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2001 BMW 740I Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2001 BMW 740I, and owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
15
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire

3 safety recalls for the 2001 BMW 740I

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 02V138000 Reported 1,550 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    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…

  2. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 01V206000 Reported 76,469 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    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…

  3. Tires: sidewall

    NHTSA 01V001000 Reported 3,167 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    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…

15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2001 BMW 740I have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 89,323 miles. Complaints peaked in 2005 with 2 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 23, 2022 · Unknown or other

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 25, 2020 · Air bags

Compare BMW 740I model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 740I model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1993 BMW 740I215
1994 BMW 740I27
1995 BMW 740I49
1996 BMW 740I21
1997 BMW 740I23
1998 BMW 740I08
1999 BMW 740I08
2000 BMW 740I112
2001 BMW 740I315
2012 BMW 740I14
2013 BMW 740I11
2014 BMW 740I11
2015 BMW 740I11
2016 BMW 740I012
2017 BMW 740I07
2018 BMW 740I05
2019 BMW 740I14
2020 BMW 740I21
2021 BMW 740I21
2023 BMW 740I912
2024 BMW 740I53
2025 BMW 740I30

Checking a specific 2001 BMW 740I

How do I know if my 2001 BMW 740I has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2001 BMW 740I; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 01V001000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other BMW models

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.