2, 2024-2025 i5, 2024 Rolls Royce Spectre, 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4, JCW Countryman ALL4, and 2025 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S) vehicles. Please refer to the recall report for the…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 13, 2024. Owners can contact BMW Customer Service at 1-800-525-7417.
-
Software (engine and engine cooling) and starter assembly (electrical system)
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2019-2020 X5, X7, 2020 3 Series Sedan, X6, 2020-2021 7 Series Sedan, 2020 8 Series Convertible, 8 Series Coupe, and 2020 8 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. In the event the starter motor fails, repeated attempts to start the vehicle…
Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
-
Service brakes, hydraulic: control module and electronic stability control (esc)
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2025 BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the Antilock Brake (ABS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between June and December 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls Royce customer…
-
Camera/sensor (electrical system)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 740i, 740i xDrive, 760i xDrive, i7 eDrive50, i7 xDrive60, i7 M70, 2024 750e xDrive, 530i, 530i xDrive, i5 eDrive40, and i5 M60 vehicles. The ground connection to the steering wheel may not have been attached correctly, resulting in an inoperative hands-on detection system.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reattach the ground connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
-
Visibility/wiper
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 740i, 760i xDrive and i7 xDrive60 vehicles. The windshield wipers may fail during certain weather conditions.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield wiper system, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 15, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Model years: 2023
-
Electrical system
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 740i, 760i xDrive and i7 xDrive60 vehicles equipped with an Interaction Bar. The Interaction Bar, located on the dashboard, may not activate the windshield defrosting/defogging system and/or the hazard warning lights. In addition, those control buttons may not illuminate when…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the Interaction Bar, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Model years: 2023
-
Seats
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 740i, 760i xDrive, and i7 xDrive60 vehicles. The front seat length adjustment system may not have been welded properly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front seats and if necessary, replace the seat front structure including the seat length adjustment system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 3, 2023. Owners may…
Model years: 2023
-
Electrical system
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 BMW 740i, 760i xDrive, and i7 xDrive60 vehicles. The telematics control unit may not transmit the vehicle location information to emergency responders.
Remedy: Dealers will update the telematics control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Model years: 2023
-
Software (back over prevention) and camera (back over prevention)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
-
Engine (engine and engine cooling)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Model years: 2019
-
Exterior lighting
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2015 740i, 740Li, 740Lxi, 750i, 750xi, 750Li and 750Lxi and 2014 ActiveHybrid 7 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have received incorrect replacement left rear taillight assemblies. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect left rear taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began August 11, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at…
-
Constant velocity joint (power train)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012 740i and 740Li vehicles. The rear…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear driveshaft CV joint and, based on its production date, will replace it, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service…
Model years: 2012
-
Fan (engine and engine cooling)
On certain passenger vehicles, the engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. This is a supplement to a recall that began during september 2001 (see recall campaign 01v206). Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…
Model years: 2001
-
Fan (engine and engine cooling)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable…
Model years: 2001
-
Tires: sidewall
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 18-inch tires. (18-inch tires are standard equipment on the m5 and optional equipment on the 7-series models). The machine used to mount and inflate the tires on the wheels at the assembly plant may have damaged the sidewall of one or more tires. The damaged area could weaken to the…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tires and if damage from the mounting machine is found, the tire will be replaced. Owner notification began march 10, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed…
Model years: 2001
-
Switch (exterior lighting)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The brake lamps in these vehicles are controlled by a switch activated by the movement of the brake pedal. This switch could fail internally, causing it to remain either in the "brake lamps off" position or in the "brake lamps on" position.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the existing brake lamp switch with an improved switch.
Model years: 2000
-
Coil springs (suspension)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Road grit and gravel associated with winter road conditions can penetrate the rubber of the lower front spring mounts and accumulate in the mounts causing notches or pits to develop. These notches can develop cracks resulting in breakage of a bottom coil of the spring.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts.
-
Vehicle speed control
The cruise control and throttle cables are attached to the same throttle valve actuating lever at the throttle housing. It is possible that the plastic bushing on either cable could break due to environmental influences coupled with vibration. If the bushing breaks, the outer cable housing can separate from the bushing. In this case,…
Remedy: Dealers will install a spring steel clip on the outer tube of each cable in the area of the adjusting screw and plastic bushing. The clip is designed to prevent the outer tube from dislodging from the bushing.
-
Switch (exterior lighting)
The brake light switch can fail allowing the switch to remain in the "brake lights off" position or in the "brake lights on" position.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the existing brake light switch with a newly designed switch.
Model years: 1993, 1994
-
Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Fuel seepage can occur between a hose and the metal fuel line on either end of the hose resulting in fuel odor.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the two fuel hoses, four metal fuel lines and associated clamps.
Model years: 1995
-
Suspension: rear
The lower suspension arm mounting eye on the right side rear axle hub carrier was produced with a casting flaw.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for a casting flaw in the right side rear axle carrier and if found, replace the carrier.
Model years: 1995
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.