2021 Bmw 740LI: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V379000 · Child Seat:Tether: Connector/Clip
Reported: 2020-06-30 (June 30, 2020)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 740Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive, M760Li xDrive, and Alpina B7 vehicles. The top child seat tether anchor on the rear middle seat may not be readily accessible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, Section 6.1(b) "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Consequence: A child restraint system placed on the vehicle's rear middle seat without utilizing the three-point safety belt, could increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a top tether anchor cover at the rear middle seating position. Until vehicles are remedied, owners will be instructed to utilize the outboard rear seating positions which are equipped with an accessible top tether anchor, or, the middle rear seating position and the vehicle's three-point safety belt. The recall began August 20, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V761000 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
Reported: 2020-12-09 (December 9, 2020)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been assembled properly, which can cause increased electrical resistance at the connections.
Consequence: Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator assembly, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V046000 · Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
Reported: 2021-02-03 (February 3, 2021)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530i xDrive, 540i xDrive and 2021 740Li xDrive vehicles. The output shafts (left/right) which transfer power from the driveshaft to the rear wheels may break due to a heat treatment error during supplier production.
Consequence: A broken output shaft can lead to a loss of drive power or a rollaway condition in a parked vehicle (if the parking brake is not engaged), increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the output shaft(s), free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V062000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Hydraulic | Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Reported: 2021-02-10 (February 10, 2021)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, and 2021 M3, M3 Competition, M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, X5 xDrive45e, 745 Le xDrive. The rotor and shaft within the integrated brake system may not have been welded properly and could separate during a hard braking event, possibly resulting in a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and braking assistance.
Consequence: A loss of ABS and a reduction in braking assistance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V644000 · Electrical System:Starter Assembly
Reported: 2025-09-25 (September 25, 2025)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 340I, X6, 2020-2025 840I, 2020-2022 740LI, 2019-2020 X7, and X5 vehicles. After repeated attempts, the starter motor may overheat from an electrical overload.
Consequence: An overheated starter motor can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. This recall includes vehicles repaired under recall 24V576 and those owners will need to have their vehicle repaired again. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov November 17, 2025.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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.
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 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 436.4% | 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. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 375.0%ODI 11704427This 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… |
| Engine | 327.3%ODI 10983034 · 84,000 miPURCHASED 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. | 120.0%ODI 11042984ENGINE OVER HEAT, LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE CROSSING ACROSS THE ROAD. GOT MESSAGE SAYING THIS CONTACT SERVICE CENTER IMMEDIATELY. | 114.3%ODI 11390376 · 68,000 miII 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… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11453663While stopped at light car will shut off. You have to restart | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 11704427This 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… |
| Power Train | 218.2%ODI 11351446 · 135,522 miTHE GEAR SHIFTER BLINKS IN NEUTRAL WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK. A NOTIFICATION ON THE DISPLAY SAYS "SECURE VEHICLE WITH PARKING BREAK WHEN STATIONARY. | 360.0%ODI 11175098 · 73,000 miDRIVETRAIN 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 | 114.3%ODI 11233970 · 101,000 miTL* 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… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 19.1% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10510942 · 1,000 miMY 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 | 133.3%ODI 10715828 · 20,000 miTELL 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… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10874473TL* 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. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 327.3%ODI 10983034 · 84,000 miPURCHASED 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. | 120.0%ODI 11175098 · 73,000 miDRIVETRAIN 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 | 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. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 218.2% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10852711 · 32,000 miTHE 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 11704427This 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… |
| Wheels | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10790662 · 33,000 miTWO WHEELS HAVE CRACKED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING. | 133.3%ODI 11056602 · 30,000 miTL* 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo 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 miDRIVETRAIN 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 | 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. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo 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 | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | 25V644000 | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | None | 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.
2021: 0 complaints · 2022: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
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 |
|---|
| 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.