2012 BMW 740i Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
No verdictComplaint Index
33/100
#9 most-complained of 13 740i years
The 2012 BMW 740i has 4 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall, with a complaint index of 33, ranking 9th out of 13 model years. Its top problem area is the Engine, with owners reporting stalling and oil leak issues.
- Complaints
- 4
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17 city / 25 hwy
Top 2012 BMW 740i problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine2 (50%)
- Electrical System1 (25%)
- Seat Belts1 (25%)
- Structure & Body1 (25%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (25%)
What owners report
- Engine stalls after driving through water, then fails to restart, leaving the dealer unable to identify a repair.
- Driver's seat moves back and forth on its own while the side mirror buttons get bumped accidentally by a knee resting on the door panel.
- Vehicle suddenly shuts down while driving on the highway, triggering a drivetrain malfunction light and making steering difficult.
- Oil leaks from the gasket housing seal lead to engine stalling and constant idling issues, with oil residue visible across the engine compartment.
2012 BMW 740i recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 17V067000Feb 2, 2017Transmission & Powertrain8,752 vehicles
Power train:driveline:constant velocity joint
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.
Risk: If the CV joint breaks, the vehicle may have a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear driveshaft CV joint and, based on its production date, will replace it, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
2012 BMW 740i fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,000
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other 740i years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 BMW 740i reliable?
- NHTSA lists only 4 complaints and 1 recall for the 2012 740i, giving it a complaint index of 33. That ranks 9th out of 13 model years for this model, meaning several other years report fewer issues relative to their volume.
- What problems does the 2012 BMW 740i have?
- The top problem area is the Engine, accounting for 2 of the 4 complaints (50% share), including stalling after driving through water and an oil leak from the gasket housing seal. Other reported issues involve the Electrical System, Seat Belts, Structure & Body, and Visibility & Wipers, each with 1 complaint.
- Does the 2012 BMW 740i have a recall?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 17V067000) covers the rear driveshaft CV joint on certain 2011-2012 BMW models, and dealers inspect and replace it based on production date. This recall is not a do-not-drive order.
- How does the 2012 740i compare to other model years?
- With a complaint index of 33, the 2012 740i ranks better than years like 2019 (index 100) and 2023 (index 92, marked Avoid), but worse than years like 2015 (index 8) and 2018 (index 42, marked Good).
- What is the fuel economy of the 2012 BMW 740i?
- EPA rates the 2012 740i at 20 mpg combined (17 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,000.