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BMW 740IModel year report

2001 BMW 740I Problems

Complaints
15filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
75,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 4.4L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2001 BMW 740I (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2001 BMW 740I. The part named most often is air bags, with 3 complaints (20% of the total), followed by electrical system (3) and engine (3). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 9% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 75,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 8 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “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 to close driver door. As I approached the vehicle to close drver side door the passenger side airbage suddenly deployed for no apparent reason shattering the windshield. There had been no impact prior to this. It was a hot day.”

NHTSA complaint #11341442, filed 2020-07, 230,000 miles

Electrical system: “Smoke from engine and burning wires and electrical connectors at the plug to the engine cooling thermostat small fire extinguished with a small amount of water.”

NHTSA complaint #10217561, filed 2008-02, 65,000 miles

Engine: “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 mechanical work in order for it to be safe to drive.”

NHTSA complaint #11099269, filed 2018-06, 12,650 miles

Suspension: “Driving on the interstate, clear weather, average traffic, and during a lane change there was an unusual feel to the steering response. I slowed and moved to the left, shimmied the car gently side-side. Maybe a tire losing pressure, I thought. I tool the first exit, got out and found no obvious problem. I started out again but as I turned back to go straight, the steering wheel did not align with its usual 'straight' position. I parked it and called for a tow. Again nothing obvious until we lowered the car off the flatbed. …”

NHTSA complaint #10152895, filed 2006-03, 77,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

9% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 62,000 and 100,700 miles.

0%0–109%10–250%25–5036%50–7527%75–10018%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 75,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’012’062’09’11’14’18’22
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2001 BMW 740I version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
740i RWD4.4L 8-cyl5-speed automatic152218$4,550
740i RWD4.4L 8-cyl5-speed automatic141916$5,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2001 BMW 740I → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 8 on record; the latest 8 are shown.

Other model years of the BMW 740I

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20231223,2359—27—Too new
2018596,0000—24—Not enough data
2017744,7500—24—Not enough data
2016127,3480—24—Not enough data
20011575,0003—18—Falling
20001273,0751—18—Not enough data
1999878,5000—18—Not enough data
1998875,0000—18—Not enough data
1995981,2504—17—Not enough data
1994789,4112—17—Not enough data
19931593,5002—16—Stable

All BMW 740I model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001 BMW 740I have?

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2001 BMW 740I as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2001 BMW 740I is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 3 complaints (20% of the total), followed by electrical system with 3.

Has the 2001 BMW 740I been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2001 BMW 740I get?

The EPA rates the 2001 BMW 740I (740i, 4.4L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2001 BMW 740I reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 75,000 miles and the middle half falls between 62,000 and 100,700 miles; 9% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.