FORCAR
Go Pro

BMW 740Li VIN Check

NHTSA holds 24 owner complaints on the BMW 740Li from 20 production runs; the worst run has 3, the typical one 1.2.

NHTSA complaint records · 24 complaints · 20 runs · 2011–2015 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported 740Li run is WBAKB4C55BC (2011 builds) with 3 complaints, 2.5× the typical run. Power train problems make up 25% of reports; 2011 is the worst model year at 1.5 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for 740Li model years 2012–2022.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The BMW 740Li has 20 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 38% of every 740Li complaint on file.

FIG.01·BMW 740Li — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
WBAKB4C55BC••••••20113——
WBAKB4C56BC••••••201121—
WBAYE4C58DD••••••20132——
WBAKB4C50BC••••••20111—1
WBAKB4C53BC••••••20111——
WBAKB4C58BC••••••20111——
WBAKB4C54BC••••••20111——
WBAKB4C54CC••••••20121——
WBAKB4C53CC••••••20121——
WBAKB4C50CC••••••20121——
WBAKC6C55CD••••••20121——
WBAKB4C56CC••••••20121—1
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 8 740Li runs has 1 complaint or fewer. ForCar has checked 12 740Li VINs so far, most often 2022, 2014, 2013 builds; 1 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the BMW 740Li the gap between build years is 1.5×: a 2011 car draws 1.5 complaints per run, a 2012 one 1.

FIG.02·BMW 740Li — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20141331
20131.265—
2012155—
20111.5961
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2011 at 1.5 complaints per run; lightest is 2012 at 1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 25% of everything BMW 740Li owners report: Power Train, 6 of 24 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·BMW 740Li — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Power Train6——
Engine5—1
Fuel/propulsion System4——
Electrical System31—
Air Bags21—
Wheels2——
Unknown Or Other1——
Structure1——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 3 recall campaigns on the BMW 740Li; the 3 below cover build years 2012 to 2022. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·BMW 740Li — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
17V379000Exterior Lighting2013–2015
25V644000Electrical System:starter Assembly2022
17V067000Power Train:driveline:constant Velocity Joint2012
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

17V379000 was opened in 2017 on cars built from 2013: 4 years on the road before the recall.

The 740Li against its rivals

The 740Li draws 1.2 complaints per production run; the Cadillac DTS 4. That is the lowest rate of the 2.

FIG.05·BMW 740Li VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
BMW 740Li24201.28.3%
Cadillac DTS46911646.6%
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 24 reports on the BMW 740Li, 8.3% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·BMW 740Li — complaint severity
OutcomeBMW 740LiAll vehicles
Complaints filed241,115,966
Involved a crash2 (8.3%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire2 (8.3%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported358,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 43% above the all-vehicle rate.

Upgrade to Pro

You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.

  • Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
  • The original window sticker and factory options
  • Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
  • Decode a whole list of VINs at once
  • No ads, no tracking — and much more
See plans → Start free →
Free plan available — no credit card needed

How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The BMW 740Li share of that is 24 complaints over 20 runs, 0% of everything on record.

Everything on the BMW 740Li
Recalls8 campaignsFuel economy22 mpg bestReliability3.5/5Common problems32 complaintsCargo space18 cu ftUsed prices112 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2011–2022

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a BMW 740Li VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 24 NHTSA complaints from 20 740Li runs and 3 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which 740Li production run has the most complaints?

WBAKB4C55BC, a 2011 build, with 3 complaints. The typical 740Li run has 1.2.

Which 740Li years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2011 is heaviest at 1.5 complaints per run and 2012 lightest at 1.

Does the 740Li get more complaints than the Cadillac DTS?

No: 1.2 complaints per production run for the 740Li against 4 for the Cadillac DTS.

How many 740Li complaints involve a crash?

8.3% of 24 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 2 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
Found this useful?

Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.

Prefer ForCar →