2001 BMW 740

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

2 reports

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155,000 miles · Sep 15, 2016

Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL IN 2012, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED IN AUGUST OF 2016. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL IN 2012, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED IN AUGUST OF 2016. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10906830

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2002

Electrical SystemFire

SMELLED SMOKE IN CAR BEFORE STARTING ENGINE. GOT OUT/ OPENED PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, AND SAW FIRE COMING OUT DOWN NEAR THE SEAT AREA. TOWED TO BMW, AND THEY STATED A SWITCH MAY HAVE BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THIS FIRE. WHEN AIR GETS TO FIRE IT IGNITES. NORMALLY FIRE WOULD BURN OUT BUT SINCE THE DOOR WAS OPENED AIR GOT TO WIRE AND IG…

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SMELLED SMOKE IN CAR BEFORE STARTING ENGINE. GOT OUT/ OPENED PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, AND SAW FIRE COMING OUT DOWN NEAR THE SEAT AREA. TOWED TO BMW, AND THEY STATED A SWITCH MAY HAVE BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THIS FIRE. WHEN AIR GETS TO FIRE IT IGNITES. NORMALLY FIRE WOULD BURN OUT BUT SINCE THE DOOR WAS OPENED AIR GOT TO WIRE AND IGNITED A FLAME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017520

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.