Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

2021 Bmw 740LI problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

0 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2021 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

No owner complaints are recorded for this selection. A complaint can name multiple components.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

No usable records for this chart.

Component breakdown data
CategoryCount

No records.

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

No usable records for this chart.

Complaints over time data
CategoryCount

No records.

Pattern summary

There is not enough complaint evidence to summarize patterns.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

0 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

UnavailableUsable mileage0 / 0 records
UnavailableValid incident date0 / 0 records
UnavailableValid filing date0 / 0 records
UnavailableOrdered incident and filing dates0 / 0 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

Component complaint heatmap
Component2011201220132014201520162019202020212022
Electrical System
436.4%
ODI 11043183 · 102,500 mi

OIL GASKET LEAK

Look up ODI 11043183 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

375.0%
ODI 11704427

This vehicle is affected by NHTSA Recall 25V644 (starter motor – fire risk). The recall remedy has been listed as “Remedy Not Available” since September 25, 2025, and remains unavailable more than two months later. BMW did not notify me about this safety recall. I only discovered it after a third-party platform automatically deactivated the vehicle due to the open recall. In addition, this vehicle has recently developed starting issues , it now struggles to start and requires multiple attempts. This may indicate that the defective starter com…

Look up ODI 11704427 at NHTSA ↗

Engine
327.3%
ODI 10983034 · 84,000 mi

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.

Look up ODI 10983034 at NHTSA ↗

120.0%
ODI 11042984

ENGINE OVER HEAT, LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE CROSSING ACROSS THE ROAD. GOT MESSAGE SAYING THIS CONTACT SERVICE CENTER IMMEDIATELY.

Look up ODI 11042984 at NHTSA ↗

114.3%
ODI 11390376 · 68,000 mi

II WAS ON FLORIDA TURNPIKE LATE NIGHT AROUND 10.30PM WITH MY WIFE GOING SOUTH AND ALL OF SUDDEN WE HEAR LOUD NOISE FROM OUR CAR AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHUT OFF BY ITSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY . I WAS GOING ON 70 MILES PER HOUR AND WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WAS ONLY FEW CARS ON THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT TO THE SHOULDER . AFTER COMING OUT OF THE CAR I SEE LOT OF SMOKE AND LOTS OF OIL COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE . AND I SAW THERE WAS A TRAIL OF OIL BEHIND THE CAR. WE WERE STUCK ON TPK FOR 4 HOUR IN COLD BEFORE ANY HELP COULD ARRIVE . FHP…

Look up ODI 11390376 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 11453663

While stopped at light car will shut off. You have to restart

Look up ODI 11453663 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 11704427

This vehicle is affected by NHTSA Recall 25V644 (starter motor – fire risk). The recall remedy has been listed as “Remedy Not Available” since September 25, 2025, and remains unavailable more than two months later. BMW did not notify me about this safety recall. I only discovered it after a third-party platform automatically deactivated the vehicle due to the open recall. In addition, this vehicle has recently developed starting issues , it now struggles to start and requires multiple attempts. This may indicate that the defective starter com…

Look up ODI 11704427 at NHTSA ↗

Power Train
218.2%
ODI 11351446 · 135,522 mi

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.

Look up ODI 11351446 at NHTSA ↗

360.0%
ODI 11175098 · 73,000 mi

DRIVETRAIN SIGNAL CAME ON LIGHT IN CAR STARTED TO TURN ON AND OFF GEARSHIFT BECAME REAL COLD STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ONLY ALLOW TO GO 50 MPH

Look up ODI 11175098 at NHTSA ↗

114.3%
ODI 11233970 · 101,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 740LI. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR AND VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON WHILE THE DRIVESHAFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE M…

Look up ODI 11233970 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Air Bags
19.1%
ODI 11102420 · 45 mi

AIRBAG WENT OUT ON 740 LI 2011

Look up ODI 11102420 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

114.3%
ODI 10510942 · 1,000 mi

MY WIFE HAS HAD SURGERY AND NEEDS A SEAT CUSHION. WHEN WE USE IT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT GOES ON. BMW OFFERS NO SOLUTION. "YOU MAY NOT USE A NON BMW AUTHORIZED CUSHION" ON YOU PASSENGER SEAT. I ASKED FOR AN AUTHORIZED BMW CUSHION, THEY SAID NON EXISTS. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE OUR CAR IN THAT CONDITION. THIS IS A REAL HAZARD. *TR

Look up ODI 10510942 at NHTSA ↗

133.3%
ODI 10715828 · 20,000 mi

TELL US WHAT HAPPENDED: I WAS TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON A 3 LANE ROAD, WHEN A MOVING TRUCK PULLED OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER IN A NON SIGNALED DRIVE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS ROAD TO HEAD WEST BOUND, WHAT SEEMED TO BE LAST MOMENT AS I WAS CONTINUING EAST BOUND THE TRUCK SUDDENLY PULLED OUT A CROSS ROAD, LEAVING ME MINIMAL TIME TO AVOID COLLISION, I BRAKED BUT HAD NO TIME TO SLOW DOWN, SINCE TRUCK PULLED OUT WHAT SEEMED WITHIN 10 FEET OF ME, I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, MY CAR MADE IMPACT WITH SIDE OF MOVING TRUCKS CARGO BOX, CREATING SIGNIFICAN…

Look up ODI 10715828 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 10874473

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW 740LI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10874473 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Look up ODI 10874473 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Fuel/Propulsion System
327.3%
ODI 10983034 · 84,000 mi

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.

Look up ODI 10983034 at NHTSA ↗

120.0%
ODI 11175098 · 73,000 mi

DRIVETRAIN SIGNAL CAME ON LIGHT IN CAR STARTED TO TURN ON AND OFF GEARSHIFT BECAME REAL COLD STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ONLY ALLOW TO GO 50 MPH

Look up ODI 11175098 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Unknown Or Other
218.2%
ODI 11043183 · 102,500 mi

OIL GASKET LEAK

Look up ODI 11043183 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

114.3%
ODI 10852711 · 32,000 mi

THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK BY TOUCH OR WITH THE REMOTE. HAD TO USE THE SLIDE OUT KEY TO UNLOCK THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ONCE INSIDE THE VEHICLE THE BUTTON INSIDE WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE OTHER DOORS. PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE ANY NUMBER OF TIMES WOULD NOT OPEN THE OTHER 3 DOORS. I HAD TO CRAWL OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. NOT VERY SAFE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, WHICH COULD BE AT ANYTIME WITH A MEDICAL CONDITION I SUFFER FROM.

Look up ODI 10852711 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 11704427

This vehicle is affected by NHTSA Recall 25V644 (starter motor – fire risk). The recall remedy has been listed as “Remedy Not Available” since September 25, 2025, and remains unavailable more than two months later. BMW did not notify me about this safety recall. I only discovered it after a third-party platform automatically deactivated the vehicle due to the open recall. In addition, this vehicle has recently developed starting issues , it now struggles to start and requires multiple attempts. This may indicate that the defective starter com…

Look up ODI 11704427 at NHTSA ↗

Wheels
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

114.3%
ODI 10790662 · 33,000 mi

TWO WHEELS HAVE CRACKED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING.

Look up ODI 10790662 at NHTSA ↗

133.3%
ODI 11056602 · 30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW 740LI. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER RIM FRACTURED AND THE AIR PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT [phone removed] AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. A CASE NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Look up ODI 11056602 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

120.0%
ODI 11175098 · 73,000 mi

DRIVETRAIN SIGNAL CAME ON LIGHT IN CAR STARTED TO TURN ON AND OFF GEARSHIFT BECAME REAL COLD STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ONLY ALLOW TO GO 50 MPH

Look up ODI 11175098 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

25V644000 · 2025-09-251 reports2024-102026-09

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-09025V644000

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-09 (partial)0None

No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

2021: 0 complaints · 2022: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2021000
2022000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2021000
2022400

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
No usable records for this analysis.

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.