2001 Bmw 740IL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 26 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 11.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 11.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 7.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Power Train: 2; Steering: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1
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 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 7 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 10239940 · 2008-08-27 (August 27, 2008)
PURCHASED PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED CAR IN APRIL 06, STARTING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS: WINDOW MOTORS, GPS SYSTEM/MONITOR, CAR KEPT DYEING WHILE STOPPED AND DRIVING, ENGINE SHUTDOWN/FAILSAFE MODE, BRAKE LIGHTS BLOWING ALL THE TIME, FUSES AND IGNITION SWITCH GOING OUT ALL THE TIME. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE ABOUT 18 TIMES IN THE LAST 26 MONTHS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND WE FOUND OUT THE "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY WE BOUGHT IS NOT BUMPER TO BUMPER BUT LISTED PARTS, WHATEVER THAT MEANS; AFTER CONTACTING BMW NORTH AMERICA FOUND OUT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10239940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10320216 · 2010-03-16 (March 16, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740 IL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 2 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 24 TO 36 INCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO PROCEED TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH EXTREME FORCE APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,390.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10320216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10671615 · 2015-01-10 (January 10, 2015)
THREE YEARS AGO I BOUGHT AN AFTERMARKET CENTER STEERING LINK FOR MY CAR....MADE IN CHINA. AFTER THREE YEARS, I DETECTED SIGNIFICANT PLAY IN THE CENTER LINK WHERE THERE SHOULD BE NONE. I ORDER A SECOND ONE AND REPLACED IT. AFTER THREE MONTHS I DETECTED PLAY IN THE STEERING LINK, NOT AS BAD AS AFTER THREE YEARS, BUT THERE SHOULD BE ZERO PLAY IN THIS PART. I REPLACED IT TODAY WITH AND OEM PART AND WANTED TO REPORT THE DEFECTIVE PART WHICH IS BEING SOLD IN HIGH VOLUME ON THE INTERNET (EBAY). I BELIEVE SHOULD THIS PART FAIL COMPLETELY, IT WOULD…
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10823642 · 2016-02-01 (February 1, 2016)
START THE CAR POWER STEERING FROZE, I HAVE SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT FIX THE PROBLEM OR I HAVE TO REPEAT. SOMETIME WHILE DRIVING STEERING FREEZE. I HAD HOSES LEAK, REPLACED HOSES STILL HAVE MORE LEAKS. WHILE DRIVING CAR UNSTABLE, I CHANGED TIRES PROBLEM REMAIN THE SAME. I CHECKED ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND ALL IN GOOD CONDITION.
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245625 · 2008-10-15 (October 15, 2008)
MY GAS TANK IS SLOWLY IMPLODING...APPARENTLY, BMW IS QUITE AWARE OF THE CONDITION AS A BULLETIN WAS PRODUCED ON 11-9-2003 BASED ON A DEFECT IN ENGINEERING DESIGN OR THE HARDWARE CHOSEN. IN THE MEANTIME, MY CAR IS A FUEL TIMEBOMB - THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 66,172 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283851 · 2009-09-14 (September 14, 2009)
APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO I STARTED SMELLING MILD GASOLINE FUMES EMANATING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE CAUSED BY SOME SPILLAGE WHEN REFUELING. OVER TIME THE ODOR HAS BECOME STRONGER. UPON INSPECTION BY THE BMW DEALERSHIP IT WAS ASCERTAINED THAT A CRACK EXISTED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AND SIGNIFICANT RUST WAS PRESENT. THESE DEFECTS ALLOW GAS TO SEEP OUT AND DRIP TO THE GROUND. THE AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS NO ROAD/ACCIDENT DAMAGE TO THE AREA. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10292689 · 2009-11-18 (November 18, 2009)
RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2001 BMW 740IL. AFTER A MONTH OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE I STARTED NOTICING A LOUD THUMP FROM BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT. I THOUGHT IT COULD OF BEEN A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT LATER ON A GASOLINE ODOR STARTED TO DEVELOP IN MY GARAGE PARKING SPACE. AFTER TAKING A QUICK LOOK UNDERNEATH MY CAR, I SAW MOISTURE BUILDING UP RIGHT UNDER THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT. IT WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK AND FUEL WAS SLOWLY LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. DOING SOME SHORT RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL BMW I OWN. HOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496766 · 2013-02-07 (February 7, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740 IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 6 MPH, HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10823644 · 2016-02-01 (February 1, 2016)
NAVIGATION SYSTEM FAILS (COMPUTER), I CHECKED ONLINE SEEM A LOT CAR OWNERS HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHICH NOT EFFECTING NAVIGATION ONLY ALSO EFFECT THE AUDIO SYSTEM AND DRAIN THE BATTERY. MECHANIC ADVICE ME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AND I DID, PROBLEM STILL THE SAME. FOR A HIGH END CAR WITH LOW MILES SEEMS NOT RIGHT. A NEW COMPUTER NAVIGATION SYSTEM COST OVER $2000.00. SEEMS THE GERMAN DESIGN THOSE SYSTEMS TO FAIL TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESS GOING.
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823644 at NHTSA ↗