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2001 BMW 740IL

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
26Owner complaints

Model-year median: 12

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2001 BMW 740IL

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 26 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Air Bags: 5 reports
  • Electrical System: 5 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 3 reports
  • Power Train: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
26
19986
199920
200026
2001
Compare all 740IL years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
5Electrical System
5Engine And Engine Cooling
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3Power Train
3
All reported categories
Steering
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Suspension
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1

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

Steering complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
84,000 miles · Feb 1, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringSuspension

START THE CAR POWER STEERING FROZE, I HAVE SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT FIX THE PROBLEM OR I HAVE TO REPEAT. SOMETIME WHILE DRIVING STEERING FREEZE. I HAD HOSES LEAK, REPLACED HOSES STILL HAVE MORE LEAKS. WHILE DRIVING CAR UNSTABLE, I CHANGED TIRES PROBLEM REMAIN THE SAME. I CHECKED ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND ALL IN GOOD …

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START THE CAR POWER STEERING FROZE, I HAVE SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT FIX THE PROBLEM OR I HAVE TO REPEAT. SOMETIME WHILE DRIVING STEERING FREEZE. I HAD HOSES LEAK, REPLACED HOSES STILL HAVE MORE LEAKS. WHILE DRIVING CAR UNSTABLE, I CHANGED TIRES PROBLEM REMAIN THE SAME. I CHECKED ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND ALL IN GOOD CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI #10823642

200,000 miles · Jan 10, 2015
Steering

THREE YEARS AGO I BOUGHT AN AFTERMARKET CENTER STEERING LINK FOR MY CAR....MADE IN CHINA. AFTER THREE YEARS, I DETECTED SIGNIFICANT PLAY IN THE CENTER LINK WHERE THERE SHOULD BE NONE. I ORDER A SECOND ONE AND REPLACED IT. AFTER THREE MONTHS I DETECTED PLAY IN THE STEERING LINK, NOT AS BAD AS AFTER THREE YEARS, BUT THERE SHOUL…

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THREE YEARS AGO I BOUGHT AN AFTERMARKET CENTER STEERING LINK FOR MY CAR....MADE IN CHINA. AFTER THREE YEARS, I DETECTED SIGNIFICANT PLAY IN THE CENTER LINK WHERE THERE SHOULD BE NONE. I ORDER A SECOND ONE AND REPLACED IT. AFTER THREE MONTHS I DETECTED PLAY IN THE STEERING LINK, NOT AS BAD AS AFTER THREE YEARS, BUT THERE SHOULD BE ZERO PLAY IN THIS PART. I REPLACED IT TODAY WITH AND OEM PART AND WANTED TO REPORT THE DEFECTIVE PART WHICH IS BEING SOLD IN HIGH VOLUME ON THE INTERNET (EBAY). I BELIEVE SHOULD THIS PART FAIL COMPLETELY, IT WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I WILL RETAIN FOR A WHILE THE PART I REMOVED IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671615

Recall campaigns

1

01V001000 · 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 ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.