IllustrationLCD PIXEL FAILURE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING INDICATORS UNABLE TO SEE SAFETY AND ENGINE WARNINGS
2001 BMW 740IL
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 740IL years →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: 19 of 26 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
5 reportsCOMMON 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 …
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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? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT STATED THE PIXELS IN THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WERE PROGRESSIVELY FADING, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO READ THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD. ONLY THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WAS DIFFICULT TO READ AND THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHETHER HE WAS DRIVING OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT STATED THE PIXELS IN THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WERE PROGRESSIVELY FADING, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO READ THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD. ONLY THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WAS DIFFICULT TO READ AND THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHETHER HE WAS DRIVING OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FAILURE WAS COMMON HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
PURCHASED PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED CAR IN APRIL 06, STARTING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS: WINDOW MOTORS, GPS SYSTEM/MONITOR, CAR KEPT DYEING WHILE STOPPED AND DRIVING, ENGINE SHUTDOWN/FAILSAFE MODE, BRAKE LIGHTS BLOWING ALL THE TIME, FUSES AND IGNITION SWITCH GOING OUT ALL THE TIME. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE ABOUT …
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PURCHASED PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED CAR IN APRIL 06, STARTING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS: WINDOW MOTORS, GPS SYSTEM/MONITOR, CAR KEPT DYEING WHILE STOPPED AND DRIVING, ENGINE SHUTDOWN/FAILSAFE MODE, BRAKE LIGHTS BLOWING ALL THE TIME, FUSES AND IGNITION SWITCH GOING OUT ALL THE TIME. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE ABOUT 18 TIMES IN THE LAST 26 MONTHS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND WE FOUND OUT THE "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY WE BOUGHT IS NOT BUMPER TO BUMPER BUT LISTED PARTS, WHATEVER THAT MEANS; AFTER CONTACTING BMW NORTH AMERICA FOUND OUT CAR IS NOT PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED; AND AFTER HAVING OUR SERVICING DEALER PROVIDE US WITH MAINTENANCE LIST FROM VEHICLE (WAS A LEASED VEHICLE THAT STERLING SERVICED) WE HAVE FOUND THE SAME ISSUES WE ARE HAVING. THE CAR WAS A LEMON WHEN THE DEALER HAD IT BUT SINCE IT WAS LEASED THEY JUST KEPT DOING QUICK BANDAID FIXES. NOW WE ARE STUCK WITH THIS CAR THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR EVERY MONTH, HAVE SPENT OVER $5000 ON REPAIRS THAT OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY WON'T COVER AND NOW WE FIND OUT THE CAR DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR CA LEMON LAW WHICH IS CRAP BECAUSE IT IS APPARENT TO US IT WAS A LEMON IN THE BEGINNING AND STERLING KNEW IT AND SOLD US AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICING DEALER SINCE JULY 08 AND THEY JUST NOTIFIED US THEY CANNOT FIX THE CAR AND THEY ARE RETURNING IT TO US "AS IS". *TR
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.*AK
Official recalls
101V001000 · Tires:sidewall
Jan 4, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 18-INCH TIRES. (18-INCH TIRES ARE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE M5 AND OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT ON THE 7-SERIES MODELS). THE MACHINE USED TO MOUNT AND INFLATE THE TIRES ON THE WHEELS AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE SIDEWALL OF ONE OR MORE TIRES. THE DAMAGED AREA COULD WEAKEN TO THE POINT WHERE A SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR FROM THE TIRE COULD OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: HANDLING AND CONTROL WOULD BE DRASTICALLY AFFECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIRES AND IF DAMAGE FROM THE MOUNTING MACHINE IS FOUND, THE TIRE WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 10, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.