Problems · NHTSA complaints
2013 BMW 7 Series problems
Owners filed 24 complaints about the 2013 BMW 7 Series with NHTSA between Oct 2012 and Mar 2025. The most-cited component is engine (6).
Complaints
24
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine6
- Power train5
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Air bags3
- Electrical system2
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Wheels2
- Tires1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Other / unknown2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
1
3
2
2
0
3
5
1
3
1
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
6 reports1 fire
“II WAS ON FLORIDA TURNPIKE LATE NIGHT AROUND 10.30PM WITH MY WIFE GOING SOUTH AND ALL OF SUDDEN WE HEAR LOUD NOISE FROM OUR CAR AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHUT OFF BY ITSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY . I WAS GOING ON 70 MILES PER HOUR AND WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WAS ONLY FEW CARS ON THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT TO THE SHOULDER . AFTER COMING OUT OF THE CAR I SEE LOT OF SMOKE AND LOTS OF OIL COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE . AND I SAW THERE WAS A TRAIL OF OIL BEHIND THE CAR. WE WERE STUCK ON TPK FOR 4 HOUR IN COLD BEFORE ANY HELP COULD ARRIVE . FHP TROOPER STOP BY AND SAID THAT WE HAD A BROKEN ENGINE. WE HAD TO TOW OUR 145 MILES TO OUR HOUSE . I AM SO EMBRASSED TO GOT A BMW THAT HAS SUCH PROBLEM”
Power train
5 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 750I. WHILE DRIVING AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED, THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT MISFIRED. UPON STARTING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND EMITTED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AND TO CONTACT BMW FOR MORE ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.”
Fuel/propulsion system
4 reports1 fire
“My car keeps shutting off completely in the middle of driving on highway or any road it’s becoming a safety risk this car once had an open recall for the same issue but I didn’t receive memo but according to bmw handbook emissions recall don’t expire for NJ registered vehicles but BMW won’t honor it”
Air bags
3 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2013 BMW 750Li. The contact sated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer performed a diagnostic that located failure code: 930910. The driver’s air bag valve resistance was too high, and the air bag module had an internal shortage. The contact was informed that the air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximated failure mileage was 49,000.”
Electrical system
2 reports
“The contact owns a 2013 BMW 750LI. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the door failed to open. The contact attempted to unlock the knob and open the door. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact lowered the window, the contact put the key in the door, and was able to open the door from the outside. On a separate occasion, after the contact was dining with his wife, the contact's wife attempted to open the door; however, the door failed to open from the inside. The contact attempted to lower the window and open the door with the key; however, the passenger’s side door failed to open. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired for the failure. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 120,510.”
Latches/locks/linkages
2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 740LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TRUNK PISTON FRACTURED AND THE LID CRASHED ONTO THE CONTACT'S BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TRUNK PISTON AND LID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 12/30/14*CN”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.