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U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Bmw 745LI problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

33 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

95,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 33 complaints (24.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting927.3%
Engine operation618.2%
Braking behavior618.2%
Steering behavior618.2%
Electrical and battery issues13.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
8
Power Train
7
Engine
6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
4
Seat Belts
3
Seats
3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags8
Power Train7
Engine6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission4
Seat Belts3
Seats3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum2
Vehicle Speed Control2

Air Bags: 8; Power Train: 7; Engine: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Seat Belts: 3; Seats: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
6
75,000 to 99,999
9
100,000 to 149,999
9
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9996
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,9999
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 4

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2008
1
2009
4
2010
1
2011
9
2012
4
2013
4
2014
4
2015
1
2016
3
2018
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20081
20094
20101
20119
20124
20134
20144
20151
20163
20181
20231

2008: 1; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 9; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2018: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10278644 · 2009-07-29 (July 29, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG, ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SAFETY MODULE FAILED. THE REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $1,200. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V344000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13…

Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278644 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10296930 · 2009-12-24 (December 24, 2009)

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FAILING ON MY 2004 754LI THE FIRST YEAR I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE SENT TO THE VIST BMW IN CYPRESS CREEK FLORIDA OVER 20 TIMES IT STAYED IN THE THEIR HANDS FOR WEEKS ON END AND ALWAYS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. FOR YEARS IT WAS A CONSTANT CHORE TO DRIVE 30 MILES TO THEIR FACILITY AND FOR THEM TO INSPECT MY COMPLAINT TO SIMPLY TO TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. LOW AND BEHOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WHEN I WENT THERE AGAIN, THEY SAID " WELL IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WOULD NEED…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296930 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10419562 · 2011-08-15 (August 15, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI . THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE ABS LAMP ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY AND THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, AFTER THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE TRANSMISSION SAFE MODE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THREE YEARS AGO, THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10419562 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10395431 · 2011-04-11 (April 11, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM) AND BEGIN TO LEAK OIL ABNORMALLY TWO MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND DETERMINED THAT THE OIL LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE VACUUM PUMP. THE CONTACT SECURED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND WAS AWAITING POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,130. UPDATED 0…

Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395431 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10398900 · 2011-05-04 (May 4, 2011)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CU…

Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398900 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10394263 · 2011-04-05 (April 5, 2011)

VEHICLE TYPE IS A 2004 745LI BMW V-8 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CAR IS IN 5TH GEAR THE CAR HICCUPS LIKE IT WANTS TO UP SHIFT BUT THEN DOES NOT. IT CAUSE THE CAR IT JERK EVERY 3 TO 5 SECONDS WHEN IN 5TH GEAR. WHEN THE CAR IS IN ANY OTHER GEAR IN DOES NOT DO THIS. I HAVE HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUID COMPLETELY CHANGED OUT. IN WHICH THE FLUID SMELLED BURNT AND LOOKED BROWN IN COLOR. BMW SAYS THAT IT IS A LIFE TIME FLUID (IT IS NOT). WHEN THE CAR IS ACCELERATING THROUGH 5TH GEAR IT DOES NOT DO THE PROBLEM EITHER. THERE IS SOMETHING CLEARLY WRON…

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10394263 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10583375 · 2014-04-17 (April 17, 2014)

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, A…

Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10583375 at NHTSA ↗