IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. .. UPDATED 12/2216 *BF *TR
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
Power Train complaints
3 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740 IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 6 MPH, HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BU…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740 IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 6 MPH, HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE PREVIOUSLY ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS IN REVERSE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED DUE TO THE HIGH MILEAGE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIF…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE PREVIOUSLY ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS IN REVERSE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED DUE TO THE HIGH MILEAGE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 150,000.
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.