YearToAvoid

2009 BMW 750Li Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2009 BMW 750Li has 10 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall, giving it a Complaint Index of 57 and a Caution verdict — better than the 2006-2010 model years but worse than 2011-2014. Engine problems dominate, making up 70% of complaints.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
57/100
#7 of 15 750Li years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
10
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2014
rated Good
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
14 city / 21 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2009 BMW 750Li problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine7 (70%)
  2. Electrical System2 (20%)
  3. Fuel System2 (20%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain2 (20%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (10%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers1 (10%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report a strong burning odor from the engine area, sometimes lingering even after the electric auxiliary water pump recall repair was performed.
  • Fuel injectors reportedly failed and had to be replaced, with owners noting BMW would not supply the original design because it had a history of failures.
  • Rear struts reportedly failed on both sides within the same year, especially in cold weather, with owners describing poor build quality.
  • Owners describe oil level dropping rapidly between fill-ups with no visible external leak, tracked through the car's onboard oil level display.
  • Drivetrain problems reported at highway speed include sudden loss of power, engine misfires, and heavy shaking of the vehicle.
  • Owners report the transmission slipping and nearly stalling at highway speed while the battery also drained repeatedly, requiring frequent recharging.
2009 BMW 750Li complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2012Oct 2016Mar 2020Jun 2020Jul 2022
10 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2012 to Jul 2022; peak Mar 2020 (2).

2009 BMW 750Li recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V248000Apr 18, 2018Engine47,806 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    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.

    Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

2009 BMW 750Li fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
21 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,700
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.

2009 compared with other 750Li years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’19’20’21
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Avoid8677418
2008Avoid9365218
2009Caution5710117
2010Avoid7930116.5
2011Caution7125116.5

All BMW 750Li years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 BMW 750Li reliable?
NHTSA lists 10 complaints and 1 recall for the 2009 750Li, giving it a Complaint Index of 57 and a Caution verdict. That ranks it 7th worst among the 15 model years with data, better than 2006-2010 but behind 2011-2014.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 BMW 750Li?
Engine problems are the top issue, accounting for 70% of complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 52,000 miles.
Does the 2009 BMW 750Li have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 18V248000) covers replacement of the electric auxiliary water pump. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2009 750Li compare to other model years?
Its Complaint Index of 57 is lower than 2006 (100), 2007 (86), 2008 (93), and 2010 (79), all rated Avoid, but higher than 2013 (50) and 2014 (43), which are rated Caution and Good.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 BMW 750Li?
EPA rates it at 17 mpg combined (14 city / 21 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,700.

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.