BMW

740i

Large Cars · model years 1993 to 2026

Includes 740i, 740i Sedan, 740i xDrive and 1 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 33 740i trims All BMW cars

The verdict

Best year: 2026. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1.

Worst year: 1995. complaints: 9, about 4.5x this model's typical 2; recalls: 4, about 4x this model's typical 1.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the BMW 740i
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	TSBs	Top complaints
1993	1Gas	16	no data	$4,800	2	15	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 33%, SEATS 17%, AIR BAGS 11%
complaints: 15, about 7.5x this model's typical 2 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 4 of 100, where higher is better.
1994	1Gas	17	no data	$4,550	2	7	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 44%, STEERING 22%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 7, about 3.5x this model's typical 2 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 Score: 10 of 100, where higher is better.
1995	1Gas	17	no data	$4,550	4	9	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 27%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 18%
complaints: 9, about 4.5x this model's typical 2 recalls: 4, about 4x this model's typical 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	1Gas	18	no data	$3,450	0	8	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 25%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, VISIBILITY 17%
complaints: 8, about 4x this model's typical 2 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 39 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	2Gas	17	no data	$3,675	0	8	no data	AIR BAGS 33%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 22%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 8, about 1.6x this model's typical 5 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 62 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	2Gas	17	no data	$4,550	3	15	no data	AIR BAGS 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, ENGINE 14%
complaints: 15, about 3x this model's typical 5 recalls: 3, about 3x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2011	1Gas	20	no data	$3,850	0	0	no data	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 2 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2012	1Gas	20	no data	$3,850	1	4	194	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, ENGINE 17%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17%
complaints: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2013	1Gas	22	no data	$3,500	1	1	203	AIR BAGS 100%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 2 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 76 of 100, where higher is better.
2014	1Gas	22	no data	$3,500	1	1	176	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 100%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 2 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 77 of 100, where higher is better.
2015	1Gas	22	no data	$3,500	1	1	149	ENGINE 100%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 2 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	1Gas	24	320	$3,200	0	12	22	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21%, ENGINE 14%, SEAT BELTS 14%
complaints: 12, about 6x this model's typical 2 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	2Gas	23	320	$3,350	0	7	232	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27%, ENGINE 27%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 9%
complaints: 7, above this model's typical 5 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 68 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	2Gas	23.5	320	$3,275	0	5	159	ENGINE 33%, SUSPENSION 33%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%
complaints: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 80 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	2Gas	23.5	320	$3,275	1	4	160	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 14%, POWER TRAIN 14%
complaints: 4, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 Score: 69 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	2Gas	23.5	335	$3,275	2	1	161	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 100%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 Score: 62 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	2Gas	24	335	$3,225	2	1	116	FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 50%, LANE DEPARTURE 50%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 Score: 62 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	2Gas	24	no data	$3,225	0	0	60	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	1Hybrid	27	no data	$2,850	9	12	78	SERVICE BRAKES 30%, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 25%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 12, about 6x this model's typical 2 recalls: 9, about 9x this model's typical 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	2Hybrid	27.5	no data	$2,800	6	3	102	ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 25%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 25%, SERVICE BRAKES 25%
complaints: 3, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 6, about 6x this model's typical 1 Score: 46 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	2Hybrid	27.5	no data	$3,000	3	0	42	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 3, about 3x this model's typical 1 Score: 55 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	2Hybrid	27.5	no data	$3,000	0	0	no data	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1993: 16 to 2026: 27.5

Owner complaints1993: 15 to 2026: 0

How we score each year

We compare each year of the BMW 740i to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.