2001 BMW 740I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 740I years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW 740I. That is the most of any 740I model year in the database (20 years). The most reported problem area is air bags (3 complaints, 20%), typically at around 230,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 15owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 BMW 740I problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 | 20% | 230,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 20% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 20% | 43,825 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 20% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 13% | 62,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 13% | 37,325 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 7% | 100,700 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 7% | 84,100 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 7% | 143,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 7% | 73,105 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 7% | 230,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 BMW 740I recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan
Problem: 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.
Risk: If this were to occur, engine overheating and subsequent engine damage could result. In addition, it is possible for the failure of the electrical circuitry to cause a fire in the fan control unit located in the front of the engine compartment.
Fix: 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 dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan
Problem: 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.
Risk: If this were to occur, engine overheating and subsequent engine damage could result. In addition, it is possible for the failure of the electrical circuitry to cause a fire in the fan control unit located in the front of the engine compartment.
Fix: 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 time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Tires:sidewall
Problem: 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 point where a sudden loss of air from the tire could occur.
Risk: Handling and control would be drastically affected increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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 completely separated from the rest of the tire, but I was able to recover it from down in the…
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 seat. Parked at home,in driveway, in gainesville, ga, us. I unloaded some groceries then came back…
A chevy pickup pulled into the one way road leading to a hotel and immediately went around an ellipse and hit me as i was exiting my hotel and got hit in the drivers front quarter panel while he was pulling around in the elliptical one way drive. The engine was checked and it needs $5500 worth of…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 bmw 740i. While pulling into a fuel station, the vehicle began to overheat. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fan control unit failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 01v206000 (engine and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 bmw 740i. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the engine thermostat wires were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and…
Other BMW 740I years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 740I | 0 | 3 |
| 2024 740I | 3 | 5 |
| 2023 740I | 12 | 9 |
| 2021 740I | 1 | 2 |
| 2020 740I | 1 | 2 |
| 2019 740I | 4 | 1 |
| 2018 740I | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 740I | 7 | 0 |
| 2016 740I | 12 | 0 |
| 2015 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 740I | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 740I | 4 | 1 |
| 2001 | 15 | 3 |
| 2000 740I | 12 | 1 |
| 1999 740I | 8 | 0 |
| 1998 740I | 8 | 0 |
| 1997 740I | 3 | 2 |
| 1996 740I | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 740I | 9 | 4 |
See all BMW 740I problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
Embed this 2001 BMW 740I badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW 740I?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, engine problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 BMW 740I?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 BMW 740I a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 740I model years, the 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.