NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 BMW 740LI Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 BMW 740LI has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 5 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 740LI. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2012 BMW 740LI owner complaints

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 740LI, describing incidents dated October 24, 2017 to January 2, 2022.

Most-cited components

Power Train 3 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Firerelated 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint

Of the 5 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire; across all 5 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11446913 · Filed January 10, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 740LI Sedan. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph when the vehicle backfired which resulted in the vehicle exploding. The drive train malfunction warning light was illuminated. There was black smoking coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle and…
ODI #11366525 · Filed October 26, 2020
WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 55 MPH, A WARNING SOUNDS (DINGS) AS MY CAR READS DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION AND IT REDUCES SPEED. IT ALSO SAYS (READS) DRIVING COMFORT RESTRICTED AND IT STOPS AUTOMATICALLY AS I'M DRIVING.
ODI #11190258 · Filed March 20, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 740LI. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OFTEN. DURING THE FAILURE, THE "POWER TRAIN MALFUNCTIONING" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED…

Read all 5 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 LI 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)

5 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 BMW 740LI.

Firerelated

ODI #11446913

Fire 1 injury

Incident: January 2, 2022 · Filed: January 10, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 BMW 740LI Sedan. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph when the vehicle backfired which resulted in the vehicle exploding. The drive train malfunction warning light was illuminated. There was black smoking coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle and caught fire. The contact was able to jump out of the vehicle and sustained a sprained ankle and mental trauma. The fire marshals extinguished the fire and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a police lot. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact mentioned that the vehicle went through extensive damage that it was unrecognizable. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.

Suspension; Power Train

ODI #11366525

Incident: October 22, 2020 · Filed: October 26, 2020

WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 55 MPH, A WARNING SOUNDS (DINGS) AS MY CAR READS DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION AND IT REDUCES SPEED. IT ALSO SAYS (READS) DRIVING COMFORT RESTRICTED AND IT STOPS AUTOMATICALLY AS I'M DRIVING.

Power Train

ODI #11190258

Incident: March 6, 2019 · Filed: March 20, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 740LI. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OFTEN. DURING THE FAILURE, THE "POWER TRAIN MALFUNCTIONING" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

Power Train; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11175098

Incident: May 10, 2018 · Filed: February 7, 2019

DRIVETRAIN SIGNAL CAME ON LIGHT IN CAR STARTED TO TURN ON AND OFF GEARSHIFT BECAME REAL COLD STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ONLY ALLOW TO GO 50 MPH

Engine

ODI #11042984

Incident: October 24, 2017 · Filed: November 3, 2017

ENGINE OVER HEAT, LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE CROSSING ACROSS THE ROAD. GOT MESSAGE SAYING THIS CONTACT SERVICE CENTER IMMEDIATELY.

Other BMW 740LI model years

Check your 2012 BMW 740LI VIN

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

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