BMW 740Li recall history

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the BMW 740Li, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 16
Total Complaints 37
Years Covered 2011–2022

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the BMW 740Li. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.

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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data. Always check your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov for vehicle-specific recall information.

Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the BMW 740Li, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Electrical

2 campaigns · Years: 2020–2022

These campaigns relate to wiring or electrical components that can cause warning lights, loss of function, or fire risk in some cases.

Official notices (evidence):

Powertrain

2 campaigns · Years: 2012, 2021

These campaigns relate to drivetrain or transmission components that can affect shifting, power delivery, or control.

Official notices (evidence):

Airbags

1 campaign · Years: 2016

These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.

Official notices (evidence):
  • 16V173000 · Air bags: Sensor/control module-inactive

Brakes

1 campaign · Years: 2020–2021

These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.

Official notices (evidence):

Other

1 campaign · Years: 2019–2020

These campaigns do not fit a single dominant theme, or the component taxonomy is broad.

Official notices (evidence):

Seats and restraints

1 campaign · Years: 2020–2021

These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.

Official notices (evidence):

Visibility and lighting

1 campaign · Years: 2013–2015

These campaigns relate to lighting, glass, or visibility components (lamps, wipers, and related systems).

Official notices (evidence):

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the BMW 740Li in NHTSA complaint data are Engine, Power train, Electrical system.

Jump to Model Year

Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
2022 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
2021 5 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
2020 4 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
2019 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
2016 1 1 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags.
2015 1 1 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine.
2014 1 4 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags, Seat belts, Wheels.
2013 1 7 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:lock.
2012 1 8 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train, Engine, Electronic stability control (esc).
2011 0 16 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system.

What to Do Next

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Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Electrical system , Exterior lighting and Child seat

Show recall evidence by year

2022

  • Electrical system: Starter assembly: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (25V644000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 340I, X6, 2020-2025 840I, 2020-2022 740LI, 2019-2020 X7, and X5 vehicles. After repeated attempts, the starter motor may overheat from an electrical overload.

2021

  • Child seat: Connector/clip: Safety recall involving the child seat area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (20V379000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 740Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive, M760Li xDrive, and Alpina B7 vehicles. The top child seat tether anchor on the rear middle seat may not be readily accessible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal
  • Electrical system: 12V/24v/48v battery: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (20V761000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The connection between
  • Power train: Driveshaft: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (21V046000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530i xDrive, 540i xDrive and 2021 740Li xDrive vehicles. The output shafts (left/right) which transfer power from the driveshaft to the rear wheels may break due to a heat treatment error during supplier production.
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (21V062000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i
  • Electrical system: Starter assembly: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (25V644000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 340I, X6, 2020-2025 840I, 2020-2022 740LI, 2019-2020 X7, and X5 vehicles. After repeated attempts, the starter motor may overheat from an electrical overload.

2020

  • Back over prevention: Camera: Safety recall involving the back over prevention area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (19V684000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series
  • Child seat: Connector/clip: Safety recall involving the child seat area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (20V379000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 740Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive, M760Li xDrive, and Alpina B7 vehicles. The top child seat tether anchor on the rear middle seat may not be readily accessible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (21V062000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i
  • Electrical system: Starter assembly: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (25V644000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 340I, X6, 2020-2025 840I, 2020-2022 740LI, 2019-2020 X7, and X5 vehicles. After repeated attempts, the starter motor may overheat from an electrical overload.

2019

  • Back over prevention: Camera: Safety recall involving the back over prevention area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (19V684000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series

2016

  • Air bags: Sensor/control module-inactive: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (16V173000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 740Li, 750Li, and 750Lxi vehicles manufactured July 1, 2015, to December 11, 2015. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may randomly reset due to an electrical short circuit as a result of residual metallic

2015

  • Exterior lighting: Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (17V379000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2015 740i, 740Li, 740Lxi, 750i, 750xi, 750Li and 750Lxi and 2014 ActiveHybrid 7 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have received incorrect replacement left rear taillight assemblies. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the require

2014

  • Exterior lighting: Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (17V379000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2015 740i, 740Li, 740Lxi, 750i, 750xi, 750Li and 750Lxi and 2014 ActiveHybrid 7 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have received incorrect replacement left rear taillight assemblies. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the require

2013

  • Exterior lighting: Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (17V379000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2015 740i, 740Li, 740Lxi, 750i, 750xi, 750Li and 750Lxi and 2014 ActiveHybrid 7 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have received incorrect replacement left rear taillight assemblies. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the require

2012

  • Power train: Constant velocity joint: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (17V067000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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 2

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⚠️ Important Safety Information

Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.

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