BMW 740i Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank BMW 740i model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1996 drew the fewest (1) and the 2001 the most (15).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 2 | Suspension | — | — |
| 2013 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 1 | Air bags | — | 22 |
| 2014 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 1 | Unknown or other | — | 22 |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | Engine | — | 22 |
| 2020 | 1 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 24 |
| 2021 | 1 | 2 | Forward collision avoidance | — | 25 |
| 1997 | 3 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
3 | 5 | Electronic stability control | — | 28 |
| 2012 | 4 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 20 |
| 2019 | 4 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 24 |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | Engine | — | 24 |
| 1994 | 7 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 17 |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 24 |
| 1998 | 8 | 0 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 18 |
| 1999 | 8 | 0 | Air bags | — | 16–18 |
| 1995 | 9 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 17 |
| 2000 Among the most complaints |
12 | 1 | Power train | — | — |
| 2016 Among the most complaints |
12 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 24 |
| 2023 | 12 | 9 | Service brakes | — | 27 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
15 | 3 | Air bags | — | 16–18 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the BMW 740i years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2001 BMW 740i: 15 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 3 (20%); Electrical system 3 (20%); Engine 3 (20%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 75,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2016 BMW 740i: 12 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 3 (25%); Engine 2 (17%); Seat belts 2 (17%).
Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 12,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2000 BMW 740i: 12 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 3 (25%); Fuel system 2 (17%); Seats 2 (17%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire. 1 recall campaign listed.
The BMW 740i years with the fewest complaints
2013 BMW 740i: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (100%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 2 injuries. 1 recall campaign listed.
2014 BMW 740i: 1 complaints
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in BMW 740i owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12,000 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 75,000 |
| 2000 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest BMW 740i recalls
- BMW/CRUISE CONTROL-THROTTLE CABLE (1993–1997 model years; 410,000 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 1997; 97V131000)
- Integrated Brake System Malfunction (2023–2025 model years; 266,716 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2024; 24V104000)
- BMW/BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:SWITCH:BRAKE LIGHT (1993–1994 model years; 180,000 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 1996; 96V111000)
- Starter Motor May Fail and Overheat (2020–2021 model years; 105,588 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2024; 24V576000)
- BMW/ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN (2001 model year; 76,469 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2001; 01V206000)
All 23 BMW 740i recall campaigns · BMW 740i problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
BMW 740i years FAQ
Which BMW 740i year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1996 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there BMW 740i years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2001, 2016 and 2000 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common BMW 740i problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (22 of 115 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the BMW 740i have?
NHTSA lists 23 recall campaigns covering the BMW 740i. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the BMW 740i recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.