Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2011 BMW 740LI
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
425.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 71,893 mi
Fuel & Propulsion
318.8%
Median failure at 97,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
318.8%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 102,500 mi
Other & Unspecified
212.5%
Median failure at 76,250 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
212.5%
Median failure at 96,261 miles
Body & Structure
16.3%
Airbags
16.3%
Median failure at 45 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
18.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
18.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
216.7%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
216.7%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
650.0%
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.
May 2017peak 4Feb 2024
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 41,287 milesSAN Diego, CACrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WALKING OUT OF THE GROCERY STORE I NOTICED MY CAR HAD MOVED, HIT THE CURB AND DAMAGED MY BOTTOM FRONT BUMPER. I STARTED AND TURNED ON MY CAR AND THEN NOTICED THE SHIFTER WAS ON NEUTRAL AND NOT PARKED. SHIFTER WOULD ONLY SHIFT TO ANY GEAR EXCEPT FOR THE PARKING GEAR. I DROVE MY CAR HOME AND TRIED PARKING MY CAR IN THE GARAGE, BUT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY PARKING SO IT WOULDN'T ROLL AGAIN. SHIFTER WON'T GO BACK TO PARKING GEAR EVER SINCE THAT DAY.
NHTSA complaint #11296750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesPhoenix, AZFire
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 740LI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRE OF THE AUXILIARY THAT CONNECTED TO THE WATER PUMP MELTED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW AUXILIARY WIRE FOR THE WATER PUMP, BUT COMPLAINED OF A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER THE PARTS WERE REPLACED BY CHAPMAN BMW IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #11080960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 57,000 milesSan Francisco, CA
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 740LI. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift into park (P) and inadvertently shifted into neutral (N). The contact applied the parking brake while the transmission was shifted to neutral (N) to turn off the vehicle. The Transmission Malfunction message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the TCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
NHTSA complaint #11574769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pearland, TX
STRUCTURE:BODY
Vehicle is equipped with soft closing doors. Passenger door actuator malfunctioned which prevented the passenger door from locking. That malfunction short circuited the entire vehicle locking system. It created a unsafe driving condition which locked the driver side door from the inside and outside of the vehicle. Basically locking the driver inside the car. The only way for the driver to exit the vehicle was to climb to another door. If the driver was in a accident and needed to exit the car immediately, he wouldn't be able to do it.
NHTSA complaint #11446272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pearland, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle is equipped with soft closing doors. Passenger door actuator malfunctioned which prevented the passenger door from locking. That malfunction short circuited the entire vehicle locking system. It created a unsafe driving condition which locked the driver side door from the inside and outside of the vehicle. Basically locking the driver inside the car. The only way for the driver to exit the vehicle was to climb to another door. If the driver was in a accident and needed to exit the car immediately, he wouldn't be able to do it.
NHTSA complaint #11446272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pearland, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Electric water pump failed. While driving, engine overheated and warning light illuminated. I immediately pulled over and my car was towed in for repairs. Why wasn't the N54 engine not included in the recall campaign#11V-521? Also, my fuel line was found to be leaking when this car was towed in for the electric water pump repairs. I did smell fuel on days prior to this incident, but I mistakenly ignored the smells. This whole incident had the potential to be catastrophic.
NHTSA complaint #11446184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pearland, TX
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Electric water pump failed. While driving, engine overheated and warning light illuminated. I immediately pulled over and my car was towed in for repairs. Why wasn't the N54 engine not included in the recall campaign#11V-521? Also, my fuel line was found to be leaking when this car was towed in for the electric water pump repairs. I did smell fuel on days prior to this incident, but I mistakenly ignored the smells. This whole incident had the potential to be catastrophic.
NHTSA complaint #11446184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesDearborn Heights, MI
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE CAR MISFIRE DUE FAULTY INJECTOR THEY DIDN'T REPLACE THE FAULTY INJECTOR WITH THE NEW ONE
NHTSA complaint #11361440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,522 milesCincinnati, OH
POWER TRAIN
THE GEAR SHIFTER BLINKS IN NEUTRAL WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK. A NOTIFICATION ON THE DISPLAY SAYS "SECURE VEHICLE WITH PARKING BREAK WHEN STATIONARY.
NHTSA complaint #11351446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 41,287 milesSAN Diego, CACrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WALKING OUT OF THE GROCERY STORE I NOTICED MY CAR HAD MOVED, HIT THE CURB AND DAMAGED MY BOTTOM FRONT BUMPER. I STARTED AND TURNED ON MY CAR AND THEN NOTICED THE SHIFTER WAS ON NEUTRAL AND NOT PARKED. SHIFTER WOULD ONLY SHIFT TO ANY GEAR EXCEPT FOR THE PARKING GEAR. I DROVE MY CAR HOME AND TRIED PARKING MY CAR IN THE GARAGE, BUT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY PARKING SO IT WOULDN'T ROLL AGAIN. SHIFTER WON'T GO BACK TO PARKING GEAR EVER SINCE THAT DAY.
NHTSA complaint #11296750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesWilsonville, AL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HEADLINER SAGGING AND LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN POORLY INSTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #11110001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45 milesHockley, TX
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WENT OUT ON 740 LI 2011
NHTSA complaint #11102420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesPhoenix, AZFire
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 740LI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRE OF THE AUXILIARY THAT CONNECTED TO THE WATER PUMP MELTED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW AUXILIARY WIRE FOR THE WATER PUMP, BUT COMPLAINED OF A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER THE PARTS WERE REPLACED BY CHAPMAN BMW IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #11080960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,500 milesRichmond Hill, GA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
OIL GASKET LEAK
NHTSA complaint #11043183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,500 milesRichmond Hill, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OIL GASKET LEAK
NHTSA complaint #11043183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,500 milesRichmond Hill, GA
ENGINE
OIL GASKET LEAK
NHTSA complaint #11043183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,000 milesLafayette, CA
ENGINE
PURCHASED THE CAR IN JANUARY 2012 FROM BMW CONCORD AS A LEASED VEHICLE. MILEAGE WAS 12,000 WHEN PURCHASED. IN APRIL 2017, TRANSMISSION FAILURE NOTICE CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN CONCORD. SERVICE CENTER SAID TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SERVICE CENTER SAID HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD ALSO FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SERVICE ANALYST SAID IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR A CAR WITH THIS MILEAGE TO SEE THIS KIND OF FAILURE BUT HE HAD SEEN IT BEFORE.
NHTSA complaint #10983034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,000 milesLafayette, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
PURCHASED THE CAR IN JANUARY 2012 FROM BMW CONCORD AS A LEASED VEHICLE. MILEAGE WAS 12,000 WHEN PURCHASED. IN APRIL 2017, TRANSMISSION FAILURE NOTICE CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN CONCORD. SERVICE CENTER SAID TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SERVICE CENTER SAID HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD ALSO FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SERVICE ANALYST SAID IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR A CAR WITH THIS MILEAGE TO SEE THIS KIND OF FAILURE BUT HE HAD SEEN IT BEFORE.
NHTSA complaint #10983034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.