Garfield Heights, OH
SEAT BELTS
Blind spot warning randomly works. Passenger seatbelt phantom seatbelt warning while driving alone!
NHTSA complaint #11597560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FaultScore report
2016 BMW 740I problems
Owners have filed 14 complaints about the 2016 BMW 740I with NHTSA between 2017 and 2024. The largest single group is the electrical system. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 8 worst.
C
FaultScore 41/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the BMW 740I.
How this is worked outThe numbers
14
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
7,348 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
80%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
What kind of bad
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
- Complaint volume — 42
- Against the median year of the BMW 740I. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
- Severity — 0
- 0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
- Early failure — 100
- 80% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.
How 2016 compares with every other BMW 740I
Click any bar to open that year's report.
What breaks on a 2016 BMW 740I
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
3
21.4%
Median failure at 1,296 miles
Other & Unspecified
2
14.3%
Median failure at 15,848 miles
Seat Belts
2
14.3%
Median failure at 12,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
2
14.3%
Median failure at 869 miles
Engine & Cooling
2
14.3%
Median failure at 25,000 miles
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
1
7.1%
Suspension
1
7.1%
Median failure at 52,000 miles
Body & Structure
1
7.1%
Median failure at 75,100 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
2
20.0%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
3
30.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
1
10.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
2
20.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
1
10.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
1
10.0%
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.
Jan 2017
peak 3
Jun 2024
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Garfield Heights, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Blind spot warning randomly works. Passenger seatbelt phantom seatbelt warning while driving alone!
NHTSA complaint #11597560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garfield Heights, OH
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
Blind spot warning randomly works. Passenger seatbelt phantom seatbelt warning while driving alone!
NHTSA complaint #11597560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,000 miles
Purvis, MS
SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 740I. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front air suspension failed to perform as designed, causing the front end of the vehicle to remain lowered, making the front driver’s and passenger’s side tires touching the inner wheel well. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who diagnosed that the front driver’s and passenger’s side air suspension was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were both notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 52,000.
NHTSA complaint #11492944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cupertino, CA
ENGINE
Active Air Flap fault, Upper and Lower Actuator is not working and that is why engine is overheating. BMW has extended this warranty to 10 years/120K miles for 750 and 550 series manufactured up to Aug 2019. But they have not done that on 740 series. My vehicle has the same problem and should be covered under the same in order to avoid engine damage. Please advice the next step. The fault code are: P05A0, P05AE, P05A2, P059F.
NHTSA complaint #11483478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,100 miles
Lawrenceville, GA
STRUCTURE:BODY
NOT REALLY SURE IF THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY COMPLAINT, BUT IT COULD LEAD TO PROBLEMS IF NOT CORRECTED. THE UPPER RADIATOR SHUTTLE WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS CAN CAUSE RESTRICTED CLIMATE CONTROL IN THE VEHICLE INTERIOR, REDUCTION OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND POSSIBLY ENGINE OVERHEATING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MODEL YEARS 2016+. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE SHUTTER. THE LINK BELOW IS FOR ANOTHER MODEL OF BMW, BUT SHOWS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM: HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2019/MC-10160279-9999.PDF
NHTSA complaint #11373643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,000 miles
Tucson, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON JULY 30, I WAS DRIVING AT 35MPH ON A MAJOR ROAD IN PINETOP/LAKESIDE, ARIZONA WHEN THE SUNROOF, THAT WAS IN THE VENT POSITION, EXPLODED INWARD SHOWERING ME AND A PASSENGER IN SHATTERED GLASS. IT WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION. DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE SUNROOF CASSETTE, THE REPAIR IS ABOUT $7,000.
NHTSA complaint #11343055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 miles
SAN Diego, CA
SEAT BELTS
ON TWO OCCASIONS A FALSE FASTEN SEAT BELT FROM PASSENGER SIDE HAS COME UP WHEN THE SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED. THE CAR WAS SENT FOR REPAIR. ON THE FIRST OCCASION IT WAS INDICATED THE WIRING IS LOOSE FOR THE SEAT BELT HARNESS SO IT WAS TIGHTENED. ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE CAR WAS SENT TO DEALERSHIP IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARNESS WIRING TRACK COULD COME LOOSE AND THEREFORE HAD TO BE REROUTED.
NHTSA complaint #11131757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 miles
SAN Diego, CA
ENGINE
I GOT ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON MY BMW; ON EACH OCCASION THE CAR WAS SENT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR TO FIND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER RADIATOR BLINDS ARE AT FAULT AND THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE 2016 BMW 740I IS EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT GRILLE WHERE THE VENTS ARE COVERED BY BLINDS THAT OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND CLOSED WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF ALLOWED SOME TIME FOR WARM AIR TO COME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #11131756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,696 miles
SAN Diego, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ACTIVE PDC FAILS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS RELEASED IN MARCH 2017 BY BMW AND NEW SOFTWARE WAS DOWNLOADED. DESPITE THE NEW SOFTWARE DOWNLOADED TO VEHICLE THERE CONTINUES TO BE INCIDENTS POST THAT WHEN THE ACTIVE PDC FAILS TO ACTIVATE. BMW CONTINUES TO CLAIM THE FEATURE WORKS AS DESIGNED BUT THERE IS NEVER ANY EXPLANATION BY THE DEALER WHY IT IS BY DESIGN. FOREMAN AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE HE WITNESSED MULTIPLE FAILURES OF IT ARGUED THAT I CAN SEE THE CAR IS GOING TO HIT ANOTHER CAR OR AN OBJECT SO WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE IT ACTIVATE? THIS ARGUMENT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, BECAUSE THE FEATURE SHOULD WORK, AND IF YOU KNOW CAR IS GOING TO HIT ANOTHER CAR OR OBJECT THEN YOU SHOULD EXPECT FEATURE TO ACTIVATE OTHERWISE WHY IS THE FEATURE. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT ACCEPT TO DOCUMENT THE FAILURES IN THE SERVICE ORDER OR THE ARGUMENTS FOREMAN MADE.
NHTSA complaint #10978612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,924 miles
SAN Diego, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AUDIO CONTROL SYSTEM FREEZES ON THE BMW 740I. IT HAPPENS THAT AUDIO IS GONE COMPLETELY, SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TO RAISE VOLUME: 1. GESTURE COMMANDS TO RAISE VOLUME (THE SYSTEM DOES NOT EVEN SHOW GESTURE IS INVOLVED ON THE DASH DISPLAY) 2. FROM THE POWER BUTTON BY MANUALLY ADJUSTING HIGHER, THERE IS NO RESPONSE FROM SYSTEM AT ALL AND DASH SCREEN DOES NOT SHOW VOLUME INCREASE IS BEING ATTEMPTED. 3. FROM THE VOLUME UP BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AGAIN NO SIGN ON DASH SCREEN THAT VOLUME INCREASE IS BEING ATTEMPTED.
NHTSA complaint #10959574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,339 miles
SAN Diego, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE PROBLEM IS CENTERED AROUND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM OF BMW 740I 2016. BMW 740I CAN'T DETECT VEHICLES FROM THE RIGHT CORNER OR LEFT CORNER WHEN TWO LANES MERGE INTO ONE AND THE BMW IS APPROACHING THE OTHER VEHICLE WHERE THE OTHER VEHICLE IS EITHER AT FRONT RIGHT OR LEFT RIGHT. THERE ARE MULTIPLE SYMPTOMS OF THIS PROBLEM: FIRST SYMPTOM, BMW 740I IS NOT TRACKING ANY VEHICLE AND COCKPIT DOES NOT SHOW A TRACKED VEHICLE. A CAR OR BIG TRUCK IS IN THE SECOND LANE MERGING FROM EITHER CORNER, BMW 740I DOES NOT DETECT THOUGH THERE WAS ENOUGH TIME AND DISTANCE TO DETECT. IN ONE EXAMPLE THERE WAS 18 WHEELER MERGING LANE AND BMW NEVER DETECTED THE 18 WHEELER THOUGH MAJORITY OF THE 18 WHEELER WAS AHEAD OF THE BMW FROM THE RIGHT CORNER. SECOND SYMPTOM IS BMW 740I IS TRACKING ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHEN TWO LANES MERGE THERE IS A CAR FROM THE OTHER LANE COMING IN FRONT FROM THE RIGHT CORNER OR LEFT CORNER, BMW NEVER SLOWS DOWN FURTHER SINCE THAT VEHICLE IS ALREADY NOW IN VIEW OF THE BMW. MY UNDERSTANDING THE BMW USES THE CAMERA BEHIND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, FACING FORWARD, TO DETECT SUCH SCENARIOS.
NHTSA complaint #10955560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 669 miles
SAN Diego, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2016 BMW 740I IS EQUIPMENT WITH AUTOMATIC PARK DISTANCE CONTROL SYSTEM (PDC) THAT AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS CLOSE TO AN OBSTACLE WHEN DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEED. THE SYSTEM IS VERY FLAKY IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE, SOMETIMES IT ACTIVATES WHEN IT IS 2 FT AWAY FROM OBJECT AND MANY TIMES IT ACTIVATES WHEN IT IS ONLY 2 INCHES AWAY. IN SOME INSTANCE IT FAILS TO ACTIVATE COMPLETELY SO MANUAL INTERVENTION IS REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE SENSORS. DEALER TRIED REPAIRING TWICE INCLUDING NEW SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD AND CALIBRATION OF SENSORS BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTS AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG.
NHTSA complaint #10948062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 400 miles
SAN Diego, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND PEDESTRIAN DETECTION FEATURE. THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL MISSES TO ADAPT SPEED OR STOP OR DETECT A VEHICLE IN FRONT REQUIRING DRIVER INTERVENTION TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE SYMPTOMS OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING. SYMPTOM 1: VEHICLE BMW WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL IS TRACKING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ADAPTING SPEED HOWEVER FOR UNKNOWN REASON IT LATER FAILS TO START THE PROCESS OF SLOWING DOWN AND COLLISION ALARM IS SOUNDED SYMPTOM 2: VEHICLE BMW IS TRACKING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ADAPTING SPEED ON LANE 1; UPON BMW SWITCHING LANES TO ANOTHER CLEAR LANE THE CAR ACCELERATES TO REACH TARGET SPEED AND THOUGH IT DETECTS ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT IT FAILS TO START SLOWING DOWN. DRIVER INTERVENTION IS REQUIRED TO BRAKE AND SLOW DOWN. SYMPTOM 3: SAME AS DRIVING CONDITION IN SYMPTOM 2 EXCEPT THAT UPON LANE SWITCH THE BMW FAILS COMPLETELY TO DETECT A VEHICLE PARKED IN THE SECOND LANE AND KEEP GOING ON AT SAME SPEED. DRIVER INTERVENTION IS REQUIRED TO STOP THE BMW I HAVE VIDEOS OF THE THREE SYMPTOMS AND ASK YOU FOR MEANS TO UPLOAD THE VIDEOS. BMW DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO DOWNLOAD NEW SOFTWARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEMS INCREASED. I HAVE VIDEOS RECORDED POST THE REPAIRS AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10947641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.