The 2002 BMW 745Li has 2 safety recalls and 36 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (10 complaints).
Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR, A DESYNCHRONIZATION OF THE VALVETRONIC MOTORS FOR ENGINE BANKS I AND II MAY OCCUR. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE COULD STALL.
Risk: IN THOSE CASES, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF ENGINE ROUGHNESS, OR STALLING, AS WELL AS TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE DRIVER'S REACTIONS, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
NHTSA recall 02V150000 · Jun 3, 2002 · 8,412 vehicles
Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP RUNS AT A ROTATIONAL SPEED THAT COULD RESULT IN REDUCED LUBRICATION OF ITS INTERNAL COMPONENTS. OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, WEAR-INDUCED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE FUEL PUMP COULD RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE WHEN THE FUEL TANK CONTAINS ONE-THIRD OR LESS OF ITS MAXIMUM FUEL CAPACITY.
Risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE COULD STALL AND NOT BE RESTARTED UNTIL MORE FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE FUEL TANK. THIS COULD OCCUR EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT FUEL STILL REMAINED IN THE TANK.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL SYSTEM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-332-4269.
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
745li
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
4.4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/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
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Electrical system
10
1
0
0
5,485 mi
Air bags On-off switch assembly
10
0
0
0
92,000 mi
Power train Automatic transmission
8
1
0
0
106,173 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
5
0
0
0
45,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine
4
1
0
0
97,000 mi
Seat belts
3
0
0
0
—
Fuel/propulsion system
3
0
0
0
—
Tires Pressure monitoring and regulating systems
2
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Power assist › Vacuum
2
0
0
0
—
Engine
2
1
0
0
—
Steering Rack and pinion
1
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Apr 14, 2020 · 89,000 milesFuel system, gasoline TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SBSR MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V150000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AN UNNAMED DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND VERIFIED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE…
Jul 1, 2018 · 108,000 milesEngine TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP DID NOT CIRCULATE COOLANT TO THE MOTOR. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V150000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND CAUSED THE MOTOR TO MISFIRE. ONCE THE VEHICLE MISFIRED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V240000 (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE…
Jul 20, 2018 · 180,425 miles · crashElectronic stability control (esc) CAR STALLED AND ALL THE LIGHTS ARE FLASHING ON THE DASH... WILL NOT START BACK UP... ALMOST HAD A SERIOUS WRECK AT 75MPH CAR JUST WENT OFF...HAD NO STEERING AND BARLEY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD... DAMAGED THE FRONT END AFTER HITTING THE CURB TRYING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY TO SAFETY... HAD IT TOWED HOME THEN TO A BMW DEALER WHO TOLD ME MY CASS WENT OUT AND THE COMPUTER WAS NOT RESPONDING AND COULD BE MANY THINGS TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME OVER $4K TO FIX THE CAR... I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND IT SITS IN MY BACK YARD NOW AND HAS BEEN SITTING THERE FOR ALMOST A YEAR... AND I AM SO TIRED OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR... I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING MYSELF TO FIX IT.. AND REALLY DON'T HAVE $4K…
May 1, 2018Air bags I CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA JUST RECENTLY REGARDING THE AIRBAG SENSOR PROBLEM SINCE WE KEEP SPENDING MONEY ON THIS CAR SINCE THE FIRST DAY WE GOT IT NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO PURCHASED THIS CAR BACK FROM ME SINCE ALL I HAD IS MONEY LOSSES AND AGGRAVATION WITH THIS VEHICLE.
Mar 6, 2018Air bags WE HAVE BEING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES OF THIS CAR, SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL BE FINE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT DIES COMPLETLY LEAVING YOU STRANDED, THE CAR WILL CRANK OVER AND WONT START. WE HAVE TAKING TO THE SHOP AND WE HAVE EMAILS FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND THEY ADVICE THE REPAIR SHOP TO REPLACE BATTERY, FUEL PUMP, AND SOME MODULATORS AND THE PROBLEM STILL NOT FIX. THIS CAR IS BEING A MONEY PIT. THE CAR WAS TOWED AGAIN TO THE BMW SERVICE DEALERSHIP TO GET DIAGNOSED AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO IN THIS BMW BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AS WELL. I USED TO OWN A MERCEDES BENZ E430 AND I…
Jul 1, 2016Air bags THE SEAT BELTS IN THE CAR HAS NOT TIGHTENING TENSION. THE RED LIGHTS ARE ON INDICATING THAT, FAULT IN PASS. - RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. FASTEN AND CONTINUE TO WEAR BELTS.
Jan 4, 2016 · 148,000 milesElectrical system I HAVE REPLACED MY ANTENATOR TWICE NOW, WHEN I REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME MY GENERATOR LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND OFF SO I REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND IT WAS STILL DOING IT, SO I REPLACED IT THE 2ND TIME AND NOW IT DOES NOT LIGHT UP THE GENERATOR LIGHT BUT EVERY OTHER LIGHT COMES ON, LOOKS LIKE A XMAS TREE ON MY DASH...ALSO MY HOOD IS LOCKED AND MY HOOD LIGHT POPS ON OFTEN.I HAD A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED AND REGISTERED AND STILL ACTS UP.EVERY NOW AND AGAIN IN THE MORNINGS MY CAR WONT START HAVE TO JUMP START IT..JUS DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO BMW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, SYSTEM NOT CHARGING CORRECTLY...PLEASE HELP
Nov 19, 2015 · 110,105 milesAir bags I HAVE READ THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON SOME MODEL OF THE BMW. AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY HAVEN'T THE NHTSA HAVEN'T PUT OUT A BULLETIN ON THE BMW 745LI ABOUT THE SEATS BLETS AND THE AIRBAGS. WHEN THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT WE ARE DRIVING A VERY UNSAFE CAR. NOW ON MY VEHICLE THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACK. AND I AM UN ABLE TO CARRY ANYONE IN THE FRONT SEAT. ON THE DRIVER SIDE I HAD THAT BROBLEM TO BUT THE SEAT BELT IS ABLE TO FASTEN. THIS HAPPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING.
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
EA12002 · opened Apr 10, 2012 · closed Jan 24, 2013 · led to recall 12V502000Vehicle Rollaway In a letter dated October 16, 2012, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), NHTSA Recall No. 12V-502 to NHTSA identifying a safety defect involving the possibility of unattended vehicle rollaway in MY 2005 through 2008 BMW 7-Series (approximately 45,000) vehicles equipped with the Comfort Access Option.The Comfort Access option allows the driver to start and stop the engine (by pressing the engine start / stop button) without inserting the key fob into the vehicles key slot in the instrument panel.Subject vehicles not equipped with the Comfort Access option require the key fob be inserted the key slot to start the engine.Upon removal of the key from the key slot the vehicle will automatically shift to Park if the driver has not done so using the gearshift lever.Sunject vehicles equipped with the Comfort Access option are designed such that when the…
PE11025 · opened Aug 5, 2011 · closed Apr 23, 2012Vehicle Rollaway In response to the Office of Defects Investigation's (ODI) Information Request (IR) for PE11-025, BMW provided ODI with 1 complaint and 46 field reports relating to either incidents of unattended vehicle rollaway or vehicle movement after the driver expected the vehicle gearshift to automatically shift to park. ODI's analysis of the data provided by BMW identified 14 crashes and 5 alleged injuries. ODI has also identified 3 additional reports in its database alleging vehicle rollaway incidents of which 2 resulted in crashes.The subject vehicles are all equipped with push-buttons (Start/Stop button) to control starting/stopping the engine and Shift-by-Wire gearshift systems controlled by a column mounted selector lever behind the steering wheel. The Start/Stop button also controls switching the ignition and the radio ready state On and Off. Shift-by-wire systems replace the traditional…