FaultScore

FaultScore report

2009 BMW 7-SERIES problems

Owners have filed 17 complaints about the 2009 BMW 7-SERIES with NHTSA between 2010 and 2018. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

17

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

2

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

60,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

13%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

How 2009 compares with every other BMW 7-SERIES

Click any bar to open that year's report.

09 10 11 12
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2009 BMW 7-SERIES

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Transmission & Drivetrain 3 17.6%

Median failure at 90,500 miles

Engine & Cooling 3 17.6%

Median failure at 83,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 2 11.8%

Median failure at 102,500 miles

Body & Structure 2 11.8%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 43,000 mi

Electrical System 2 11.8%

Median failure at 36,000 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 5.9%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 83,000 mi

Stability & Traction Control 1 5.9%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

Lights 1 5.9%

Median failure at 100 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 5.9%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

Brakes 1 5.9%

Median failure at 36,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 1 6.7%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 6.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 3 20.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 3 20.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 4 26.7%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 3 20.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Mar 2010 peak 4 May 2018

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 83,000 miles Urbana, IL Fire

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE HOURS AFTER IT WAS PARKED AT HOME DRIVEWAY

NHTSA complaint #11091604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Urbana, IL Fire

STRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE HOURS AFTER IT WAS PARKED AT HOME DRIVEWAY

NHTSA complaint #11091604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles Rowland Height, CA 3 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PASSENGERS MIDDLE FINGERS WERE CAUGHT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, IN WHICH CLOSED INDEPENDENTLY. THE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND TWO ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS FOUND THAT THEIR FINGERS WERE CAUGHT IN THE DOOR. BOTH PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED PER THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE DOOR COULD CAUSE AN INJURY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,800.

NHTSA complaint #10396685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 83,000 miles Urbana, IL Fire

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE HOURS AFTER IT WAS PARKED AT HOME DRIVEWAY

NHTSA complaint #11091604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Urbana, IL Fire

STRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE HOURS AFTER IT WAS PARKED AT HOME DRIVEWAY

NHTSA complaint #11091604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Calhoun Falls, SC

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CAR STALLS OUT WHEN STOPPED THIS IS AFTER N93 RECALL GAS TANK IS FULL NO ONE KNOWS WHATS WRONG AFTER SITTING UP TO AN HOUR CAR STARTS WITHOUT PROBLEM. THIS HAPPEN AT LEAST FOUR TIMES

NHTSA complaint #11011526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 106,000 miles Atlanta, GA

POWER TRAIN

MY VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A WEEK ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL AFTER SITTING FOR AT LEAST 1 HOUR AND WOULD RESTART AND RUN AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD MY MECHANIC INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO CODES TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM SO HE CHANGED THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED 1 WEEK AFTER PUMP REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW GLOBAL IMPORTS IN ATLANTA. THEIR MECHANIC SUGGESTED I CHANGE THE BATTERY AND SPARK PLUGS. THE REP SAID THERE WERE A LOT OF LOW VOLTAGE ERRORS WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE STALLING. THE VEHICLE NEVER RAN ROUGH AND AND WOULD ALWAYS START EXCEPT AFTER STALLING. SO I CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING 1 HOUR AFTER INSTALLATION AND THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS TESTED AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS PUT BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND NOW THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN IN 1 HOUR. MY ORIGINAL MECHANIC ALSO ATTEMPTED TO RE-FLASH OR UPDATE ALL THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND IT STILL STALLS. THE SCREEN ALWAYS DISPLAYS "FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" WHEN THE ERROR OCCURS. THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND I HAVE HEARD STORIES OF OTHER BMW OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11002999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 106,000 miles Atlanta, GA

ENGINE

MY VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A WEEK ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL AFTER SITTING FOR AT LEAST 1 HOUR AND WOULD RESTART AND RUN AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD MY MECHANIC INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO CODES TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM SO HE CHANGED THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED 1 WEEK AFTER PUMP REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW GLOBAL IMPORTS IN ATLANTA. THEIR MECHANIC SUGGESTED I CHANGE THE BATTERY AND SPARK PLUGS. THE REP SAID THERE WERE A LOT OF LOW VOLTAGE ERRORS WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE STALLING. THE VEHICLE NEVER RAN ROUGH AND AND WOULD ALWAYS START EXCEPT AFTER STALLING. SO I CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING 1 HOUR AFTER INSTALLATION AND THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS TESTED AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS PUT BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND NOW THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN IN 1 HOUR. MY ORIGINAL MECHANIC ALSO ATTEMPTED TO RE-FLASH OR UPDATE ALL THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND IT STILL STALLS. THE SCREEN ALWAYS DISPLAYS "FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" WHEN THE ERROR OCCURS. THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND I HAVE HEARD STORIES OF OTHER BMW OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11002999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 106,000 miles Atlanta, GA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A WEEK ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL AFTER SITTING FOR AT LEAST 1 HOUR AND WOULD RESTART AND RUN AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD MY MECHANIC INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO CODES TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM SO HE CHANGED THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED 1 WEEK AFTER PUMP REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW GLOBAL IMPORTS IN ATLANTA. THEIR MECHANIC SUGGESTED I CHANGE THE BATTERY AND SPARK PLUGS. THE REP SAID THERE WERE A LOT OF LOW VOLTAGE ERRORS WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE STALLING. THE VEHICLE NEVER RAN ROUGH AND AND WOULD ALWAYS START EXCEPT AFTER STALLING. SO I CHANGED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING 1 HOUR AFTER INSTALLATION AND THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS TESTED AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS PUT BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND NOW THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN IN 1 HOUR. MY ORIGINAL MECHANIC ALSO ATTEMPTED TO RE-FLASH OR UPDATE ALL THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND IT STILL STALLS. THE SCREEN ALWAYS DISPLAYS "FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" WHEN THE ERROR OCCURS. THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND I HAVE HEARD STORIES OF OTHER BMW OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11002999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Laveen, AZ

POWER TRAIN

POWER TRAIN WARNING COMES ON AND VEHICLE LOOSES POWER

NHTSA complaint #10927011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Raleigh, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

09 BMW 750LI SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER A DSC MALFUNCTION/ TRANSMITION MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE JUST RECEIVED THE N63 RECALL SERVICE. THIS IS VARY DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AROUND 70 MILES PER HOUR BEFORE IT STARTED SHAKING AND SLOWING DOWN IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10897288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Raleigh, NC

ENGINE

09 BMW 750LI SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER A DSC MALFUNCTION/ TRANSMITION MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE JUST RECEIVED THE N63 RECALL SERVICE. THIS IS VARY DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AROUND 70 MILES PER HOUR BEFORE IT STARTED SHAKING AND SLOWING DOWN IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10897288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Raleigh, NC

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

09 BMW 750LI SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER A DSC MALFUNCTION/ TRANSMITION MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE JUST RECEIVED THE N63 RECALL SERVICE. THIS IS VARY DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AROUND 70 MILES PER HOUR BEFORE IT STARTED SHAKING AND SLOWING DOWN IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10897288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miramar, FL

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A SERVICE CAMPAIGN (B001314 - N63), BUT THERE WAS NO PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED FOR A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10819355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miramar, FL

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A SERVICE CAMPAIGN (B001314 - N63), BUT THERE WAS NO PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED FOR A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10819355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Mount Vernon, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. UPDATED 6/11/13 *CN UPDATED 06/14/2013

NHTSA complaint #10500913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Mount Vernon, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. UPDATED 6/11/13 *CN UPDATED 06/14/2013

NHTSA complaint #10500913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Mount Vernon, NY

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. UPDATED 6/11/13 *CN UPDATED 06/14/2013

NHTSA complaint #10500913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles Rowland Height, CA 3 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PASSENGERS MIDDLE FINGERS WERE CAUGHT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, IN WHICH CLOSED INDEPENDENTLY. THE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND TWO ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS FOUND THAT THEIR FINGERS WERE CAUGHT IN THE DOOR. BOTH PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED PER THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE DOOR COULD CAUSE AN INJURY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,800.

NHTSA complaint #10396685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100 miles LOS Angeles, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CAR SIGNAL KEEPS GOING OUT AS IF THE BULB NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ONCE I RESTART THE CAR EVERYTHING IS FINE FOR FEW HOURS.

NHTSA complaint #10315865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.