The 2000 BMW 740i has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 17,700 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION.
Consequence
IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WITH AN IMPROVED SWITCH.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
SEATS
2
1fires
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“When seat heater switched on, a burning smell resulted. I switched it off immediately. Inspection of seat afterwards resulted in finding a spot where the leather was burned. Clearly this could result in a burn to the driver or a fire.”
“On saturday, june 4, my daughter was driving my 2000 bmw 740i. She had been driving for about 4 blocks and the passenger seat broke out in flames. It began when the car filled with smoke. She did not know what was going on so she pulled over and got out of the car and when she stepped back from…”
“On saturday, june 4, my daughter was driving my 2000 bmw 740i. She had been driving for about 4 blocks and the passenger seat broke out in flames. It began when the car filled with smoke. She did not know what was going on so she pulled over and got out of the car and when she stepped back from…”
“Tl* the contact has a 2000 bmw 740i. The contact stated that the vehicle's brake lights stay on all the time. This vehicle has a recall campaign number 00v048000. The recall states that if the switch does not have a white stripe on it then it needs to be replaced. The contact feels the vehicle…”
“I just received an email giving me an update on consumer complaints. I own a 2000 bmw 740i and the reverse also went out on the transmission and I had to have it rebuilt. I believe that being "a top of the line automobile" the reverse should not be failing. *tr”
“I purchased this car in may 2009 and shortly after in the summer, august early september, the reverse started to act up. Sometimes I had to wait a short period for the reverse to actually engage. It started to occur more frequently and I had it inspected. The result was that the transmission was…”
“About november of 2007 I began to experience a delay in engaging reverse. I went to have the car serviced for this and the problem was diagnosed as a possible valve body issue with replacement of the transmission being the best solution because they were not sure and it was the only way to be…”
“While driving at any speed and without any warning vehicle stalled. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership, and mechanic determined that fuel pump failed. *ak *la”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 BMW 740i as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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