Research · complaint index
BMW 7 Series years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 11 model years of the BMW 7 Series by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2011, 2012 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
1.0 = typical year for this model
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 20 | 2 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | Typical |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2014 | 14 | 1 | 0.8 | 1 | 3 | Typical |
| 2013 | 24 | 2 | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | Typical |
| 2012 | 44 | 3 | 2.1 | 2 | 0 | Most complaints |
| 2011 | 56 | 4 | 2.5 | 1 | 1 | Most complaints |
| 2001 | 47 | 2 | 1.3 | 4 | 3 | Typical |
| 1999 | 19 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 2 | Fewest complaints |
| 1998 | 40 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | Typical |
| 1997 | 23 | 1 | 0.6 | 3 | 1 | Typical |
| 1996 | 13 | 0 | 0.3 | 3 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
- 201620 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 20154 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 201414 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 201324 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 201244 complaints · 2 recallsMost complaints
- 201156 complaints · 1 recallMost complaints
- 200147 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 199919 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 199840 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 199723 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 199613 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Nov 10, 2026
Fewest complaints for their age: 2015, 1996, 1999.
About this comparison
What BMW 7 Series years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2011, 2012 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 11 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.