VehicleVerdict

BMW 740iL years to avoid

The BMW 740iL years to avoid are 1998, 2001 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 1994 is the cleanest year on record.

180

Total complaints

7

Recall campaigns

1993–2001

Years covered

2

Years to avoid

Complaints by model year

BMW 740iL NHTSA complaints by model year49 complaints1993: 10 complaints1994: 4 complaints1995: 13 complaints1996: 14 complaints1997: 27 complaints1998: 49 complaints1999: 7 complaints2000: 23 complaints2001: 33 complaints
BMW 740iL NHTSA complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

740iL years to avoid

YearWhyComplaints
1998High complaint rate49
2001High complaint rate33

Every 740iL year

YearComplaintsRecalls
2001avoid332
2000232
199971
1998avoid491
1997272
1996142
1995134
199441
1993101

Common questions

What are the worst BMW 740iL years?

Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the 740iL years to avoid are 1998, 2001. The cleanest year on record is 1994.

What is the best year for the BMW 740iL?

By complaint volume, 1994 has the cleanest NHTSA record among 740iL years with enough data to compare.

How many recalls does the BMW 740iL have?

Across all model years, the 740iL has 7 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 180 consumer complaints on file.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.