Problem Lookup › BMW › 7 Series › 2021
Car problem report
2021 BMW 7 Series problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2021 BMW 7 Series has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 5owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 3%fail the UK MOT
5 complaints, against an average of 15 for the other 12 BMW 7 Series model years.
Every BMW 7 Series model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2021 BMW 7 Series?
The components named most often in the 5 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2021 BMW 7 Series been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2021 BMW 7 Series as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2021 BMW 7 Series recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAReplace the Engine Starter Motor
Risk: For affected vehicles there is a concern involving water ingress and corrosion to the starter motor for where a short circuit cannot be ruled out. It is strongly recommended to park the vehicle outdoors and not in the immediate vicinity of buildings until the repair has been carried out.
Fix: Replacement of the starter motor.
UK DVSAIntegrated Braking System
Risk: On certain vehicles the Integrated Brake (IB) system may be impaired due to contamination between electrical contacts.
Fix: Vehicles that may be affected by contamination are required to have the vehicle’s software updated which can detect signal interference before it occurs. If symptoms are detected you should refrain from use of the vehicle and the affected Integrated Brake (IB) system component will be replaced.
UK DVSAUndetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold
Risk: Undetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold.
Fix: The engine management control unit (DDE) will be programmed with improved software incorporating the latest OBD functionality.
UK DVSAThe exhaust gas recirculation cooler may leak over time and cause thermal incident
Risk: The Exhaust Gas Recirculation cooler may leak over time and cause thermal incident.
Fix: On the affected vehicles the EGR cooler module will be replaced.
UK DVSAAffected vehicles may be fitted with brake discs which are not to specification
Risk: Affected vehicles may be fitted with brake discs which were not produced according to the specifications
Fix: On the affected vehicles the brake discs will be checked and if necessary replaced
UK DVSAThe integrated brake system hydraulic unit may have been produced incorrectly
Risk: The Integrated Brake system hydraulic unit may have been produced incorrectly
Fix: Replace the Integrated Brake system hydraulic unit.
UK DVSARemaining particles in the cells of the high voltage battery can cause a short circuit
Risk: A possibility of impurities contained in the HV batteries may cause short circuit.
Fix: Testing of battery charge cycles and replacement of the HV cells where necessary.
UK DVSARemaining particles in the cells of the high voltage battery can cause a short circuit
Risk: In very rare cases welding beads were not always completely removed in the cleaning process during battery production.
Fix: Test and replace the High Voltage batteries if affected.
EU Safety GateWater may enter the starter motor and cause damage.As a result, the engine may no longer start, or the starter motor may short-circuit or remain continuously activated. This could cause local overheating of the starter motor or thermal overload of surrounding components and lead to a vehicle fire, including when the ignition is switched off.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 31/08/2026
EU Safety GateThe RSW22 starter with reinforced water tightness (RWT) may experience increased abrasion of the magnetic contact, causing deposits to…The RSW22 starter with reinforced water tightness (RWT) may experience increased abrasion of the magnetic contact, causing deposits to build up at the lowest point inside the relay. These deposits may increase relay contact resistance, leading to starting failures or short circuits. If a short circuit occurs, either when attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibration-related movement of the deposits, it could cause a thermal event and increase the risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 07/07/2026
EU Safety GateThe engine starter’s electrical contacts may overheat and cause the vehicle to start improperly.Continued starting attempts can intensify the overheating and ignite surrounding components, potentially leading to a vehicle fire while driving or shortly after parking.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateWater may come into contact with the starter relay and gradually cause corrosion.This could affect the electrical connection inside the relay and make the engine difficult to start. It may also result in a short circuit and could cause the starter to overheat leading to a fire when the vehicle is in motion or when it is parked with the ignition off.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe cell modules in the vehicles concerned were not produced in accordance with the specifications, which may cause the module frame to…The cell modules in the vehicles concerned were not produced in accordance with the specifications, which may cause the module frame to fail. This may lead to a shutdown of the high-voltage system and fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateDefects in the winding of cell-internal foils in the high-voltage batteries can lead to the occurrence of increased self-discharge.This can cause high voltage cell modules to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateDefective hydraulic unit of the braking system may cause a limited braking support and increased braking distance.Moreover, in such cases the ABS system would not be available. This will lead to increased risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateA short circuit in the high-voltage battery could occur during initial charging due to a particle in the form of a welding bead.This may trigger a chain reaction in the battery, increasing the risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2021 BMW 7 Series fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2021, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2021 BMW 7 Series owners report?
5 of the 5 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The contact owns a 2021 BMW 750i. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine independently shut off. The engine overheating warning light illuminated, and the message "Engine Cooldown" was displayed. After several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed engine starter that needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with any recalls related to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The…
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The suspected failed component is the front differential carrier bearing on my 2021 BMW 750i xDrive. [XXX] BMW of Westmont, Illinois diagnosed carrier bearing damage and oil leaks and recommended replacement of the front differential. The vehicle has approximately 53,791 miles. The failed differential/carrier-bearing assembly is currently available for inspection, subject to the vehicle remaining at the dealership and before the component is replaced or discarded. I have specifically requested…
I purchased a vehicle from Ed morse Cadillac on 12/31/2025. I find out in April that the vehicle was sold with undercarriage damages listed in Carfax. The dealership, never disclosed anything, did not show me the reports, and i did not sign anything to accept the damages. They do not want to take responsibility. The vehicle might be dangerous to drive and is really demeaning in value because of this.
I am filing this complaint regarding an ongoing safety issue with my 2021 BMW 740i involving the lane departure warning system, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control, all of which have stopped functioning properly. These features are critically tied to the windshield-mounted KAFAS camera, which I’ve now been told needs to be replaced. Initially, the BMW dealership attributed the issue to a software problem and charged me $500 for a software update. After the update, the driver assist systems remained non-functional. The dealership then diagnosed a failure with the front camera assembly…
The contact owns a 2021 BMW 750I. The contact stated that upon start the vehicle, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated. The contact initially took the vehicle to the dealer and an independent mechanic however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The failure persisted and the contact took the vehicle back to the independent mechanic who discovered a crack in the rear driver’s side rim. The tire was replaced; however, a month later, the same failure occurred on the front passenger’s side rim. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic where he was informed that…
2021 BMW 7 Series: questions owners ask
Is the 2021 BMW 7 Series reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 BMW 7 Series; the most common categories were wheels (2, 40%), electrical system (1, 20%), forward collision avoidance (1, 20%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 BMW 7 Series?
Across 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are wheels (40% of complaints), electrical system (20% of complaints), forward collision avoidance (20% of complaints), lane departure (20% of complaints), power train (20% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2021 BMW 7 Series have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2021 BMW 7 Series. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own 7 Series
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2021 only; combines NHTSA's entries for 7 SERIES and 750I.