2004 BMW 745Li recalls & problems

Recent owner complaints

• May 1, 2023 · 198,000 milesAir bags
  The contact owns a 2004 BMW 745LI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V379000 (Seats) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.
• Feb 2, 2018 · 160,000 milesEngine
  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 VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF STRATHAM (71 PORTSMOUTH AVENUE, STRATHAM, NH 03885, (603) 772-0000), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE AN AFTERMARKET WARRANTY. THE CONTACT DECLINED THE RECOMMENDATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
• May 22, 2016 · 104,000 milesEngine
  COOLANT TRANSFER PIPE SEAL IS MADE OF IMPROPER MATERIAL THAT IS NOT COMPATBLE WITH HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES. SEAL FAILS CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT. SEAL FAILS AT 40,000 TO 110,000 MILES. REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $6,000 BECAUSE ENGINE MUST BE TAKEN APART TO REPLACE THE SEAL. MY SEAL FAILED AT 104,000 MILES. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL DUE TO COOLANT LEAK ONTO SERPENTINE BELT.
• Jul 20, 2015 · 95,000 milesEngine
  ENGINE VALVE GUIDE SEALS MADE OF IMPROPER MATERIAL THAT FAILS CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE INTO EXHAUST, FOULING OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER, FAILURE TO PASS INSPECTION AND POLLUTION. THE VALVE GUIDE SEALS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES WHICH CAUSES THE SEALS TO FAIL AT 80,000 TO 120,000 MILES. MY SEALS FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 95,000 MILES CAUSING OIL CONSUMPTION IN EXCESS OF 1 QUART PER THOUSAND MILES. REPLACEMENT OF THE VALVE SEALS REQUIRES EXTENSIVE ENGINE READ DOWN AND COSTS APPROXIMATELY $9,000 TO REPAIR.
• Feb 15, 2016 · 121,000 miles · crashStructure › Body
  CAR WAS STATIONARY ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I SIMPLY GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW, IT STARTED ROLLING DOWN THE HILLON ITS OWN. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN HIT A NEARBY WALL. TOTAL LOSS.
• Aug 29, 2013 · 140,000 milesAir bags
  THE VEHICLE AIR BAG SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. IT IS A DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH BMW AND THEY ARE DENYING COVERAGE FOR MY PARTICULAR VIN
• Nov 11, 2014 · 90,000 milesAir bags
  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
• Oct 1, 2013Air bags
  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BMW 745 LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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…