Model year record
2004 BMW 545i recalls & problems
The 2004 BMW 545i has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 44 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (19 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2004 BMW 545i.
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.
Fuel economy
545i
| City / highway | 16 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
4.4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
545i
| City / highway | 15 / 23 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
4.4 L · 8 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
545i
| City / highway | 15 / 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
4.4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSensor › Occupant classification | 19 | 91,636 mi |
| Electrical system | 12 | 119,000 mi |
| Engine | 10 | 95,500 mi |
| Power train | 8 | 94,282 mi |
| Seat belts | 5 | 122,000 mi |
| Steering | 4 | — |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 4 | 67,795 mi |
| Service brakes | 3 | 113,000 mi |
| Seats | 3 | 90,000 mi |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 119,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 2 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Unknown or otherFire
Vehicle suffered a catastrophic engine fire while parked due to fuel line separation under open recall 04V303000.
- Air bags
MY CAR HAS THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING EVERYTIME I START MY CAR. THE AIR BAG RECALL IS BY TAKATA IS FOR THE 2003 545I MODEL. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN SEP OF 2003 WITH THOSE TAKADA AIRBAGS.
- Electronic stability control (esc)
DYNAMIC STEERING MALFUNCTION CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS
- Electrical system
ELECTRICAL WIRING IN HEADLIGHTS ARE DISINTEGRATING. THE SHIELDING IS DRY ROTTING AND FLAKING OFF NEARLY EVERY WIRE IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THEM TO MALFUNCTION DURING DRIVING. LIGHTS WILL CUT OFF RANDOMLY. I'D IMAGINE THE WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT.
- Engine
VALVE COVER GASKET LEAK, TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET LEAK, VALVE STEM LEAK.
- Electrical system
BARE WIRES INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING, THESE ARE HID LIGHTS MADE BY HELLA FOR BMW THEY ARE OEM. WHEN CONTACTING BMWNA THEY SAY THAT'S NOT HOW THEY MAKE THERE LIGHTS AND BLAME HEAT AND THE CAR NOT BEING MAINTAINED AT A BMW DEALERSHIP, WELL THE REST OF THE WIRING ON THE CAR IS JUST FINE EVEN THE WIRES THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH A HIGH HEAT PRODUCING ENGINE... IT'S THE SAME EXACT ISSUE MERCEDES BENZ HAD ON THE W202 CHASSIS, WIRES THAT WOULD DEGRADE AT AN EXTREMELY FAST RATE. BUT FOR HEADLIGHTS THAT COST WELL OVER $1000 EACH. BUT MY QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A FAMILY IS OUT AT NIGHT AND THERE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTION BECAUSE OF SOMETHING BMW KNOWS ABOUT BUT REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND…
- Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
IN 10/17 I BOUGHT THE ABOVE VEHICLE FROM PRIVATE OWNER. FROM THE TIME I STARTED DRIVING IT TO CURRENTLY, THE CONTROL DISPLAY HAS BEEN SHOWING A PASSENGER AIRBAG AND/ORSEATBEIT WARNING. THE CURRENT WARNING READS: "PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRIANT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER." THE DISPLAY BETWEEN THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER SHOWS A RED AIRBAG SYMBOL AND A RED FASTEN SEATBELT SYMBOL, WHICH DO NOT GO OFF WITH OPERATION OF VEHICLE. THESE 2004/2005 BMW 545I HAD A NHTSA SAFETY RECALL (08V384000) BUT CERTAIN VINS, INCLUDING MINE WERE NOT INCLUDED. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY, BECAUSE CLEARLY NOT KNOWING WHETHER YOUR AIRBAG & BELT TENSIONER & BELT…
- Air bags
SAME PROBLEM EVERYONE ELSE HAS WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. $1500+ REPAIR, BUT WILL DO IT AGAIN, AS IT IS FAULTY PARTS. SOMEONE SITS DOWN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TOO HARD, AND IT SETS OFF THE WARNING.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.