no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. IF A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL LOSS OCCURS, ENGINE DAMAGE MAY RESULT.
2003 BMW 745iProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 32 owner complaints about the 2003 BMW 745i, most often about the power train. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 14, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: order_242 from Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2003 BMW 745i has problems
32 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
9Power train4 crash/fire/injury
4Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
4Engine1 crash/fire/injury
4Air bags1 crash/fire/injury
3Seat belts
3Service brakes
3Service brakes, hydraulic3 crash/fire/injury
2Engine and engine cooling
2Equipment
99 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 9 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 2 |
| Engine | 4 | 1 |
| Air bags | 4 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 3 | 3 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 |
| 9 other systems | 9 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2003 BMW 745i recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. IN THOSE CASES, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.
Best & worst years
2003 vs. every other 745i year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 745i median. How we score
'02'03'04'05'06'07'08
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2003 BMW 745i, and the recalls they led to.
- Vehicle RollawayLed to recall 12V-502
- Vehicle RollawayNo recall
In owners' words
What 745i owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745I. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE "ENGINE FAIL SAFE TRANSMISSION" MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT SWITCH OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE "FAILED TRANSMISSION DRIVE MODERATE" MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND THE SPEED WOULD SUDDENLY…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT…
THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, BMW IS AWARE OF THIS BUT IS BANKING ON NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS. WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP IT PUSHES CAR TO FRONT AS IF BEING REAR ENDED, BUT ITS THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION GUIBO JOINT OR AND A SOFTWARE ISSUE THAT BMW HAD INSTALLED IN THOUSANDS OF…
Own a 2003 745i?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.