Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2006 BMW 760LI
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
325.0%
Median failure at 130,000 miles
Electrical System
216.7%
Median failure at 70,351 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
216.7%
Median failure at 85,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
216.7%
Median failure at 40,702 miles
Suspension
18.3%
Median failure at 100,000 miles
Steering
18.3%
Median failure at 40,702 miles
Airbags
18.3%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
436.4%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
19.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
654.5%
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.
Sep 2011peak 4Jan 2018
NHTSA investigations into the 2006 BMW 760LI
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA12002Opened 10 Apr 2012Closed 24 Jan 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle Rollaway
In a letter dated October 16, 2012, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), NHTSA Recall No. 12V-502 to NHTSA identifying a safety defect involving the possibility of unattended vehicle rollaway in MY 2005 through 2008 BMW 7-Series (approximately 45,000) vehicles equipped with the Comfort Access Option.The Comfort Access option allows the driver to start and stop the engine (by pressing the engine start / stop button) without inserting the key fob into the vehicles key slot in the instrument panel.Subject vehicles not equipped with the Comfort Access option...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 70,000 milesBradenton, FL
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 760LI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING ERROR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICHMOND BMW MIDLOTHIAN (12100 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PAN ASSEMBLY AND FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11064650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesTustin, CA
POWER TRAIN
CAR STOPS ON FREEWAY, NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, POWER LOCK, SHIFTING
NHTSA complaint #11046895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesTustin, CA
SUSPENSION
CAR STOPS ON FREEWAY, NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, POWER LOCK, SHIFTING
NHTSA complaint #11046895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesTustin, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR STOPS ON FREEWAY, NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, POWER LOCK, SHIFTING
NHTSA complaint #11046895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesTracy, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
HARD TO START, IDLES ROUGH AND SOMETIMES DIES WHEN SITTING AT STOP LIGHT. WHEN TAKING OFF, IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND LOST TOTAL POWER FOR STEERING AND OTHER CONTROLS, VERY DANGEROUS. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE NOT ON THE FREEWAY. I KNOW BMW HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS. MY CAR HAS 130000 MILES AND AFTER SPENDING OVER $4000 AT THE LOCAL BMW FOR THE SAME ISSUE, NOW THEY WANT AN EXTRA $6000 FOR THE HPFP. MY CAR IS SITTING AT THEIR SHOPS, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. IS THERE A RECALL OR ANYTHING THEY CAN BE DONE? THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10870909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Clemente, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 760LI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONTAL PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE VEHICLE FOR THE INDICATOR TO DIM. AFTERWARDS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE EVERY DAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10726243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 103,150 milesWest Columbia, SC
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL LEAK AND ROUGH IDLE. FUEL RAPIDLY LEAKS OUT OF TANK WHEN RE-FUELING CAR. DMTL PUMP AND HPFP (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS) NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10653539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,000 milesLorain, OH
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
HARD TO START, CRANKS FOR A WHILE TILL IT BUILDS UP PRESSURE THEN STARTS. IDLES ROUGH AND SOMETIMES DIES WHEN SITTING AT STOP LIGHT, AND SPUTTERING POWER AT TIME WHEN TAKING OFF, ALSO WHEN IT STALLS WHILE DRIVING IT IS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER FOR STEERING AND OTHER CONTROLS, VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS. BMW STATES IT IS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND THE PART IS $2,700 + 1300 LABOR. THIS IS THE FLAGSHIP CAR FOR BMW. PLEASE RECALL AND REPLACE BOTH PUMPS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10509115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,702 milesEWA Beach, HI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 BMW 760 LI, PURCHASED IN LATE 2008 FROM A GEORGIA DEALERSHIP AND SHIPPED TO HONOLULU. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY AND DAILY USER OF SAID VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, I'M SO AFRAID FOR MY WIFE, PASSENGERS AND MYSELF WHEN ENTERING THIS VEHICLE DUE TO IT'S UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS STATE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR IF I HAVE A RIGHT TO BUT, I'M HOPING FOR ASSISTANCE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE OPERATING AGAIN IN PROPER WORKING CONDITION. THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS ARE WITH BMW OF HONOLULU (BOH) SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I CHOSE BOH BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE THE MOST REPUTABLE AND BEST QUALIFIED BMW SERVICE CENTER HERE IN HAWAII, SO I THOUGHT. FIRST COMPLAINT, COOLANT LOW LITE ILLUMINATED ON AT LEAST FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. SYSTEM WAS TROUBLESHOT, PARTS REPLACED AND STILL LEAKING APPROXIMATELY 4 CUPS PER MONTH, I WAS CHARGED FOR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS. 2ND COMPLAINT, REPORTED DRIVER SIDE WINDOW INOP. AFTER TECHS TROUBLESHOT, QUOTE OF $381.25/WINDOW MOTOR, $250.50/LABOR. LATER, REGULATOR AND LIFT ASSEMBLY WERE ALSO REPLACED. MY CHARGE WAS $1197.08. THIRD COMPLAINT: BOH SERVICE REP INSISTED FRONT TIRES REQUIRE CHANGE. WEEK PRIOR, SAFETY CHECK WAS DONE. MY CHARGE WAS $1429.99. FOURTH COMPLAUINT: REPORTED DISPLAY ICONS ILLUMINATED. AS BOH TECHS TROUBLESHOT, THEY INCURRED FIVE SHORTED FAULTS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO VOLT CHECK ACROSS VARIOUS MODULES AND SWITCH CLUSTER/S. SERVICE REP TOLD ME TO TAKE MY CAR OFF THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO WORK ON IT ANYMORE. WHEN I REQUESTED HE SEND A SHUTTLE TO PICK UP MY WIFE, HE SAID, NO, TAKE YOUR CAR OUT OF HERE. THESE ARE JUST BRIEF SCENARIOS OF REALLY WHAT HAPPENED. I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10425498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,702 milesEWA Beach, HI
STEERING
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 BMW 760 LI, PURCHASED IN LATE 2008 FROM A GEORGIA DEALERSHIP AND SHIPPED TO HONOLULU. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY AND DAILY USER OF SAID VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, I'M SO AFRAID FOR MY WIFE, PASSENGERS AND MYSELF WHEN ENTERING THIS VEHICLE DUE TO IT'S UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS STATE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR IF I HAVE A RIGHT TO BUT, I'M HOPING FOR ASSISTANCE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE OPERATING AGAIN IN PROPER WORKING CONDITION. THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS ARE WITH BMW OF HONOLULU (BOH) SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I CHOSE BOH BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE THE MOST REPUTABLE AND BEST QUALIFIED BMW SERVICE CENTER HERE IN HAWAII, SO I THOUGHT. FIRST COMPLAINT, COOLANT LOW LITE ILLUMINATED ON AT LEAST FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. SYSTEM WAS TROUBLESHOT, PARTS REPLACED AND STILL LEAKING APPROXIMATELY 4 CUPS PER MONTH, I WAS CHARGED FOR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS. 2ND COMPLAINT, REPORTED DRIVER SIDE WINDOW INOP. AFTER TECHS TROUBLESHOT, QUOTE OF $381.25/WINDOW MOTOR, $250.50/LABOR. LATER, REGULATOR AND LIFT ASSEMBLY WERE ALSO REPLACED. MY CHARGE WAS $1197.08. THIRD COMPLAINT: BOH SERVICE REP INSISTED FRONT TIRES REQUIRE CHANGE. WEEK PRIOR, SAFETY CHECK WAS DONE. MY CHARGE WAS $1429.99. FOURTH COMPLAUINT: REPORTED DISPLAY ICONS ILLUMINATED. AS BOH TECHS TROUBLESHOT, THEY INCURRED FIVE SHORTED FAULTS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO VOLT CHECK ACROSS VARIOUS MODULES AND SWITCH CLUSTER/S. SERVICE REP TOLD ME TO TAKE MY CAR OFF THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO WORK ON IT ANYMORE. WHEN I REQUESTED HE SEND A SHUTTLE TO PICK UP MY WIFE, HE SAID, NO, TAKE YOUR CAR OUT OF HERE. THESE ARE JUST BRIEF SCENARIOS OF REALLY WHAT HAPPENED. I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10425498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,702 milesEWA Beach, HI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 BMW 760 LI, PURCHASED IN LATE 2008 FROM A GEORGIA DEALERSHIP AND SHIPPED TO HONOLULU. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY AND DAILY USER OF SAID VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, I'M SO AFRAID FOR MY WIFE, PASSENGERS AND MYSELF WHEN ENTERING THIS VEHICLE DUE TO IT'S UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS STATE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR IF I HAVE A RIGHT TO BUT, I'M HOPING FOR ASSISTANCE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE OPERATING AGAIN IN PROPER WORKING CONDITION. THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS ARE WITH BMW OF HONOLULU (BOH) SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I CHOSE BOH BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE THE MOST REPUTABLE AND BEST QUALIFIED BMW SERVICE CENTER HERE IN HAWAII, SO I THOUGHT. FIRST COMPLAINT, COOLANT LOW LITE ILLUMINATED ON AT LEAST FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. SYSTEM WAS TROUBLESHOT, PARTS REPLACED AND STILL LEAKING APPROXIMATELY 4 CUPS PER MONTH, I WAS CHARGED FOR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS. 2ND COMPLAINT, REPORTED DRIVER SIDE WINDOW INOP. AFTER TECHS TROUBLESHOT, QUOTE OF $381.25/WINDOW MOTOR, $250.50/LABOR. LATER, REGULATOR AND LIFT ASSEMBLY WERE ALSO REPLACED. MY CHARGE WAS $1197.08. THIRD COMPLAINT: BOH SERVICE REP INSISTED FRONT TIRES REQUIRE CHANGE. WEEK PRIOR, SAFETY CHECK WAS DONE. MY CHARGE WAS $1429.99. FOURTH COMPLAUINT: REPORTED DISPLAY ICONS ILLUMINATED. AS BOH TECHS TROUBLESHOT, THEY INCURRED FIVE SHORTED FAULTS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO VOLT CHECK ACROSS VARIOUS MODULES AND SWITCH CLUSTER/S. SERVICE REP TOLD ME TO TAKE MY CAR OFF THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO WORK ON IT ANYMORE. WHEN I REQUESTED HE SEND A SHUTTLE TO PICK UP MY WIFE, HE SAID, NO, TAKE YOUR CAR OUT OF HERE. THESE ARE JUST BRIEF SCENARIOS OF REALLY WHAT HAPPENED. I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10425498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,702 milesEWA Beach, HI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 BMW 760 LI, PURCHASED IN LATE 2008 FROM A GEORGIA DEALERSHIP AND SHIPPED TO HONOLULU. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY AND DAILY USER OF SAID VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, I'M SO AFRAID FOR MY WIFE, PASSENGERS AND MYSELF WHEN ENTERING THIS VEHICLE DUE TO IT'S UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS STATE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR IF I HAVE A RIGHT TO BUT, I'M HOPING FOR ASSISTANCE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE OPERATING AGAIN IN PROPER WORKING CONDITION. THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS ARE WITH BMW OF HONOLULU (BOH) SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I CHOSE BOH BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE THE MOST REPUTABLE AND BEST QUALIFIED BMW SERVICE CENTER HERE IN HAWAII, SO I THOUGHT. FIRST COMPLAINT, COOLANT LOW LITE ILLUMINATED ON AT LEAST FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. SYSTEM WAS TROUBLESHOT, PARTS REPLACED AND STILL LEAKING APPROXIMATELY 4 CUPS PER MONTH, I WAS CHARGED FOR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS. 2ND COMPLAINT, REPORTED DRIVER SIDE WINDOW INOP. AFTER TECHS TROUBLESHOT, QUOTE OF $381.25/WINDOW MOTOR, $250.50/LABOR. LATER, REGULATOR AND LIFT ASSEMBLY WERE ALSO REPLACED. MY CHARGE WAS $1197.08. THIRD COMPLAINT: BOH SERVICE REP INSISTED FRONT TIRES REQUIRE CHANGE. WEEK PRIOR, SAFETY CHECK WAS DONE. MY CHARGE WAS $1429.99. FOURTH COMPLAUINT: REPORTED DISPLAY ICONS ILLUMINATED. AS BOH TECHS TROUBLESHOT, THEY INCURRED FIVE SHORTED FAULTS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO VOLT CHECK ACROSS VARIOUS MODULES AND SWITCH CLUSTER/S. SERVICE REP TOLD ME TO TAKE MY CAR OFF THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO WORK ON IT ANYMORE. WHEN I REQUESTED HE SEND A SHUTTLE TO PICK UP MY WIFE, HE SAID, NO, TAKE YOUR CAR OUT OF HERE. THESE ARE JUST BRIEF SCENARIOS OF REALLY WHAT HAPPENED. I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10425498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.