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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.

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26Owner complaints

Model-year median: 12

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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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 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

Tires complaints

1 reports
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54,100 miles · May 22, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingTiresInjury

IN MARCH 2007 LOW COOLANT WARNING CAUSED ME OPEN HOOD AND ADD COOLANT THREE TIMES BEFORE I TOOK CAR TO BMW DEALER ,WHO DIAGNOSED CRACKED PLASTIC RESERVOIR IN RADIATOR AND SEPARATE COOLANT TANK. EACH TIME ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED DUE TO A LOT OF PRESSURE UNDER RADIATOR COOLANT CAP. NEEDED MUCH TIME WAITING BEFORE OPENING TO ADD COO…

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IN MARCH 2007 LOW COOLANT WARNING CAUSED ME OPEN HOOD AND ADD COOLANT THREE TIMES BEFORE I TOOK CAR TO BMW DEALER ,WHO DIAGNOSED CRACKED PLASTIC RESERVOIR IN RADIATOR AND SEPARATE COOLANT TANK. EACH TIME ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED DUE TO A LOT OF PRESSURE UNDER RADIATOR COOLANT CAP. NEEDED MUCH TIME WAITING BEFORE OPENING TO ADD COOLANT. THIS WAS DEFECTIVE MATERIALS AND NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BREAKDOWN. EVERY PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE BY BOOK ON THIS BMW. MANUFACTURER DISCLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY AS CAR OUT OF WARRANTY BY FEW MONTHS. CAR HAD 54,000 MILES. PLASTIC WAS FOUND HARDENED BY HEAT AND BRITTLENESS CRACKED THE SAME. 339 OTHER BMW 740IL OWNERS HAVE FILED PETITION ON INTERNET FOR SAME CRACKED PLASTIC RADIATORS (ON BMW 740I ,AND IL MODELS BETWEEN YEARS 1995 THROUGH 2001. BMW IGNORED OUR PLEAS FOR FREE REPLACEMENT. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE NOT EXPECTED ON PREMIUM CAR LIKE THIS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10191434

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.