BMW 7 Series Problems by Year
NHTSA has 124 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file for the BMW 7 Series, across 18 model years (1995–2012). The 2006 model year has the most complaints (29). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
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BMW 7 Series years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 7 Series year: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2006 7 Series: 29 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2004 7 Series: 28 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2007 7 Series: 13 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1996 7 Series: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 1995 7 Series: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1997 7 Series: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW 7 Series problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 20 | 7 | 2 |
| Power Train | 20 | 9 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 14 | 9 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| Engine | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Seats | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| Structure | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 7 Series model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 7 Series | 2 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2011 7 Series | 3 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2010 7 Series | 2 | 2 | — | Power Train | |
| 2009 7 Series | 9 | 2 | — | Engine | |
| 2008 7 Series | 11 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 7 Series | 13 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 7 Series | 29 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 7 Series | 4 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2004 7 Series | 28 | 4 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 7 Series | 8 | 2 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2002 7 Series | 4 | 1 | — | Seat Belts | |
| 2001 7 Series | 2 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2000 7 Series | 2 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 1999 7 Series | 2 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1998 7 Series | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 1997 7 Series | 2 | 0 | — | Fuel System, Other | |
| 1996 7 Series | 1 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 1995 7 Series | 2 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 7 Series years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2004 (28), 2006 (29), 2007 (13), 2008 (11) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 7 Series year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW 7 Series?
Air Bags, with 20 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW 7 Series have?
8 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.