Model year record

2009 BMW 7 Series recalls & problems

The 2009 BMW 7 Series has 2 safety recalls and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (3 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints9filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingOct 20, 2011

Engine › Other fuel types › Turbo/supercharger

Recall 11V52100032,084 vehicles

Problem: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 7-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 X5 SAV, AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.
Risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

EquipmentFeb 18, 2010

Other › Labels

Recall 10V0470001,040 vehicles

Problem: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 7-SERIES AND MODEL YEAR 2010 550i GRAND TURISMO VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110 "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLE'S ARE EQUIPPED WITH A TIRE PRESSURE LABEL INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE'S SEATING CAPACITY IS FIVE (5) PASSENGERS. THE ACTUAL SEATING CAPACITY IS FOUR (4) PASSENGERS. THE TIRE SIZE, TIRE PRESSURE, AND VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT ON THE LABEL ARE CORRECT.
Risk: THE TIRE LABEL DOES NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 110.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AUTHORIZED BMW DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIRE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2009 BMW 7 Series 4-DR w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine	3	0	0	—
Power train	3	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door; Body	2	1	3	—
Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery; Instrument cluster/panel	2	0	0	—
Fuel/propulsion system	2	0	0	—
Exterior lighting	1	0	0	—
Service brakes	1	0	0	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	1	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Structure › BodyFire
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE HOURS AFTER IT WAS PARKED AT HOME DRIVEWAY
Jan 5, 2018 · 83,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
CAR STALLS OUT WHEN STOPPED THIS IS AFTER N93 RECALL GAS TANK IS FULL NO ONE KNOWS WHATS WRONG AFTER SITTING UP TO AN HOUR CAR STARTS WITHOUT PROBLEM. THIS HAPPEN AT LEAST FOUR TIMES
May 31, 2017 · 99,000 miles
Engine
MY VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A WEEK ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL AFTER SITTING FOR AT LEAST 1 HOUR AND WOULD RESTART AND RUN AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD MY MECHANIC INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO CODES TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM SO HE CHANGED THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED 1 WEEK AFTER PUMP REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW GLOBAL IMPORTS IN ATLANTA. THEIR MECHANIC SUGGESTED I CHANGE THE BATTERY AND SPARK PLUGS. THE REP SAID THERE WERE A LOT OF LOW VOLTAGE ERRORS WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THE STALLING. THE VEHICLE…
Apr 14, 2017 · 106,000 miles
Power train
POWER TRAIN WARNING COMES ON AND VEHICLE LOOSES POWER
Nov 18, 2016 · 75,000 miles
Electronic stability control (esc)
09 BMW 750LI SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER A DSC MALFUNCTION/ TRANSMITION MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE JUST RECEIVED THE N63 RECALL SERVICE. THIS IS VARY DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AROUND 70 MILES PER HOUR BEFORE IT STARTED SHAKING AND SLOWING DOWN IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC.
Aug 19, 2016 · 60,000 miles
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A SERVICE CAMPAIGN (B001314 - N63), BUT THERE WAS NO PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED FOR A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Apr 13, 2015
Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. UPDATED 6/11/13 *CN UPDATED 06/14/2013 *JS
Sep 1, 2012 · 36,000 miles
Structure › Body › Door3 injuries
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PASSENGERS MIDDLE FINGERS WERE CAUGHT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, IN WHICH CLOSED INDEPENDENTLY. THE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND TWO ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS FOUND THAT THEIR FINGERS WERE CAUGHT IN THE DOOR. BOTH PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED PER THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE DOOR COULD CAUSE AN INJURY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED.…
Aug 3, 2010 · 3,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.