Total Complaints
50 filings
BMW 745LI · model year
50 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004BMW745LI carries 50 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, 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 2004 745LI is air bags with 8 filings, followed by power train (7) and engine (6). 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.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2004 745LI. 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
50 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN | 7 |
| ENGINE | 6 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| SEATS | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| WHEELS | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
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.
Mileage: 198,000
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.
Mileage: 160,000
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.
Mileage: 160,000
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.
Mileage: 160,000
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.
Mileage: 95,000
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.
Mileage: 104,000
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.
Mileage: 121,000
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.
Mileage: 121,000
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
Mileage: 140,000
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
Mileage: 140,000
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
Mileage: 140,000
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.
Mileage: 90,000
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN EXTENSIVE OIL LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DUPLICATED OR DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO DESCRIBED A BURNING METAL AND OIL ODOR IN ADDITION TO A WHILE CLOUD OF SMOKE. THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE REPAIRED TWICE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR SEAL GASKET, VALVE AND SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. ..UPDATED 05/20/14 *BF UPDATED 06/02/2014 *JS
Mileage: 130,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN EXTENSIVE OIL LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DUPLICATED OR DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO DESCRIBED A BURNING METAL AND OIL ODOR IN ADDITION TO A WHILE CLOUD OF SMOKE. THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE REPAIRED TWICE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR SEAL GASKET, VALVE AND SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. ..UPDATED 05/20/14 *BF UPDATED 06/02/2014 *JS
Mileage: 130,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,245. UPDATED 5/8/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING AND DID NOT DIE.
Mileage: 73,245
THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG CAME ON AND THE TENSION IN THE SEAT BELT IS NON-EXISTENT. *TR
Mileage: 55,147
THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG CAME ON AND THE TENSION IN THE SEAT BELT IS NON-EXISTENT. *TR
Mileage: 55,147
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION SAFE MODE ACTIVATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DYNAMIC DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE COULD POSSIBLY BECOME DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR
Mileage: 94,000
ON THE DASH BOARD THE LOUD WARNING LIGHT COMES ON: DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT. I KNOW THAT SEVERAL 2002-2008 BMW 7-SERIES GOT RECALLED REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE AND MANUFACTURE OFFERED 10 YEAR WARRANTY FROM IN SERVICE DATE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. MINE IS A 2004 745LI AND SHOULD BE ONE OF THE RECALLED ONE. CALLED THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY SAD THE VIN NUMBER THAT MY CAR HAS NEVER HAVE BEEN RECALLED WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS ON AND I THINK THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. IS A SHAME TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY FOR THIS VEHICLES AND THEY CAN'T OFFER A SAFE DRIVE. THANKS *TR
Mileage: 76,000
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.