AI Damage2011 BMW 740I US: common problems
Owners of the 2011 BMW 740I US filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 25% of all complaints
- Engine: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
These are the soft-close doors and once you are inside and the door locks, you cannot unlock it to get out. You can press the lock button and it does not unlock. Also, if you lock the car from the outside, you are not able to unlock the car to get back in with the remote or the actual key.
Leaking fuel code p1449 dmtl diagnostic module tank leak. Woke up with fuel spots on both sides of vehicle near fuel tank. Vehicle was stationary parked in the driveway!!!! Lucky for me ! It was not in the garage.
The contact stated that the electronic floor shifter independently moved from parking to neutral and the transmission malfunction warning message appeared. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing.
The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be replicated. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 31,600.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,524 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW 740I US?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, fuel/propulsion system, powertrain. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: door locks, latches, handles (25%), stalls while driving (25%), warning lights, check engine (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 BMW 740I US?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2011 BMW 740I US from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2011 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.