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2004 BMW 745liProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 33 owner complaints about the 2004 BMW 745li, most often about the power train. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

2004 BMW 745li
55
CarFlaw IndexSolid year17% below the 745li median · #4 of 4 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints332 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage94kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 15, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2004 BMW 745li has problems

33 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train110
Air bags90
Engine61
Seat belts30
Seats30
Service brakes, hydraulic30
Structure21
Vehicle speed control20
Wheels21
6 other systems71

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

2004 BMW 745li recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

2004 vs. every other 745li 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 745li 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 2004 BMW 745li, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Vehicle RollawayEA12002 · closed Jan 24, 2013
    Led to recall 12V-502
  2. Vehicle RollawayPE11025 · closed Apr 23, 2012
    No recall
In owners' words

What 745li owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE MANIFOLD. ALSO, THE WHEELS AND AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE…
Complaint 11098844 · May 30, 2018 · 160,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION SAFE MODE ACTIVATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DYNAMIC DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS…
Complaint 10502105 · Mar 8, 2013 · 94,000 miles
SENSOR MALFUNCTION CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO ALTERNATE GEARS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. WHILE IN DRIVE CAR WOULD SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL BY ITSELF WITH NO OPERATOR CONTROL. *TR
Complaint 10474366 · Sep 9, 2012 · 180,000 miles

Own a 2004 745li?

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