Total Complaints
21 filings
BMW 745I · model year
21 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005BMW745I carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 745I is electrical system with 4 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages (3) and air bags:frontal (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2005 745I. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
21 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2005-2008 745i, 745Li, 750i, 750Li, 760i, 760Li, and B7 Alpina vehicles equipped with both the Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options. In these vehicles, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently ope
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 7-Series vehicles, equipped with the Comfort Access option, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through July 24, 2008. The affected vehicles have an electronic key and an electronic connection between the gear shifter and the transmission (shift-by-wire) t
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 7-Series vehicles, equipped with both Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through September 3, 2007. Due to a software problem, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently
DRIVING FROM WORK AN MY CAR JUST STARTED LOSING POWER I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AN BATTERY AN THE CAR DID THE SAME THING.
Mileage: 160,336
DRIVING FROM WORK AN MY CAR JUST STARTED LOSING POWER I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AN BATTERY AN THE CAR DID THE SAME THING.
Mileage: 160,336
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V328000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR SUDDENLY UNLOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCK THE DOOR A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW OF MOUNTAIN VIEW (150 E EL CAMINO REAL, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94040; 650-200-0149). THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MATTER HAD NOT BEEN SETTLED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Mileage: 98,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED IN THE REAR DOORS WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS IN THE REAR SEAT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V328000(LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE STERLING BMW DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 172,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Mileage: 172,000
THE COOLANT SYSTEMS FAILED .AND WITH RESEARCH I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER A STEADY PROBLEM FOR THESE MODELS.
Mileage: 140,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V504000 (LATCHES, LOCKS AND LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 7/10/15*CN UPDATED 10/11/2017*CN
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE DRIVER DOOR EJECTED OPEN CAUSING ME TO STOP INSTANTLY TO WHERE THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE HELD IN ORDER FOR ME TO MAKE IT TO A SAFE DESTINATION SO UNREAL I WAS SCARED TO DEATH IT DOESNT CLOSE AT ALL IN ORDER TO DRIVE NOW. *TR
Mileage: 111,245
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE DRIVER DOOR EJECTED OPEN CAUSING ME TO STOP INSTANTLY TO WHERE THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE HELD IN ORDER FOR ME TO MAKE IT TO A SAFE DESTINATION SO UNREAL I WAS SCARED TO DEATH IT DOESNT CLOSE AT ALL IN ORDER TO DRIVE NOW. *TR
Mileage: 111,245
I HAVE BEEN HAVING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES ON MY 2005 745I THE ISSUES I AM HAVING ARE ALL ELECTRICAL AND BRAKES, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW NOT INITIATED, LICENSE PLATE LAMP NOT INITIATED, TRUNK BUTTON NOT WORKING ON DASH PANEL OR KEY FOB OR BUTTON ON TRUNK LID, PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TO WARP WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE COME ON SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS MOVING FROM A SPOT I WAS PARKED AT, *TR
Mileage: 110,000
I HAVE BEEN HAVING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES ON MY 2005 745I THE ISSUES I AM HAVING ARE ALL ELECTRICAL AND BRAKES, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW NOT INITIATED, LICENSE PLATE LAMP NOT INITIATED, TRUNK BUTTON NOT WORKING ON DASH PANEL OR KEY FOB OR BUTTON ON TRUNK LID, PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TO WARP WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE COME ON SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS MOVING FROM A SPOT I WAS PARKED AT, *TR
Mileage: 110,000
MY CAR WAS DUE FOR STATE INSPECTION AND I TOOK IT INTO RICHMOND BMW IN MIDLOTHIAN VA. THE TECHNICIAN CALLED AND SAID THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE SENSOR IS BAD. THERE IS AN AIRBAG RECALL FOR THE OTHER BMW SERIES BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE SEVEN SERIES. THERE ARE OTHER 7 SERIES OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. I READ THIS ON THE BMW FORUMS AND IT IS A LOT OF BMW OWNERS SPENDING MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL. CAN YOU PLEASE CONSIDER OUR CARS AS WELL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED WITH THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
Mileage: 111,000
THERE IS A RECALL ON THE REAR SUSPENSION CAUSING THE BUSHINGS TO GO OUT. MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CARE IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU CAN EMAIL ME A LETTER INCLUDING MY VIN NUMBER. I THINK IT SHOULD BE ALL OF THEM. IT IS CAMPAIGN NUMBER 06V27000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND WHILE IN PARK, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS WITH A ROUGH IDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION COIL, AIR PUMP, ENGINE SUPPLY PIE AND ENGINE VALVES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V240000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Mileage: 83,000
POWER BRAKE FAILURE. WE NEVER RECEIVED OCTOBER 2010 RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW USA. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED LEAKING VACUUM PUMP BUT NEVER ADVISED OWNER TO REPLACE/REPAIR; DEALERSHIP HAD TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO CORRECT, BUT DIDN'T.
Mileage: 108,820
TRANSMISSION SKIPPED, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP...IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND "REPAIRED" BY REPLACING THE "MECHATRONICS" IN THE VEHICLE. NOW, IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN, AND THEY CLAIM NOW THAT IT IS THE FAILURE OF THE DOOR OPENING SYSTEM, INSTALLED BY BMW, THAT'S CAUSING THE BATTERY TO "LEAK", THEREFORE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION..I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO ITEMS, AND IF SO THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND FAMILY. THE CAR COULD COME TO A SUDDEN STOP AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE US TO GO FORWARD, AND POSSIBLE TO DO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, OR THE BATTERY COULD EXPLODE AGAIN CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE RECORDS THEY PROVIDED TO ME, AND BE ASSURED THAT THIS PROBLEM ISN'T ONE THROUGHOUT THEIR VEHICLES, LIKE A BOMB READY TO GO OFF AT ANY TIME. *TR
Mileage: 35
TRANSMISSION SKIPPED, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP...IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND "REPAIRED" BY REPLACING THE "MECHATRONICS" IN THE VEHICLE. NOW, IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN, AND THEY CLAIM NOW THAT IT IS THE FAILURE OF THE DOOR OPENING SYSTEM, INSTALLED BY BMW, THAT'S CAUSING THE BATTERY TO "LEAK", THEREFORE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION..I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO ITEMS, AND IF SO THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND FAMILY. THE CAR COULD COME TO A SUDDEN STOP AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE US TO GO FORWARD, AND POSSIBLE TO DO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, OR THE BATTERY COULD EXPLODE AGAIN CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE RECORDS THEY PROVIDED TO ME, AND BE ASSURED THAT THIS PROBLEM ISN'T ONE THROUGHOUT THEIR VEHICLES, LIKE A BOMB READY TO GO OFF AT ANY TIME. *TR
Mileage: 35
CAR IS A 2005 BMW 745I. DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT SENSOR (IN SEAT) HAS CRACKED AND IS CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND AS I UNDERSTAND IS DISABLING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THE CAR FOR THE PASSENGER-SIDE SENSOR CRACKING, WHICH IS A VERY SIMILAR PART. DEALERSHIP AND BMW USA IS REFUSING TO ASSIST ME, I BELIEVE THAT DUE TO THE SIMILARITIES IN NATURE TO THE PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT SENSOR RECALL, THE DRIVERS-SIDE SEAT SENSOR NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS. *TR
Mileage: 84,000
MY CAR WAS REPAIRED BACK IN 9/8/2008 FOR NON FUNCTIONING DOOR HANDLES AND LOCKS. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS THE DOORS HAVE OPENED WITHOUT NOTICE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED, SO THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED. I WAS GOING ON A ROAD TRIP WITH MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE, AND DURING THIS ROAD TRIP I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY ON AN EXIT RAMP AND THE DOOR SWUNG COMPLETELY OPEN AND MY DOG ALMOST FELL OUT OF THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER TO HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED AND THEY CHECKED IT AGAIN AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE DEALER THE DOOR DID NOT WANT TO STAY LATCHED AND KEPT POPPING OPEN. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WORKED ON 3-4 TIMES WITHOUT A RESOLUTION. THE DOORS POPPING OPEN ON A VEHICLE DURING USE COULD BE VERY FATAL TO SOMEONE IN THE CAR. THE DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING IS FINE WITH THE CAR
Mileage: 85,000
2005 BMW 745I DRIVER RESTRAINTS SYSTEM FAULTS DRIVER MAT SEAT SENSOR FAILURE. *TR
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.