Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 2009 BMW 750LI with NHTSA between 2012 and 2022.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 8 of 8 worst.
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.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 9
Against the median year of the BMW 750LI. 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 — 38
22% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
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 750LI
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
746.7%
Median failure at 52,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
213.3%
Median failure at 60,000 miles
Electrical System
213.3%
Median failure at 150,310 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
213.3%
Median failure at 111,155 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
16.7%
Median failure at 72,000 miles
Suspension
16.7%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
111.1%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
111.1%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
444.4%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
111.1%
150,000+ miles
222.2%
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.
Feb 2012peak 4Jul 2022
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 107,000 milesNorth Las Vegas, NV
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2009 BMW 750LI. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was a loud rattling sounding coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a certificated mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing belt was worn and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and the contact was informed that a representative would provide a callback. The manufacturer was contacted and suggested that the vehicle be diagnosed. The failure mileage was 107,000.
NHTSA complaint #11476424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY ELECTRIC AUXILLARY WATER PUMP IS BAD AND HEATS UP MY CIRCUIT BOARD....ALSO THE TIMING BOLTS ON THE CAMSHAFT ARE BAD
NHTSA complaint #11405714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CA
ENGINE
MY ELECTRIC AUXILLARY WATER PUMP IS BAD AND HEATS UP MY CIRCUIT BOARD....ALSO THE TIMING BOLTS ON THE CAMSHAFT ARE BAD
NHTSA complaint #11405714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY ELECTRIC AUXILLARY WATER PUMP IS BAD AND HEATS UP MY CIRCUIT BOARD....ALSO THE TIMING BOLTS ON THE CAMSHAFT ARE BAD
NHTSA complaint #11405714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
ENGINE
MY CAR IS BMW 750 LI 2009. EVERY 40 MILES, THE OIL SHOWS DROP TO DOWN ON FULL LEVEL AT MY OIL LEVEL SCREEN, ALSO I AM ALWAYS FILL IN NEW OIL ON OIL CRANK EVERY TIME DROP IT DOWN. AND NO DRIP OR LEAKING OUTSIDE ON THE GROUND, I AM ALWAYS CHECK THE I- DRIVE OIL LEVEL ON THE SCREEN. AND THE MILES AROUND 73.000 MILES, AND ALSO I HAVE RECALL NHTSA, THAT SAY RECALL ON ENGINE AND COOLING
NHTSA complaint #11331630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,310 milesMobile, AL
POWER TRAIN
ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS MY CAR WOULD DRIVE PROBLY 80 MILES IN THE CITY AND WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION WILL START SLIPPING WHILE GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR AND ALMOST COME TO A DEAD STOP ON THE HIGHWAY ALONG WITH THAT THE BATTERY ALSO DRAINING ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING AND I HAVE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11322471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,310 milesMobile, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS MY CAR WOULD DRIVE PROBLY 80 MILES IN THE CITY AND WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION WILL START SLIPPING WHILE GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR AND ALMOST COME TO A DEAD STOP ON THE HIGHWAY ALONG WITH THAT THE BATTERY ALSO DRAINING ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING AND I HAVE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11322471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,000 milesFloral Park, NY
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH AND THE DRIVE TRAIN BLEW AND WHEN I WAS GIVING GAS THE CAR WAS NOT PULLING ... MY CYLINDERS ARE MISFIRING AND THE CAR SHAKES RIDICULOUSLY BAD
NHTSA complaint #11316281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,000 milesFloral Park, NY
ENGINE
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH AND THE DRIVE TRAIN BLEW AND WHEN I WAS GIVING GAS THE CAR WAS NOT PULLING ... MY CYLINDERS ARE MISFIRING AND THE CAR SHAKES RIDICULOUSLY BAD
NHTSA complaint #11316281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,000 milesFloral Park, NY
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH AND THE DRIVE TRAIN BLEW AND WHEN I WAS GIVING GAS THE CAR WAS NOT PULLING ... MY CYLINDERS ARE MISFIRING AND THE CAR SHAKES RIDICULOUSLY BAD
NHTSA complaint #11316281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, MS
ENGINE
HEAVY OIL CONSUMPTION
NHTSA complaint #11316074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10 milesFayetteville, NC
ENGINE
ELECTRIC WATER PUMP, I TOOK MY BMW TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE THE WATER PUMP, THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 2011 AND ABOVE BUT NOT FOR THE 2009 AND MY VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS AS THE RECALL STATES
NHTSA complaint #11192725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, TX
SUSPENSION
BMW REAR STRUTS LIFE EXPECTANCY BOTH FAILED ONE AT MILEAGE OF 56924 AND ONE AT MILEAGE 66529. BOTH FAILED IN SAME YEAR DURING COLD CONDITIONS. AIRBAGS WERE POORLY CONSTRUCTED CAUSING TOTAL FAILURE. COST COMBINED FOR BOTH REPAIRS $5256.44 PAID BY OWNER. PARTS AT THAT COST SHOULD HAVE LONGER LIFE EXPECTANCY OR PRICES SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH LOWER FOR PARTS THAT DO NO LAST MORE THAN 5 YEARS. DOES BMW OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR FAULTY AIR BAGS REPLACED AT OWNERS COST? WHAT IS THE FAIL RATE FOR VEHICLES LIKE THE ONE IN SCENARIO? IS IT A SYSTEMIC ISSUE?
NHTSA complaint #10919809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesSugar Grove, IL
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BMW WOULD NOT SELL THE EXACT INJECTORS BECAUSE THE UNIT WAS REDESIGNED BECAUSE THE VERSION THAT CAME WITH THE CAR HAD EXCESSIVE FAILURES. AFTER I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED BMW WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR REPAIRS SEEING THAT I DID NOT HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED BY THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10846046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,000 milesLaguna Hills, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750LI. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO-CHARGER). PRIOR TO THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR AND THE ODOR CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
NHTSA complaint #10447395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.