Total Complaints
16 filings
BMW 740LI · model year
2011 BMW 740LI
16 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2011BMW740LI carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 740LI is electrical system with 4 filings, followed by engine (3) and fuel/propulsion system (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2011 740LI. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
16
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated
· Front: Not Rated/5
· Side: Not Rated/5
· Rollover: Not Rated/5
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| ENGINE | 3 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20240229POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 740LI. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift into park (P) and inadvertently shifted into neutral (N). The contact applied the parking brake while the transmission was shifted to neutral (N) to turn off the vehicle. The Transmission Malfunction message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the TCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
Mileage: 57,000
20220105ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle is equipped with soft closing doors. Passenger door actuator malfunctioned which prevented the passenger door from locking. That malfunction short circuited the entire vehicle locking system. It created a unsafe driving condition which locked the driver side door from the inside and outside of the vehicle. Basically locking the driver inside the car. The only way for the driver to exit the vehicle was to climb to another door. If the driver was in a accident and needed to exit the car immediately, he wouldn't be able to do it.
20220105STRUCTURE:BODY
Vehicle is equipped with soft closing doors. Passenger door actuator malfunctioned which prevented the passenger door from locking. That malfunction short circuited the entire vehicle locking system. It created a unsafe driving condition which locked the driver side door from the inside and outside of the vehicle. Basically locking the driver inside the car. The only way for the driver to exit the vehicle was to climb to another door. If the driver was in a accident and needed to exit the car immediately, he wouldn't be able to do it.
20220104ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Electric water pump failed. While driving, engine overheated and warning light illuminated. I immediately pulled over and my car was towed in for repairs. Why wasn't the N54 engine not included in the recall campaign#11V-521? Also, my fuel line was found to be leaking when this car was towed in for the electric water pump repairs. I did smell fuel on days prior to this incident, but I mistakenly ignored the smells. This whole incident had the potential to be catastrophic.
20220104FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Electric water pump failed. While driving, engine overheated and warning light illuminated. I immediately pulled over and my car was towed in for repairs. Why wasn't the N54 engine not included in the recall campaign#11V-521? Also, my fuel line was found to be leaking when this car was towed in for the electric water pump repairs. I did smell fuel on days prior to this incident, but I mistakenly ignored the smells. This whole incident had the potential to be catastrophic.
20200928FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE CAR MISFIRE DUE FAULTY INJECTOR THEY DIDN'T REPLACE THE FAULTY INJECTOR WITH THE NEW ONE
Mileage: 110,000
20200826POWER TRAIN
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.
Mileage: 135,522
20200102CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WALKING OUT OF THE GROCERY STORE I NOTICED MY CAR HAD MOVED, HIT THE CURB AND DAMAGED MY BOTTOM FRONT BUMPER. I STARTED AND TURNED ON MY CAR AND THEN NOTICED THE SHIFTER WAS ON NEUTRAL AND NOT PARKED. SHIFTER WOULD ONLY SHIFT TO ANY GEAR EXCEPT FOR THE PARKING GEAR. I DROVE MY CAR HOME AND TRIED PARKING MY CAR IN THE GARAGE, BUT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY PARKING SO IT WOULDN'T ROLL AGAIN. SHIFTER WON'T GO BACK TO PARKING GEAR EVER SINCE THAT DAY.
Mileage: 41,287
20180707UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HEADLINER SAGGING AND LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN POORLY INSTALLED.
Mileage: 50,000
20180618AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WENT OUT ON 740 LI 2011
Mileage: 45
20180322FireENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 740LI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRE OF THE AUXILIARY THAT CONNECTED TO THE WATER PUMP MELTED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW AUXILIARY WIRE FOR THE WATER PUMP, BUT COMPLAINED OF A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER THE PARTS WERE REPLACED BY CHAPMAN BMW IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
Mileage: 110,000
20171104ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OIL GASKET LEAK
Mileage: 102,500
20171104ENGINE
OIL GASKET LEAK
Mileage: 102,500
20171104UNKNOWN OR OTHER
OIL GASKET LEAK
Mileage: 102,500
20170502ENGINE
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.
Mileage: 84,000
20170502FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
Mileage: 84,000
Compare 2011BMW740LI to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2011 BMW 740LI have?▼
The 2011 BMW 740LI has 16 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2011 BMW 740LI?▼
The 2011 BMW 740LI received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of Not Rated/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW 740LI?▼
The most-complained component for the 2011 BMW 740LI is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2011 BMW 740LI safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2011 BMW 740LI has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.