Model year record
2005 BMW 545i recalls & problems
The 2005 BMW 545i has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 78 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (37 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2005 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 bagsFrontal | 37 | 99,500 mi |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission | 15 | 67,250 mi |
| Electrical system | 14 | 120,000 mi |
| Seat belts | 9 | 93,168 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulicPower assist › Vacuum | 7 | 70,000 mi |
| Steering | 5 | 55,020 mi |
| Wheels | 4 | 58,474 mi |
| SeatsFront assembly › Seat heater/cooler | 4 | 105,000 mi |
| Tires | 3 | 58,474 mi |
| StructureBody | 3 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | — |
| Service brakes | 3 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine
The contact owns a 2005 BMW 545I. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the contact became aware of a ball of white smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that whenever the accelerator pedal was depressed, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed crank casting and the protective crank casting valve. The contact was informed that the failure was similar to an undisclosed manufacturer's recall, however the contact's VIN was not associated with the recall. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the smoke was…
- Electrical system
The wiring inside of the headlights has dried up and fallen off, leaving bare electrical wire. The resulting was both of the headlights became non operational at night. To replace the headlights in the car with all the factory features is about 3200.00 for parts alone. I know of others who have had this happen, and everyone i know who owns one, has the same exact problem. The vehicle in question barely has 125,000 miles on it. I feel the manufacturer should repair these vehicles at no cost to the owners.
- Electrical systemFire
At approxamitately 1:20pm on July 13, after being parked for a little over an hour I was told that my car was burning. 911 was called immediately and the owner of the establishment went outside and called to the firemen at the station on the other side of the street. Their response was immediate. Response was so quick that damage was limited to the right rear. Which seems that the fire started in the area directly foreward and above the battery
- Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR IN A BUSY HIGHWAY THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. NO ODD SOUNDS NO SHUTTING NO CLUNKING. IT WAS LIKE SOME JUST TURNED THE KEY OFF. I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO WAIT TWO HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK TO SHOW UP. MOST OF THE WEEK PREVIOUS TO THIS MY CAR WOULD NOT START AT RANDOM TIMES EVEN THOUGH MY BATTERY WAS GOOD AND I HAD GAS. THE PROBLEM WAS THE DME HAD WATER INGRESS FROM A POOR LOCATION WHERE THE DME AND METRONIC COMPUTER AND THE INTERGRADED POWER MODULE ARE LOCATED AND STORED. THEY ARE IN A SEALED PLASTIC BOX UNDER THE CABIN FRESH AIR INLETS AND CABIN FILTERS AND THE FRONT HOOD COWL. I'M THE BOX THERE IS A FAN AT THE BOTTOM TO…
- Air bagsCrash
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHERE THERE WAS OIL IN ROAD. MY CAR LOST CONTROL AND VEERED INTO A GUARD RAIL ON THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOTALED AND NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE CRASH.
- Air bags
AS I UNDERSTAND A VEHICLE FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN PASSENGER SIDE FREE STREAM HAS BEEN DEALT WITH ALREADY I JUST RECEIVED THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO SO IT IS NEW TO ME AND I HAVE THE SAME ERRORS AS WHICH A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MY CAR 2005 545 I BMW. AS I HAVE READ AFTER X AMOUNT OF YEARS A RECALL IS FINALIZED I JUST RECEIVED THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO SO I FEEL I AM STILL ABLE TO SUCCEED FROM THIS SAFETY RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURE
- Fuel/propulsion system
GOOD EVENING ALL, EVERY TIME I FILL UP THE GAS IN THE VEHICLE, THERE IS A STRONG SMELL INSIDE THE CAB. THIS BEGAN OCCURRING ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO BUT HAS CONTINUED THOUGHT MY TIME WITH THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, I CANNOT FILL THE TANK AT MORE THAN . IF I DO FILL UP THE VEHICLE TO MORE THAN I FACE HAVING TO SMELL THE FUMES OF THE FUEL INSIDE THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. MANY PEOPLE HAVE A SIMILAR COMPLAINT WITH THESE VEHICLES.
- Electrical system
GOOD EVENING SIR, I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE MY VEHICLE HAD BARE WIRES ON THE HEADLIGHT. THE HOT WIRE AND GROUND WIRES WERE TOUCHING. I DID NOT HAVE THE HEADLIGHT WORKING. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRES OF THE VEHICLE PEELING OFF AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATIONClosedLed to recall 08V384000
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S…
- BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATIONClosed
IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP.ILLUMINATION OF THESE LIGHTS WARN THAT AN OPEN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY BE PRESENT WITHIN THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR.WHEN BOTH OF THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.CERTAIN BMW VEHICLES IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CONTAIN THE SAME SEAT MAT SENSOR.THESE ARE THE MY 2004 5-SERIES, 7-SERIES AND X3, THE MY 2004 THROUGH 2006Z-4 SERIES AND MY 2006 3-SERIES, 6-SERIES AND X5 VEHICLES.AN IMPROVED SEAT MAT SENSOR WAS INTRODUCED IN DECEMBER 2005 FOR THE MID-MY 2006 PRODUCTION.IN RESPONSE TO…