BMW 740IL Problems by Year
NHTSA has 120 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on file for the BMW 740IL, across 7 model years (1995–2001). The 2001 model year has the most complaints (26). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
BMW 740IL years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No 740IL model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2001 740IL: 26 complaints, 1 recall
- 1998 740IL: 26 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2000 740IL: 20 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1999 740IL: 6 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1996 740IL: 11 complaints, 1 recall
- 1995 740IL: 12 complaints, 3 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 740IL problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 25 | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 18 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 | 5 | 0 |
| Power Train | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| Suspension | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| Steering | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 740IL model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 740IL | 26 | 1 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 740IL | 20 | 1 | — | Tires | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 740IL | 6 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1998 740IL | 26 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 740IL | 19 | 1 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1996 740IL | 11 | 1 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1995 740IL | 12 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Fewer complaints than other years |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 740IL years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2001 (26), 1998 (26), 2000 (20). 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 740IL?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 25 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW 740IL have?
5 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.