2000 BMW 740I Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2000 BMW 740I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Transmission317.6%
- Interior & seats211.8%
- Electrical211.8%
- Brakes211.8%
- Fuel system211.8%
- Airbags15.9%
- Visibility15.9%
- Heating & air conditioning15.9%
- Engine15.9%
- Other / unspecified15.9%
- Tires & wheels15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .