RoadVitals

2000 BMW 740I Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Sep 13, 2017
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 9, 2001

What this page shows

Our database holds 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 BMW 740I. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–12 of 12

Interior & seats
Filed Sep 13, 2017

WHEN SEAT HEATER SWITCHED ON, A BURNING SMELL RESULTED. I SWITCHED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. INSPECTION OF SEAT AFTERWARDS RESULTED IN FINDING A SPOT WHERE THE LEATHER WAS BURNED. CLEARLY THIS COULD RESULT IN A BURN TO THE DRIVER OR A FIRE.

NHTSA ID
11023377
Incident
Sep 13, 2017
Mileage
139,100 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 13, 2011

I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN MAY 2009 AND SHORTLY AFTER IN THE SUMMER, AUGUST EARLY SEPTEMBER, THE REVERSE STARTED TO ACT UP. SOMETIMES I HAD TO WAIT A SHORT PERIOD FOR THE REVERSE TO ACTUALLY ENGAGE. IT STARTED TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY AND I HAD IT INSPECTED. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE ISSUE. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN DECEMBER WHICH COST JUST OVER $4000. IT IS NOW RUNNING FINE BUT II WAS SUPER IRRITATED SINCE THIS AUTOMOBILE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A LUXURY VEHICLE AND NOT A LEMON. BMW SHOULD HAVE TO COMPENSATE CUSTOMERS FOR THESE TYPES OF ISSUE AS I BELIEVE A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL IN THIS TYPE OF CAR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SUCH A GREAT REPUTATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10406059
Incident
Aug 20, 2009
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jun 5, 2011
Fire reported

ON SATURDAY, JUNE 4, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2000 BMW 740I. SHE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 4 BLOCKS AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BROKE OUT IN FLAMES. IT BEGAN WHEN THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE. SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON SO SHE PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WHEN SHE STEPPED BACK FROM THE CAR, SHE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE SEAT OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAS HEATED SEATS -- BUT THE FIRE SEEMED TO COME FROM THE PANEL OF CONTROLS THAT IS ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE IN THE SEAT OF THE CAR. THE MENLO PARK, CA FIRE DEPARTMENT TOOK A REPORT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10404526
Incident
Jun 4, 2011
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 8, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2000 BMW 740I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME. THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 00V048000. THE RECALL STATES THAT IF THE SWITCH DOES NOT HAVE A WHITE STRIPE ON IT THEN IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT FEELS THE VEHICLE NEEDS THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE WHITE STRIPE. THE DEALER STATES THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 1999 AND OCTOBER 28, 1999, THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE COVERED. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78800.

NHTSA ID
10317767
Incident
Feb 10, 2010
Mileage
78,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 16, 2009

I JUST RECEIVED AN EMAIL GIVING ME AN UPDATE ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. I OWN A 2000 BMW 740I AND THE REVERSE ALSO WENT OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION AND I HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT. I BELIEVE THAT BEING "A TOP OF THE LINE AUTOMOBILE" THE REVERSE SHOULD NOT BE FAILING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10296044
Incident
Nov 4, 2009
Transmission
Filed Mar 24, 2009

ABOUT NOVEMBER OF 2007 I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A DELAY IN ENGAGING REVERSE. I WENT TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED FOR THIS AND THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A POSSIBLE VALVE BODY ISSUE WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION BEING THE BEST SOLUTION BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SURE AND IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SAFE. MARCH OF 2008 THE REVERSE GEAR COMPLETELY FAILED AND FROM THAT POINT UNTIL PRESENT THE CAR WILL NOT REVERSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION AND I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING, "REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION" TO BE SAFE. I EVEN CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10262928
Incident
Mar 17, 2008
Mileage
82,868 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 1, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FUEL PUMP FAILED. *AK *LA

NHTSA ID
10061111
Incident
Feb 26, 2004
Mileage
50,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 1, 2004

MY CAR WAS LEAKING GAS FROM THE TANK ON THE WAY HOME AND WHEN I GOT HOME I NOTICED THAT THE GAS TANK WAS WET WITH GAS AND IT LEAKED ON THE FLOOR MY WHOLE GARAGE IS FILLED WITH GAS VAPOR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10056280
Incident
Jan 31, 2004
Mileage
68,150 mi
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Aug 22, 2003

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK ALSO THE RADIATOR LEAK COOLANT, THE AIR CONDITION MADE A NOISE, THE COMPUTER BOARD IMAGES WENT OUT AND THEN CAME BACK ON, THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE HANDS FREE EQUIPMENT WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10030099
Incident
Sep 1, 2001
Mileage
22,565 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 14, 2003
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED THE DRIVER WEARING THE SEAT BELT HAD A FRONT COLLISION, AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING PRIOR TO THE CRASH. POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10033949
Incident
Aug 14, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 18, 2003

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT FROM THE CENTER OF THE TIRE. (PILOT SPORT A/W) *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10024256
Incident
Jun 17, 2003
Mileage
20,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 9, 2001

WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT APPEAR UNTIL ABOUT 4TH EPISODE OF BRAKE PROBLEM. COMPUTER FOUND IT NECESSARY TO ACTIVATE ABS BECAUSE OF ROTOR FAILURE. DIFFICULT TO STOP. IMMEDIATE REPAIR ACTIVITY INSTITUTED WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALER, BMW. GOOD DEALER RESPONSE. TOO SOON TO HAVE SUCH FAILURE ON VEHICLE. LITES SHOULD HAVE COME ON FIST TIME I FELT THE ABS DEPLOYED (@ LOW MPH).*AK

NHTSA ID
755452
Incident
Dec 7, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .