RoadVitals

2019 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.
4
+1 complaint in 30 days
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.
1
Latest Jul 11, 2018
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.
0
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.
1
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2019 BMW 740I, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and interior & seats categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 232 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

  • Brakes116.7%
  • Electrical116.7%
  • Interior & seats116.7%
  • Exterior lighting116.7%
  • Powertrain (other)116.7%
  • Visibility116.7%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V465000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Jul 11, 2018
5,309 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330e, 2019 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440i xDrive Gran Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, 740i, 740i xDrive, MINI Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), and MINI Clubman (Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, JCW All4) vehicles.
The risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 7, 2026
Crash reported

I pulled my 2019 BMW 740i out of a residential garage and stopped the vehicle. I opened the driver's door and exited the vehicle to enter the code on the exterior garage keypad to close the garage door. After entering the code, I turned around to return to the vehicle and observed that the BMW had begun moving unexpectedly. The vehicle continued moving and ultimately crashed into a tree, causing substantial front-end damage. I did not intend or expect the vehicle to move after I exited it. I expected the vehicle's systems to secure the vehicle when I exited, but when I turned around, the vehicle was moving. I am concerned that a system intended to prevent unintended vehicle movement—including the transmission Park function, electronic/automatic parking brake, or associated electronic control system—may not have operated as expected. The specific cause has not yet been determined. A BMW Certified Collision Center has estimated approximately $26,000–$27,000 in repairs, and my insurance carrier is evaluating the vehicle as a potential total loss. I have requested preservation of the vehicle and available electronic/diagnostic data so that the cause of the unexpected movement can be investigated. I am reporting this incident as a potential safety-related malfunction involving unintended vehicle movement/rollaway and am requesting that it be reviewed accordingly.

NHTSA ID
11755580
Incident
Jul 25, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 2, 2025

Excessive rain condensation is blocking the front drivers headlights. This is a known issue which BMW refuses to repair under my OEM warranty. This is a known issue with many BMW’s leading to safety issues and electrical issues. The water is pooling in my headlight.

NHTSA ID
11684432
Incident
Sep 2, 2025
Interior & seats
Filed May 22, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 BMW 740I. The contact stated that the leather on the front dashboard had started to peel. Over time, the leather began to shrink and began to roll back towards the windshield. Due to the failure, the contact's vision became obstructed while driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a technician recommended that the dashboard be replaced. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under Warranty. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

NHTSA ID
11590083
Incident
May 1, 2022
Mileage
56,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 5, 2019
4 injuries reported

THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH. MOST OF THE GLASS EXITED THE VEHICLE ABOVE BUT MANY SHARDS OF SHARP GLASS SPRAYED ALL FOUR PASSENGERS. ALL FOUR PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR CUTS. NO ROCK OR OTHER FOREIGN OBJECT WAS OBSERVED IMPACTING THE VEHICLE. THE GLASS EXPLODED OUT NOT IN. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 7 DEGREES F. THIS OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY 99 BETWEEN WHISTLER BC AND SQUAMASH BC ON FEBRUARY 3, 2019.

NHTSA ID
11174502
Incident
Feb 3, 2019
Mileage
5,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

B010224

ENGINE

The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.

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.

B011824

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The Telematics Control Units (TCU) Internal Emergency (Backup) Battery for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 6 years without mileage limitation, as determined from the vehicles original first in-service / 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—
2019Viewing410—
2018500—
2017700—
2016120027.1
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.