NHTSA vehicle safety data
2021 BMW 740LI Recalls & Complaints
The 2021 BMW 740LI has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file as of October 21, 2026. try.vin has no NHTSA owner complaints on file for the 2021 BMW 740LI. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2021 BMW 740LI. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Starter Motor May Fail and Overheat
NHTSA #25V644000 · Electrical System — Starter Assembly · NHTSA notice
Reported September 25, 2025 · BMW of North America, LLC
Potentially affected: 145,102 vehicles
Repair completion: 58.75% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
Owners notified February 9, 2026 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 340I, X6, 2020-2025 840I, 2020-2022 740LI, 2019-2020 X7, and X5 vehicles. After repeated attempts, the starter motor may overheat from an electrical overload.
Safety consequence
An overheated starter motor can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Manufacturer remedy
Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. This recall includes vehicles repaired under recall 24V576 and those owners will need to have their vehicle repaired again. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov November 17, 2025.
Possible Loss of Braking Assistance and ABS
NHTSA #21V062000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA notice
Reported February 10, 2021 · BMW of North America, LLC
Potentially affected: 893 vehicles
Repair completion: 99.21% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
Owners notified May 25, 2021
Defect description
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, and 2021 M3, M3 Competition, M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, X5 xDrive45e, 745 Le xDrive. The rotor and shaft within the integrated brake system may not have been welded properly and could separate during a hard braking event, possibly resulting in a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and braking assistance.
Safety consequence
A loss of ABS and a reduction in braking assistance can increase the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 25, 2021. 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.
Output Shafts May Break
NHTSA #21V046000 · Power Train — Driveline — Driveshaft · NHTSA notice
Reported February 3, 2021 · BMW of North America, LLC
Potentially affected: 28 vehicles
Repair completion: 100% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
Owners notified March 24, 2021
Defect description
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530i xDrive, 540i xDrive and 2021 740Li xDrive vehicles. The output shafts (left/right) which transfer power from the driveshaft to the rear wheels may break due to a heat treatment error during supplier production.
Safety consequence
A broken output shaft can lead to a loss of drive power or a rollaway condition in a parked vehicle (if the parking brake is not engaged), increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the output shaft(s), free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. 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.
48V Battery Connection Misassembled
NHTSA #20V761000 · Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery · NHTSA notice
Reported December 9, 2020 · BMW of North America, LLC
Potentially affected: 812 vehicles
Repair completion: 99.75% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
Owners notified March 30, 2021
Defect description
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been assembled properly, which can cause increased electrical resistance at the connections.
Safety consequence
Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
Manufacturer remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator assembly, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 12, 2021. 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.
Inaccessible Child Seat Tether Anchor/FMVSS 225
NHTSA #20V379000 · Child Seat — Tether — Connector/Clip · NHTSA notice
Reported June 30, 2020 · BMW of North America, LLC
Potentially affected: 16 vehicles
Repair completion: 100% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
Owners notified August 20, 2020
Defect description
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 740Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive, M760Li xDrive, and Alpina B7 vehicles. The top child seat tether anchor on the rear middle seat may not be readily accessible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, Section 6.1(b) "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Safety consequence
A child restraint system placed on the vehicle's rear middle seat without utilizing the three-point safety belt, could increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a top tether anchor cover at the rear middle seating position. Until vehicles are remedied, owners will be instructed to utilize the outboard rear seating positions which are equipped with an accessible top tether anchor, or, the middle rear seating position and the vehicle's three-point safety belt. The recall began August 20, 2020. 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.
Other BMW 740LI model years
Check your 2021 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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