YearToAvoid

2016 BMW 740i Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#4 most-complained of 13 740i years

The 2016 BMW 740i ranks 4th worst out of 13 model years, with a Complaint Index of 75 and 12 NHTSA complaints, mostly tied to Engine and Electrical System issues. No recalls are on file for this year, and no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths were reported.

Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24
21 city / 29 hwy

Top 2016 BMW 740i problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine4 (33%)
  2. Electrical System3 (25%)
  3. Other2 (17%)
  4. Seat Belts2 (17%)
  5. Lane Departure1 (8%)
  6. Structure & Body1 (8%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Adaptive cruise control fails to track or adapt speed to vehicles ahead, requiring driver intervention to avoid a collision.
  • Automatic park distance control activates inconsistently, sometimes triggering only inches from an object or failing to activate at all.
  • Audio control system freezes and stops responding to volume commands, with the dash display unresponsive.
  • Upper and lower radiator air flap actuators fail, triggering engine malfunction warnings and raising overheating risk.
  • Front air suspension fails to hold ride height, causing tires to rub the inner wheel well.
  • Seat belt warning falsely activates on an unoccupied seat due to loose wiring harness connections.
2016 BMW 740i complaints: complaints filed per month3Jan 2017Mar 2017Sep 2018Nov 2020Nov 2022
14 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2017 to Jun 2024; peak Jun 2024 (3).

2016 BMW 740i recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2016 BMW 740i fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,300
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.

2016 compared with other 740i years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014No verdict581122
2015No verdict81122
2016Avoid7512024
2017Caution507023
2018Good425023.5

All BMW 740i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 BMW 740i reliable compared to other 740i years?
NHTSA data shows the 2016 740i ranks 4th worst among 13 model years for the 740i, with a Complaint Index of 75, and it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other years.
What are the most common complaints on the 2016 BMW 740i?
Engine complaints make up 33% of reports and Electrical System issues make up 25%, together covering more than half of the 12 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Does the 2016 BMW 740i have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2016 BMW 740i, though later 740i model years such as 2023 and 2024 have multiple recalls.
At what mileage do 2016 BMW 740i problems tend to appear?
The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 7,348 miles, with Engine issues showing a median of 1,339 miles and Electrical System issues at 1,296.5 miles.
How does the 2016 740i compare to the 2017 and 2018 model years?
The 2017 740i has a Complaint Index of 50 with a Caution verdict, and the 2018 740i has a Complaint Index of 42 with a Good verdict, both lower than the 2016 model's Complaint Index of 75.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.