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BMW 7 Series VIN Number Check

Decode a BMW 7 Series VIN free with NHTSA vPIC. See the NHTSA recalls for that model year, then read what owners have reported.

VIN prefixWBA

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

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BMW 7 Series

About the BMW 7 Series

BMW has sold the 7 Series in the US since the 1990 model year. Across those years NHTSA lists 73 vehicle recall campaigns and 1,543 owner complaints. The 2006 has the most complaints of any model year (317). EPA rates it at 12–28 mpg combined, counting the plug-in hybrid on gas alone. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years1990–2026
EPA classLarge Cars
NHTSA recall campaigns73
Owner complaints1,543 at NHTSA
BMW 7 Series photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

BMW 7 Series at a glance

One generation in the data, 1990–2026: 73 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,543 owner complaints.

1 / 1
7 Series
1990–2026Large Cars
BMW 7 Series (1990–2026)

Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

19901995200020052010201520202025
1990–2026

BMW 7 Series

EPA classLarge Cars
EPA combined mpg12–28
NHTSA recalls73

Engines (EPA)

  • 3.4 L 6-cyl · 1990–1992
  • 5.0 L 12-cyl · 1990–1994
  • 4.0 L 8-cyl · 1993–1995
  • 5.4 L 12-cyl · 1995–2001
  • 4.4 L 8-cyl · 1996–2005
  • 6.0 L 12-cyl · 2003–2008
  • 4.8 L 8-cyl · 2006–2008
  • 4.4 L 8-cyl (turbo) · 2009–2022
  • 6.0 L 12-cyl (turbo) · 2010–2015
  • 3.0 L 6-cyl (turbo) · 2011–2022
  • 4.4 L 8-cyl (turbo, hybrid) · 2011–2012
  • 3.0 L 6-cyl (turbo, hybrid) · 2013–2015
  • 3.0 L 6-cyl (turbo, diesel) · 2015
  • 2.0 L 4-cyl (turbo, plug-in hybrid) · 2017–2019
  • 6.6 L 12-cyl (turbo) · 2017–2022
  • 3.0 L 6-cyl (turbo, plug-in hybrid) · 2020–2022, 2025–2026
  • 3.0 L 6-cyl (turbo, mild hybrid) · 2023–2026
  • 4.4 L 8-cyl (turbo, mild hybrid) · 2023–2026

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, RWD
  • manual (1990–1992), automatic (1990–2026)

Known issues to check

Powertrain (transmission, driveline) (344)Engine and cooling (341)Electrical system (235)18 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 1,543 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · 7 SeriesWBAHN835?6D······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2006 BMW 750Li, built in Dingolfing, Germany
Check a 7 Series VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which 7 Series model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 73 campaigns on file for 7 Series model years 1990–2026, and the 2023 shows up in more of them than any other year (11), ahead of the 2020 (9). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2023
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What BMW 7 Series owners report

NHTSA data

Complaints peak with the 2006 (317 of 1,543). Tap any bar or generation.

1,543NHTSA complaints, 1990–2026
74mention a crash
48mention a fire
70injuries reported
Owner complaints by model year7 Series: 1,543 complaints · most for the 2006 (317)

Top complaint areas · 7 Series

Mentions in 1,543 complaints, 1990–2026.

Powertrain (transmission, driveline)344
Engine and cooling341
Electrical system235
Air bags224
Brakes149
Fuel system111
Crashes 74Fires 48Injuries 70

1990–2026

NHTSA data summary

The 2006 is the outlier. On its own it has 317 of the ’s 1,543 complaints (21%), more than any other 7 Series model year. By area, nothing stands out. Powertrain leads with 344, with engine and cooling (341) and the electrical system (235) close behind.

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner complaints · by model year

7 Series complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Hybrid, plug-in and diesel 7 Series versions count alongside gas ones. Tap a year to see its top systems.

1,543complaints, 1990–2026
74mention a crash
48mention a fire
70injuries reported
Most complaints: 2006 (317), 2007 (127), 2003 (97)
’90’95’0097’03’05317’06127’07’10’15’20’25

2006 · 317 complaints

Crashes 8 · fires 2 · injuries 6

Power train110
Air bags63
Latches/locks/linkages43
Electrical system32
Structure32

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

7 Series CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 195 7 Series versions for model years 1990–2026 (gas, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid). The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 130 g/mi, for the 2026 plug-in hybrid. Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

7 Series1990–2026

12–28 mpg · plug-in hybrid counted on gas alone · 56–70 MPGe plug-in hybrid · CO₂ 130–741 g/mi

2025
28combined MPG
317CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$2,950EPA yearly fuel cost
6/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
6/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III SULEV30 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 30Emission standard
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
100250400550700199019952000200520102015202020251990 · Gas: 5551991 · Gas: 5551992 · Gas: 5551993 · Gas: 5551994 · Gas: 5231995 · Gas: 5231996 · Gas: 4941997 · Gas: 4941998 · Gas: 4941999 · Gas: 4942000 · Gas: 4942001 · Gas: 4942002 · Gas: 4682003 · Gas: 4682004 · Gas: 4682005 · Gas: 4682006 · Gas: 4942007 · Gas: 4942008 · Gas: 4942009 · Gas: 5232010 · Gas: 5232011 · Gas: 4442012 · Gas: 4442013 · Gas: 4022014 · Gas: 3982015 · Gas: 3962016 · Gas: 3742017 · Gas: 3722018 · Gas: 3722019 · Gas: 3712020 · Gas: 3612021 · Gas: 3602022 · Gas: 3602015 · Diesel: 3872011 · Hybrid: 4442012 · Hybrid: 4442013 · Hybrid: 3502014 · Hybrid: 3502015 · Hybrid: 3502023 · Hybrid: 3242024 · Hybrid: 3172025 · Hybrid: 3172026 · Hybrid: 3172017 · Plug-in hybrid: 2142018 · Plug-in hybrid: 2142019 · Plug-in hybrid: 2142020 · Plug-in hybrid: 2452021 · Plug-in hybrid: 2452022 · Plug-in hybrid: 2452025 · Plug-in hybrid: 1322026 · Plug-in hybrid: 130
GasDieselHybridPlug-in hybrid

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Plug-in hybrids: mpg is on gas alone; MPGe combines gas and electricity. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

7 Series vs Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs Audi A8

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 1990–2026. NHTSA lists 73 recall campaigns for the 7 Series, against 74 for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and 31 for the Audi A8. Pick a range to compare.

BMW 7 Series

Model years 1990–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
73
NHTSA owner complaints
1,543
EPA combined mpg
12–28
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0, 3.4 L · 8-cyl 4.0, 4.4, 4.8 L · 12-cyl 5.0–6.6 L
Also listed
turbo, hybrid, diesel, plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 344
  2. Engine and cooling 341
  3. Electrical system 235

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Model years 1990–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
74
NHTSA owner complaints
1,185
EPA combined mpg
13–26
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 3.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0–5.0 L · 8-cyl 4.0–6.3 L · 12-cyl 5.5, 5.8, 6.0 L
Also listed
turbo, diesel, supercharged, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Electrical system 427
  2. Suspension 187
  3. Engine and cooling 151

Audi A8

Model years 1990–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
31
NHTSA owner complaints
253
EPA combined mpg
15–28
Engines (EPA)
6-cyl 3.0 L · 8-cyl 3.7, 4.0, 4.2 L · 12-cyl 6.0, 6.3 L
Also listed
supercharged, turbo, diesel, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 100
  2. Electrical system 35
  3. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 24

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

BMW 7 Series VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a 7 Series

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

White BMW 7 Series (G12) sedan, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The 7 Series carries its VIN on a plate at the lower driver's side windshield, in the engine bay near the strut tower, inside the trunk lid, and on the driver's door jamb sticker. Imported European-spec 7 Series vehicles sometimes carry non-US VIN formats that won't fully decode in American databases.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common BMW 7 Series VIN questions

Which BMW 7 Series model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2006 leads with 317, ahead of the 2007 (127) and 2003 (97). Those first two alone make up 29% of the 1,543 7 Series complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the BMW 7 Series had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 73 vehicle campaigns for model years 1990–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which BMW 7 Series recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 94V-066, 95V-238, 01V-206, 02V-138, 11V-521, 18V-248, 12V-161, 18V-755 and 10 more. Park-outside advisories came with 26V-441. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the BMW 7 Series get?

It varies. EPA rates the 1990–2026 7 Series at 12–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, with the plug-in hybrid counted on gas alone (56–70 MPGe on gas and electricity) (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the BMW 7 Series compare with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Audi A8 on recalls?

For 1990–2026 models the 7 Series has 73 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has 74, the Audi A8 31. Complaints run 1,543, 1,185 and 253 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

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