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U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Bmw 740I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

15 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

75,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 15 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting16.7%
Engine operation16.7%
Electrical and battery issues16.7%
Steering behavior16.7%
Fuel system concerns16.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

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

Engine
3
Air Bags
2
Electrical System
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Air Bags:Frontal
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
Fuel System, Gasoline
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine3
Air Bags2
Electrical System2
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Air Bags:Frontal1
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood1
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission1

Engine: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 4 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.

2001
1
2005
2
2006
1
2008
2
2009
1
2010
1
2011
1
2012
1
2014
1
2016
1
2018
1
2020
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20011
20052
20061
20082
20091
20101
20111
20121
20141
20161
20181
20201
20221

2001: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

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.

Owner report 10246118 · 2008-10-20 (October 20, 2008)

2001 BMW 740I - THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT ANY WARNING JUST STOPPED GOING IN REVERSE. AFTER RESEARCH I FIND OUT THIS IS AN ISSUE RAMPANT AMONG BMW'S AND OWNERS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. PLEASE HELP - IT SEEMS AS IF BMW IS AWARE BUT REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE EVEN DEVELOPED A RING FIX TO REPLACE PRODUCTION PARTS THAT FAIL - HOWEVER WILL STILL NOT STAND BEHIND AN OBVIOUS AND UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 84,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246118 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10609636 · 2014-07-10 (July 10, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE THERMOSTAT WIRES WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 9/9/14*CN UPDATED 1/20/2015 *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609636 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10217561 · 2008-02-10 (February 10, 2008)

SMOKE FROM ENGINE AND BURNING WIRES AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AT THE PLUG TO THE ENGINE COOLING THERMOSTAT SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHED WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217561 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10152895 · 2006-03-16 (March 16, 2006)

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, CLEAR WEATHER, AVERAGE TRAFFIC, AND DURING A LANE CHANGE THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL FEEL TO THE STEERING RESPONSE. I SLOWED AND MOVED TO THE LEFT, SHIMMIED THE CAR GENTLY SIDE-SIDE. MAYBE A TIRE LOSING PRESSURE, I THOUGHT. I TOOL THE FIRST EXIT, GOT OUT AND FOUND NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM. I STARTED OUT AGAIN BUT AS I TURNED BACK TO GO STRAIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT ALIGN WITH ITS USUAL 'STRAIGHT' POSITION. I PARKED IT AND CALLED FOR A TOW. AGAIN NOTHING OBVIOUS UNTIL WE LOWERED THE CAR OFF THE FLATBED. THE LEFT REAR TIRE TU…

Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152895 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10446243 · 2012-02-02 (February 2, 2012)

THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER PURGE LINE IS BLOCKED AND IS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO COLLAPSE. *KB

Owner-reported narrative. 100,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446243 at NHTSA ↗