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BMW 740ILModel year report

2001 BMW 740IL Problems

Complaints
26filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
100,000miles, 19 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of 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 740IL (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2001 BMW 740IL. The part named most often is air bags, with 5 complaints (19% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and engine cooling (4). 19 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 100,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 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.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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: Seats (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Common defect: air bag warning light is on. Suspected passenger seat sensor failure. I've had 2 Bmw's from this series - both with the same issue - yet no recall from Bmw - why? Isn't this a safety system? I see airbag recalls on cars dating back to this era. Why none for Bmw? Also - odometer ribbon cable failure causing pixels to fail. No recall - problem exists across the series from 1996-2001 and beyond. No fix - no recall - no repairs offered. Why?”

NHTSA complaint #10668840, filed 2014-12, 56,900 miles

Electrical system: “5 times failure to start the car and needed 5 return visits for the same problem,2 new batteries,and continue the same problem.now my faith has been shaken with this car,I cannot rely on it,bought as new 2001 Bmw 740IL,5000 miles only,it is a substantial impairment to my line of work.”

NHTSA complaint #766875, filed 2002-09

Engine cooling: “In april 2008 low coolant warning caused me open hood and add coolant. The coolant level was perfect but I still added more. The light for low coolant was still appearing every time I drove the car. Every preventive maintenance has been done by book on this Bmw. The car has been to the dealer twice after this low coolant light but not for the coolant related service. They could have checked this and advised me of potential problem. Car has 65,000 miles. Plastic was found hardened by heat and brittleness cracked the same. …”

NHTSA complaint #10254676, filed 2009-01, 65,000 miles

Fuel system: “My gas tank is slowly imploding...apparently, Bmw is quite aware of the condition as a bulletin was produced on 11-9-2003 based on a defect in engineering design or the hardware chosen. In the meantime, my car is a fuel timebomb - this is an obvious manufacturing defect.”

NHTSA complaint #10245625, filed 2008-10, 66,172 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 19 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 71,000 and 110,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–5026%50–7521%75–10042%100–15011%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (19 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 100,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’02’084’10’13’154’17’19
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 740IL 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
740il RWD4.4L 8-cyl5-speed automatic152218$4,550

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 740IL → · 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 740IL

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200126100,0003—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20002075,0001—18—Stable
1999685,0020—18—Not enough data
199826106,9340—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19971972,0001—18—Stable
199611156,0001—18—Not enough data
199512155,0003—17—Not enough data
19939—1—16—Not enough data

All BMW 740IL model years

Frequently asked questions

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

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2001 BMW 740IL as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Air bags is named most often, in 5 complaints (19% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.

Has the 2001 BMW 740IL 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 740IL get?

The EPA rates the 2001 BMW 740IL (740il, 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 740IL reported?

Among the 19 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 100,000 miles and the middle half falls between 71,000 and 110,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.