RoadVitals

2016 BMW 740I

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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 Jun 28, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 BMW 740I, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and engine categories. 26 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance325.0%
  • Electrical325.0%
  • Engine216.7%
  • Seat belts216.7%
  • Body & structure18.3%
  • Suspension18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceElectricalSeat belts
Filed Jun 28, 2024

Blind spot warning randomly works. Passenger seatbelt phantom seatbelt warning while driving alone!

NHTSA ID
11597560
Incident
Apr 2, 2024
Suspension
Filed Nov 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 BMW 740I. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front air suspension failed to perform as designed, causing the front end of the vehicle to remain lowered, making the front driver’s and passenger’s side tires touching the inner wheel well. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who diagnosed that the front driver’s and passenger’s side air suspension was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were both notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 52,000.

NHTSA ID
11492944
Incident
Nov 7, 2022
Mileage
52,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 8, 2022

Active Air Flap fault, Upper and Lower Actuator is not working and that is why engine is overheating. BMW has extended this warranty to 10 years/120K miles for 750 and 550 series manufactured up to Aug 2019. But they have not done that on 740 series. My vehicle has the same problem and should be covered under the same in order to avoid engine damage. Please advice the next step. The fault code are: P05A0, P05AE, P05A2, P059F.

NHTSA ID
11483478
Incident
Jun 9, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Nov 8, 2020

NOT REALLY SURE IF THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY COMPLAINT, BUT IT COULD LEAD TO PROBLEMS IF NOT CORRECTED. THE UPPER RADIATOR SHUTTLE WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS CAN CAUSE RESTRICTED CLIMATE CONTROL IN THE VEHICLE INTERIOR, REDUCTION OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND POSSIBLY ENGINE OVERHEATING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MODEL YEARS 2016+. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE SHUTTER. THE LINK BELOW IS FOR ANOTHER MODEL OF BMW, BUT SHOWS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM: HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2019/MC-10160279-9999.PDF

NHTSA ID
11373643
Incident
Nov 5, 2020
Mileage
75,100 mi
Filed Aug 3, 2020

ON JULY 30, I WAS DRIVING AT 35MPH ON A MAJOR ROAD IN PINETOP/LAKESIDE, ARIZONA WHEN THE SUNROOF, THAT WAS IN THE VENT POSITION, EXPLODED INWARD SHOWERING ME AND A PASSENGER IN SHATTERED GLASS. IT WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION. DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE SUNROOF CASSETTE, THE REPAIR IS ABOUT $7,000.

NHTSA ID
11343055
Incident
Jul 30, 2020
Mileage
29,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 26, 2018

ON TWO OCCASIONS A FALSE FASTEN SEAT BELT FROM PASSENGER SIDE HAS COME UP WHEN THE SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED. THE CAR WAS SENT FOR REPAIR. ON THE FIRST OCCASION IT WAS INDICATED THE WIRING IS LOOSE FOR THE SEAT BELT HARNESS SO IT WAS TIGHTENED. ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE CAR WAS SENT TO DEALERSHIP IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARNESS WIRING TRACK COULD COME LOOSE AND THEREFORE HAD TO BE REROUTED.

NHTSA ID
11131757
Incident
Dec 8, 2017
Mileage
12,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 26, 2018

I GOT ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON MY BMW; ON EACH OCCASION THE CAR WAS SENT TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR TO FIND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER RADIATOR BLINDS ARE AT FAULT AND THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE 2016 BMW 740I IS EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT GRILLE WHERE THE VENTS ARE COVERED BY BLINDS THAT OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND CLOSED WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF ALLOWED SOME TIME FOR WARM AIR TO COME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ID
11131756
Incident
Sep 11, 2018
Mileage
25,000 mi
Filed Apr 15, 2017

ACTIVE PDC FAILS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS RELEASED IN MARCH 2017 BY BMW AND NEW SOFTWARE WAS DOWNLOADED. DESPITE THE NEW SOFTWARE DOWNLOADED TO VEHICLE THERE CONTINUES TO BE INCIDENTS POST THAT WHEN THE ACTIVE PDC FAILS TO ACTIVATE. BMW CONTINUES TO CLAIM THE FEATURE WORKS AS DESIGNED BUT THERE IS NEVER ANY EXPLANATION BY THE DEALER WHY IT IS BY DESIGN. FOREMAN AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE HE WITNESSED MULTIPLE FAILURES OF IT ARGUED THAT I CAN SEE THE CAR IS GOING TO HIT ANOTHER CAR OR AN OBJECT SO WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE IT ACTIVATE? THIS ARGUMENT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, BECAUSE THE FEATURE SHOULD WORK, AND IF YOU KNOW CAR IS GOING TO HIT ANOTHER CAR OR OBJECT THEN YOU SHOULD EXPECT FEATURE TO ACTIVATE OTHERWISE WHY IS THE FEATURE. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT ACCEPT TO DOCUMENT THE FAILURES IN THE SERVICE ORDER OR THE ARGUMENTS FOREMAN MADE.

NHTSA ID
10978612
Incident
Mar 23, 2017
Mileage
2,696 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B010522

SUSPENSION

THE FRONT AND REAR AIR SUSPENSION STRUT ASSEMBLIES LIMITED WARRANTY FOR DEFECTS IN MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 8 YEARS /80,000 MILES AS DETERMINED FROM THE ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE.

B720125

AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; SEATS

A situation may occur where the front passenger seat is not occupied; however, a “fasten seat belt” warning and a front passenger seat air bag deactivation message appears. If the situation is currently present, sit in the seat and move the seat to a slightly different position. The POL (Passenger Occupancy Light) light should now function correctly. In some cases, the Air bag Warning Light was illuminated, and the following Advanced Crash Safety Module (ACSM) fault is stored: 930A1C - Front passenger seat occupancy detection transmitting fault (moisture)

B720125

AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

A situation may occur where the front passenger seat is not occupied; however, a “fasten seat belt” warning and a front passenger seat air bag deactivation message appears. If the situation is currently present, sit in the seat and move the seat to a slightly different position. The POL (Passenger Occupancy Light) light should now function correctly. In some cases, the Air bag Warning Light was illuminated, and the following Advanced Crash Safety Module (ACSM) fault is stored: 930A1C - Front passenger seat occupancy detection transmitting fault (moisture)

B720125

AIR BAGS

The Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Front Passenger’s Seat Occupancy Capacitive Interior Sensor (CIS) Mat for defects in materials and/or workmanship that causes a false seat occupancy alert to occur has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the vehicle's original in-service / first delivery date.

B720125

AIR BAGS

A situation may occur where the front passenger seat is not occupied; however, a “fasten seat belt” warning and a front passenger seat air bag deactivation message appears. If the situation is currently present, sit in the seat and move the seat to a slightly different position. The POL (Passenger Occupancy Light) light should now function correctly. In some cases, the Air bag Warning Light was illuminated, and the following Advanced Crash Safety Module (ACSM) fault is stored: 930A1C - Front passenger seat occupancy detection transmitting fault (moisture)

B720125

AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Front Passenger’s Seat Occupancy Capacitive Interior Sensor (CIS) Mat for defects in materials and/or workmanship that causes a false seat occupancy alert to occur has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the vehicle's original in-service / first delivery date.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 740I by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2025030
2024350
2023109048.3
2022000
2021120
2020120
2019410
2018500
2017700
2016Viewing120027.1
2015110
2014110
2013110
2012410
2001154055.6
2000122049.2
1999810
1998810
1997330
1996130
1995950
1994720
1993152048.9

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.