BMW 745I · model year

2005 BMW 745I

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.

21
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

21 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
SEATS1
POWER TRAIN1
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
SUSPENSION:REAR1
AIR BAGS1
SERVICE BRAKES1
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
ENGINE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recalls (3)

17V32800018/05/2017

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

12V50200017/10/2012

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

12V50400017/10/2012

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

Recent Complaints

20190522ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20190522UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

20171122LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

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

20170717LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

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

20170614ENGINE

THE COOLANT SYSTEMS FAILED .AND WITH RESEARCH I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER A STEADY PROBLEM FOR THESE MODELS.

Mileage: 140,000

20150430ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20150419EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

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

20150419STRUCTURE:BODY

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

20130730SERVICE BRAKES

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

20130730ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20130625AIR BAGS

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

20130611ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20110920SUSPENSION:REAR

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

20110513ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

20110429SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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

20100913CrashPOWER TRAIN

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

20100913CrashTRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

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

20091027AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20090724LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

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

20090714AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

2005 BMW 745I DRIVER RESTRAINTS SYSTEM FAULTS DRIVER MAT SEAT SENSOR FAILURE. *TR

Compare 2005BMW745I to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 BMW 745I have?
The 2005 BMW 745I has 21 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 BMW 745I?
Yes, the 2005 BMW 745I has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 BMW 745I?
The most-complained component for the 2005 BMW 745I is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 2005 BMW 745I safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.