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2016 BMW 740I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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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

All reported categories

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: 10 of 12 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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

12 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2024
Electrical SystemLane DepartureSeat Belts

Blind spot warning randomly works. Passenger seatbelt phantom seatbelt warning while driving alone!

NHTSA ODI #11597560

52,000 miles · Nov 9, 2022
Suspension

The contact owns a 2016 BMW 740I. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front air suspension failed to perform as designed, causing the front end of the vehicle to remain lowered, making the front driver’s and passenger’s side tires touching the inner wheel well. The vehicle was taken to the local service cent…

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The contact owns a 2016 BMW 740I. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front air suspension failed to perform as designed, causing the front end of the vehicle to remain lowered, making the front driver’s and passenger’s side tires touching the inner wheel well. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who diagnosed that the front driver’s and passenger’s side air suspension was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were both notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 52,000.

NHTSA ODI #11492944

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2022
Engine

Active Air Flap fault, Upper and Lower Actuator is not working and that is why engine is overheating. BMW has extended this warranty to 10 years/120K miles for 750 and 550 series manufactured up to Aug 2019. But they have not done that on 740 series. My vehicle has the same problem and should be covered under the same in order t…

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Active Air Flap fault, Upper and Lower Actuator is not working and that is why engine is overheating. BMW has extended this warranty to 10 years/120K miles for 750 and 550 series manufactured up to Aug 2019. But they have not done that on 740 series. My vehicle has the same problem and should be covered under the same in order to avoid engine damage. Please advice the next step. The fault code are: P05A0, P05AE, P05A2, P059F.

NHTSA ODI #11483478

75,100 miles · Nov 8, 2020
Structure

NOT REALLY SURE IF THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY COMPLAINT, BUT IT COULD LEAD TO PROBLEMS IF NOT CORRECTED. THE UPPER RADIATOR SHUTTLE WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS CAN CAUSE RESTRICTED CLIMATE CONTROL IN THE VEHICLE INTERIOR, REDUCTION OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND POSSIBLY ENGINE OVERHEATING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMM…

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NOT REALLY SURE IF THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY COMPLAINT, BUT IT COULD LEAD TO PROBLEMS IF NOT CORRECTED. THE UPPER RADIATOR SHUTTLE WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS CAN CAUSE RESTRICTED CLIMATE CONTROL IN THE VEHICLE INTERIOR, REDUCTION OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND POSSIBLY ENGINE OVERHEATING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MODEL YEARS 2016+. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE SHUTTER. THE LINK BELOW IS FOR ANOTHER MODEL OF BMW, BUT SHOWS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM: HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2019/MC-10160279-9999.PDF

NHTSA ODI #11373643

29,000 miles · Aug 3, 2020
Unknown Or Other

ON JULY 30, I WAS DRIVING AT 35MPH ON A MAJOR ROAD IN PINETOP/LAKESIDE, ARIZONA WHEN THE SUNROOF, THAT WAS IN THE VENT POSITION, EXPLODED INWARD SHOWERING ME AND A PASSENGER IN SHATTERED GLASS. IT WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION. DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE SUNROOF CASSETTE, THE REPAIR IS ABOUT $7,000.

NHTSA ODI #11343055

12,000 miles · Sep 26, 2018
Seat Belts

ON TWO OCCASIONS A FALSE FASTEN SEAT BELT FROM PASSENGER SIDE HAS COME UP WHEN THE SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED. THE CAR WAS SENT FOR REPAIR. ON THE FIRST OCCASION IT WAS INDICATED THE WIRING IS LOOSE FOR THE SEAT BELT HARNESS SO IT WAS TIGHTENED. ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE CAR WAS SENT TO DEALERSHIP IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARNESS W…

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ON TWO OCCASIONS A FALSE FASTEN SEAT BELT FROM PASSENGER SIDE HAS COME UP WHEN THE SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED. THE CAR WAS SENT FOR REPAIR. ON THE FIRST OCCASION IT WAS INDICATED THE WIRING IS LOOSE FOR THE SEAT BELT HARNESS SO IT WAS TIGHTENED. ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE CAR WAS SENT TO DEALERSHIP IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARNESS WIRING TRACK COULD COME LOOSE AND THEREFORE HAD TO BE REROUTED.

NHTSA ODI #11131757

25,000 miles · Sep 26, 2018
Engine

I GOT ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON MY BMW; ON EACH OCCASION THE CAR WAS SENT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR TO FIND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER RADIATOR BLINDS ARE AT FAULT AND THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE 2016 BMW 740I IS EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT GRILLE WHERE THE VENTS ARE COVERED BY BLINDS THAT OPEN WHEN THE CAR…

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I GOT ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON MY BMW; ON EACH OCCASION THE CAR WAS SENT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR TO FIND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER RADIATOR BLINDS ARE AT FAULT AND THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE 2016 BMW 740I IS EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT GRILLE WHERE THE VENTS ARE COVERED BY BLINDS THAT OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND CLOSED WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF ALLOWED SOME TIME FOR WARM AIR TO COME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11131756

2,696 miles · Apr 15, 2017
Unknown Or Other

ACTIVE PDC FAILS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS RELEASED IN MARCH 2017 BY BMW AND NEW SOFTWARE WAS DOWNLOADED. DESPITE THE NEW SOFTWARE DOWNLOADED TO VEHICLE THERE CONTINUES TO BE INCIDENTS POST THAT WHEN THE ACTIVE PDC FAILS TO ACTIVATE. BMW CONTINUES TO CLAIM THE FEATURE WORKS AS DESIGNED BUT THERE IS …

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ACTIVE PDC FAILS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS RELEASED IN MARCH 2017 BY BMW AND NEW SOFTWARE WAS DOWNLOADED. DESPITE THE NEW SOFTWARE DOWNLOADED TO VEHICLE THERE CONTINUES TO BE INCIDENTS POST THAT WHEN THE ACTIVE PDC FAILS TO ACTIVATE. BMW CONTINUES TO CLAIM THE FEATURE WORKS AS DESIGNED BUT THERE IS NEVER ANY EXPLANATION BY THE DEALER WHY IT IS BY DESIGN. FOREMAN AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE HE WITNESSED MULTIPLE FAILURES OF IT ARGUED THAT I CAN SEE THE CAR IS GOING TO HIT ANOTHER CAR OR AN OBJECT SO WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE IT ACTIVATE? THIS ARGUMENT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, BECAUSE THE FEATURE SHOULD WORK, AND IF YOU KNOW CAR IS GOING TO HIT ANOTHER CAR OR OBJECT THEN YOU SHOULD EXPECT FEATURE TO ACTIVATE OTHERWISE WHY IS THE FEATURE. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT ACCEPT TO DOCUMENT THE FAILURES IN THE SERVICE ORDER OR THE ARGUMENTS FOREMAN MADE.

NHTSA ODI #10978612

1,924 miles · Mar 8, 2017
Electrical System

AUDIO CONTROL SYSTEM FREEZES ON THE BMW 740I. IT HAPPENS THAT AUDIO IS GONE COMPLETELY, SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TO RAISE VOLUME: 1. GESTURE COMMANDS TO RAISE VOLUME (THE SYSTEM DOES NOT EVEN SHOW GESTURE IS INVOLVED ON THE DASH DISPLAY) 2. FROM THE POWER BUTTON BY MANUALLY ADJUSTING HIGHER, THERE IS …

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AUDIO CONTROL SYSTEM FREEZES ON THE BMW 740I. IT HAPPENS THAT AUDIO IS GONE COMPLETELY, SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TO RAISE VOLUME: 1. GESTURE COMMANDS TO RAISE VOLUME (THE SYSTEM DOES NOT EVEN SHOW GESTURE IS INVOLVED ON THE DASH DISPLAY) 2. FROM THE POWER BUTTON BY MANUALLY ADJUSTING HIGHER, THERE IS NO RESPONSE FROM SYSTEM AT ALL AND DASH SCREEN DOES NOT SHOW VOLUME INCREASE IS BEING ATTEMPTED. 3. FROM THE VOLUME UP BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AGAIN NO SIGN ON DASH SCREEN THAT VOLUME INCREASE IS BEING ATTEMPTED.

NHTSA ODI #10959574

1,339 miles · Feb 20, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

THE PROBLEM IS CENTERED AROUND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM OF BMW 740I 2016. BMW 740I CAN'T DETECT VEHICLES FROM THE RIGHT CORNER OR LEFT CORNER WHEN TWO LANES MERGE INTO ONE AND THE BMW IS APPROACHING THE OTHER VEHICLE WHERE THE OTHER VEHICLE IS EITHER AT FRONT RIGHT OR LEFT RIGHT. THERE ARE MULTIPLE SYMPTOMS OF THIS PROBLEM…

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THE PROBLEM IS CENTERED AROUND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM OF BMW 740I 2016. BMW 740I CAN'T DETECT VEHICLES FROM THE RIGHT CORNER OR LEFT CORNER WHEN TWO LANES MERGE INTO ONE AND THE BMW IS APPROACHING THE OTHER VEHICLE WHERE THE OTHER VEHICLE IS EITHER AT FRONT RIGHT OR LEFT RIGHT. THERE ARE MULTIPLE SYMPTOMS OF THIS PROBLEM: FIRST SYMPTOM, BMW 740I IS NOT TRACKING ANY VEHICLE AND COCKPIT DOES NOT SHOW A TRACKED VEHICLE. A CAR OR BIG TRUCK IS IN THE SECOND LANE MERGING FROM EITHER CORNER, BMW 740I DOES NOT DETECT THOUGH THERE WAS ENOUGH TIME AND DISTANCE TO DETECT. IN ONE EXAMPLE THERE WAS 18 WHEELER MERGING LANE AND BMW NEVER DETECTED THE 18 WHEELER THOUGH MAJORITY OF THE 18 WHEELER WAS AHEAD OF THE BMW FROM THE RIGHT CORNER. SECOND SYMPTOM IS BMW 740I IS TRACKING ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHEN TWO LANES MERGE THERE IS A CAR FROM THE OTHER LANE COMING IN FRONT FROM THE RIGHT CORNER OR LEFT CORNER, BMW NEVER SLOWS DOWN FURTHER SINCE THAT VEHICLE IS ALREADY NOW IN VIEW OF THE BMW. MY UNDERSTANDING THE BMW USES THE CAMERA BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, FACING FORWARD, TO DETECT SUCH SCENARIOS.

NHTSA ODI #10955560

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.