BMW

7 Series (F01)

2009-2015 · Full-Size Sedan ยท 4 engines
Best Engine โœ… Recommended (4.1)
239 NHTSA Complaints
3 Recalls
21 Fire Reports
6 Crash Reports
Includes data from: 7 SERIES740I740LD XDRIVE740LI740LI XDRIVE740LXI750I750I XDRIVE750LI750LI SEDAN750LI XDRIVE750LXI750XI760LIACTIVE HYBRID 750IACTIVE HYBRID 750LIACTIVEHYBRID 7
View all 4 generations of the BMW 7 Series → ๐Ÿ“‹ Inspection checklist

Engine Reliability Ratings

BMW 7 Series Unidentified Engine

โœ… Recommended (4.1)
19 complaints 3.2 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
8
transmission
5
fuel system
3
other
2
wheels tires
2

Known Issues

Engine Issues (8 complaints)
Transmission Issues (5 complaints)
Fuel System Issues (3 complaints)

4.4-V12-Gas

4.4L 12-cyl / 448 hp
โš ๏ธ Caution (2.7)
11 complaints 2.8 per year Gasoline
2 fire reports
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Complaint Breakdown

engine
5
fuel system
4
transmission
3
cooling
2
wheels tires
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (5 complaints)
Fuel System Issues (4 complaints)
Transmission Issues (3 complaints)

N52B30

3.0L 6-cyl / 315 hp
โš ๏ธ Caution (2.3)
29 complaints 5.8 per year Gasoline
2 fire reports
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Complaint Breakdown

engine
7
fuel system
6
transmission
6
electrical
5
interior
4

Known Issues

Engine Issues (7 complaints)
Fuel System Issues (6 complaints)
Transmission Issues (6 complaints)

4.4-V8-Gas

4.4L 8-cyl / 400 hp
โŒ Avoid (1.5)
169 complaints 24.1 per year Gasoline
17 fire reports
View details
Show 4 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints and aren't included in the main ratings above. Low counts can mean a genuinely clean record, but they can also reflect VIN-decode anomalies in NHTSA data. Treat as informational, not as a confident rating.

3.0-I4-Gas

3.0L 4-cyl / 315 hp
โœ… Recommended (4.3)
7 complaints 2.3 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
2
safety systems
2
body
1
fuel system
1
wheels tires
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (2 complaints)
Safety Systems Issues (2 complaints)
Body/Trim Issues (1 complaints)

N62B44

4.4L 8-cyl / 282 hp
โœ… Recommended (4.7)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

3.0-V8-Gas

3.0L 8-cyl / 350 hp
โœ… Recommended (4.7)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
1
transmission
1
fuel system
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (1 complaints)
Transmission Issues (1 complaints)
Fuel System Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the BMW 7 Series regardless of engine variant.

Engine Issues (117 complaints)
engine critical
Transmission Issues (67 complaints)
transmission critical
Electrical System Issues (36 complaints)
electrical critical
Fuel System Issues (36 complaints)
fuel_system critical

Recalls (3)

18V248000Apr 17, 2018serious
Engine & Cooling

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.

17V379000Jun 13, 2017serious
Exterior Lighting

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2015 740i, 740Li, 740Lxi, 750i, 750xi, 750Li and 750Lxi and 2014 ActiveHybrid 7 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have received incorrect replacement left rear taillight assemblies. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

17V067000Feb 1, 2017serious
Powertrain

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012 740i and 740Li vehicles. The rear driveshaft constant velocity (CV) joint on the affected vehicles may fatigue and break.

Alternatives in Full-Size Sedan

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2009-2015 BMW 7 Series problems?

The 2009-2015 BMW 7 Series has accumulated 239 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Engine, Transmission, Electrical System. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which BMW 7 Series engine is most reliable?

The 2009-2015 BMW 7 Series was offered with 8 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 4.4L 12-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2009-2015 BMW 7 Series a good used car?

The 2009-2015 BMW 7 Series can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 239 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009-2015 BMW 7 Series have?

The 2009-2015 BMW 7 Series has 239 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2009-2015 BMW 7 Series?

There are 3 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2009-2015 BMW 7 Series vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN โ€” check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used BMW 7 Series?

Before buying a used BMW 7 Series, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Engine, Transmission, Electrical System, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

Does the 7 Series have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2009-2015 BMW 7 Series. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 239 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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