2012 BMW 740I Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2012 BMW 740I, and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2012 BMW 740I
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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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…
4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 BMW 740I have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 41,860 miles. Complaints peaked in 2012 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I pulled in to my home to discover that my BMW was leaking oil after taking it to a BMW service center they diagnosed and indeed i had an oil leak from the gasket housing seal car was still operating”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 6, 2019 · Engine
“We were traveling i-75 south near gainesville, fl., and the vehicle just shut down. We were in the fast lane and had to struggle to steer it to get it off the hwy. Light came on saying drivetrain malf”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 19, 2014 · Electrical system
Compare BMW 740I model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 740I model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 BMW 740I | 2 | 15 |
| 1994 BMW 740I | 2 | 7 |
| 1995 BMW 740I | 4 | 9 |
| 1996 BMW 740I | 2 | 1 |
| 1997 BMW 740I | 2 | 3 |
| 1998 BMW 740I | 0 | 8 |
| 1999 BMW 740I | 0 | 8 |
| 2000 BMW 740I | 1 | 12 |
| 2001 BMW 740I | 3 | 15 |
| 2012 BMW 740I | 1 | 4 |
| 2013 BMW 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 BMW 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 BMW 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 BMW 740I | 0 | 12 |
| 2017 BMW 740I | 0 | 7 |
| 2018 BMW 740I | 0 | 5 |
| 2019 BMW 740I | 1 | 4 |
| 2020 BMW 740I | 2 | 1 |
| 2021 BMW 740I | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 BMW 740I | 9 | 12 |
| 2024 BMW 740I | 5 | 3 |
| 2025 BMW 740I | 3 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2012 BMW 740I
How do I know if my 2012 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 2012 BMW 740I; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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 17V067000).
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
- 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.