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2012 BMW 740iProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 4 owner complaints about the 2012 BMW 740i, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 17V-067 the manufacturer reports only 86% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Lowest repair rate 86%Owner complaints40 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage30kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 6, 2019. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2012 BMW 740i has problems

4 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system10
Engine10
Engine and engine cooling10
Seat belts10
Seats10
Visibility10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2012 BMW 740i recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

86%repaired · 2018 Q3

Driveline: constant velocity joint

Recall 17V-067 · Feb 2, 2017 · 8,752 vehicles · 7,546 repaired

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.

Best & worst years

2012 vs. every other 740i year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 740i median. How we score

'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2012 BMW 740i safety ratings

2012 BMW 740 I 4 DR RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Optional
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words

What 740i owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 10592483 · May 19, 2014 · 30,000 miles

Own a 2012 740i?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.