NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 BMW 740I Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 BMW 740I has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 4 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 BMW 740I. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2012 BMW 740I owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 740I, describing incidents dated March 25, 2012 to February 14, 2019.

Most-cited components

Engine 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Seat Belts 1 complaint
Seats 1 complaint
Visibility/Wiper 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11184672 · Filed March 6, 2019
I PULLED IN TO MY HOME TO DISCOVER THAT MY BMW WAS LEAKING OIL AFTER TAKING IT TO A BMW SERVICE CENTER THEY DIAGNOSED AND INDEED I HAD AN OIL LEAK FROM THE GASKET HOUSING SEAL CAR WAS STILL OPERATING FINE UNTIL I TURN THE CAR ON ONE MORNING AND IT JUST KEEP STALLING BEING STUCK AND CONSTANT IDLE THE…
ODI #10592483 · Filed May 19, 2014
WE WERE TRAVELING I-75 SOUTH NEAR GAINESVILLE, FL., AND THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN. WE WERE IN THE FAST LANE AND HAD TO STRUGGLE TO STEER IT TO GET IT OFF THE HWY. LIGHT CAME ON SAYING DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTENING AT 11,000 MILES AND IT SHUT…
ODI #10548303 · Filed October 17, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 740I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN RESTING HIS LEFT KNEE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, HE WOULD INADVERTENTLY DEPRESS THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR BUTTONS. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD MOVE BACK AND FORTH INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE…

Read all 4 complaints

Rear CV Joints may Fail

NHTSA #17V067000 · Power Train — Driveline — Constant Velocity Joint · NHTSA notice

Reported February 2, 2017 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 8,752 vehicles

Repair completion: 88.62% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified April 21, 2017 · Vehicles built March 7, 2011 – April 29, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012 740i and 740Li vehicles. The rear driveshaft constant velocity (CV) joint on the affected vehicles may fatigue and break.

Safety consequence

If the CV joint breaks, the vehicle may have a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear driveshaft CV joint and, based on its production date, will replace it, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2012 BMW 740 I 4 DR RWD

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control Forward Collision Warning (Optional) Lane Departure Warning (Optional)

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 BMW 740I.

Seat Belts; Engine

ODI #11184672

Incident: February 14, 2019 · Filed: March 6, 2019

I PULLED IN TO MY HOME TO DISCOVER THAT MY BMW WAS LEAKING OIL AFTER TAKING IT TO A BMW SERVICE CENTER THEY DIAGNOSED AND INDEED I HAD AN OIL LEAK FROM THE GASKET HOUSING SEAL CAR WAS STILL OPERATING FINE UNTIL I TURN THE CAR ON ONE MORNING AND IT JUST KEEP STALLING BEING STUCK AND CONSTANT IDLE THE OIL IS SMUDGE ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND I CAN'T DRIVE WITHOUT VAPORS AND FUMES BEING PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE

Electrical System

ODI #10592483

Incident: May 11, 2014 · Filed: May 19, 2014

WE WERE TRAVELING I-75 SOUTH NEAR GAINESVILLE, FL., AND THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN. WE WERE IN THE FAST LANE AND HAD TO STRUGGLE TO STEER IT TO GET IT OFF THE HWY. LIGHT CAME ON SAYING DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTENING AT 11,000 MILES AND IT SHUT DOWN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT AT ABOUT 50 MPH. INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSE TO TOTAL VEHICLE OUT AND FIXED IT FOR $41,000. SAME SCENARIO. VEHICLE NOT SAFE AND BMW WILL NOT RESPOND TO THE LOSS. BREAKDOWN ON MAY 11, AS A RESULT OF LIGHTENING STRIKE. NO ONE WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. *JS

Visibility; Seats

ODI #10548303

Incident: May 1, 2013 · Filed: October 17, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 740I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN RESTING HIS LEFT KNEE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, HE WOULD INADVERTENTLY DEPRESS THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR BUTTONS. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD MOVE BACK AND FORTH INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM AND THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 11/25/13*CN

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10454283

Incident: March 25, 2012 · Filed: April 5, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 740I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH IN THE RAIN, HE DROVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT ENTERED THE ENGINE, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR IT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THEY ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

Other BMW 740I model years

Check your 2012 BMW 740I VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 740I at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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