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
What owners actually said
26 reports
102,000 miles · Dec 13, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. THE VEHICLE WAS TUNED UP ON OCTOBER 6, 2007 AND NOVEMBER 28, 2007. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THE ADD ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE QUICKEST THE ADD ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT HAS EVER ILLUMINATED FOLLOWING A TUNE UP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGIN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. THE VEHICLE WAS TUNED UP ON OCTOBER 6, 2007 AND NOVEMBER 28, 2007. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THE ADD ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE QUICKEST THE ADD ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT HAS EVER ILLUMINATED FOLLOWING A TUNE UP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 102,000.
NHTSA ODI #10211786
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
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2002
Electrical System
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
NHTSA ODI #766875
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
FRONT CRASH AT 35 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR HEAD INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8016040
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Air Bags
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #761570
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2001
Air Bags
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, AND OVERHEAD AIR BAGS FELL DOWN, BUT DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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.
2001 BMW 740IL Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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