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U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Bmw 545I: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

78 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

86,400 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 63 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 78 complaints (39.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1417.9%
Transmission and shifting1114.1%
Electrical and battery issues810.3%
Steering behavior67.7%
Engine operation33.8%
Fuel system concerns11.3%

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
31
Electrical System
14
Seat Belts
9
Power Train
8
Air Bags:Frontal
6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5
Steering
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags31
Electrical System14
Seat Belts9
Power Train8
Air Bags:Frontal6
Power Train:Automatic Transmission5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic5
Steering5

Air Bags: 31; Electrical System: 14; Seat Belts: 9; Power Train: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Steering: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
6
50,000 to 74,999
16
75,000 to 99,999
15
100,000 to 149,999
18
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9996
50,000 to 74,99916
75,000 to 99,99915
100,000 to 149,99918
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 5

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 15 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.

2005
1
2006
1
2010
11
2011
13
2012
11
2013
8
2014
7
2015
8
2016
2
2017
7
2018
4
2020
2
2021
2
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20051
20061
201011
201113
201211
20138
20147
20158
20162
20177
20184
20202
20212
20241

2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2010: 11; 2011: 13; 2012: 11; 2013: 8; 2014: 7; 2015: 8; 2016: 2; 2017: 7; 2018: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 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.

Examples from the source records

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

Owner report 10109962 · 2005-02-06 (February 6, 2005)

THE TIRES WORE OUT IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON A NEW CAR. THE COMPANY (BMW) WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT DELIVERED THE CAR WITH THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109962 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10168026 · 2006-09-06 (September 6, 2006)

2005 BMW 545I STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED, STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DIDN'T WORK WHEN IT RAINED, HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AT NIGHT TIME, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *KB THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WENT BLANK, THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. THE STEERING COLUMN MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE WATER WAS FOUND IN THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT WHICH HAD DAMAGED THE WIRES.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10168026 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10297960 · 2010-01-04 (January 4, 2010)

THE WHEELS ON MY 2005 BMW 545 HAVE ALL CRACKED. THE WHEELS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297960 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10297963 · 2010-01-04 (January 4, 2010)

BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297963 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10326412 · 2010-04-19 (April 19, 2010)

1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE - BRAKE LOSS 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES: THIS STARTED ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS AGO. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25-30MPH AND HAD TO STOP BECAUSE THE LIGHT TURNED RED. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES BUT MY CAR DID NOT STOPPED. IT FELT LIKE I WAS STEPPING ON A BRICK BUT THERE WAS NO BRAKE PRESSURE. I PULLED THE E-BRAKE, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN AND IT WAS OK AFTER THAT. I IGNORED THAT ISSUE THINKING IT WAS JUST A PHANTOM ISSUE - JUST LIKE MOST ELECTRICAL ISSUES…

Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326412 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10328989 · 2010-05-05 (May 5, 2010)

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FULLY ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED BUT WOULD NOT STOP. SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM HAD FAILED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS YET MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAI…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328989 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10330465 · 2010-05-14 (May 14, 2010)

ON MAY 12TH, I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 545I BMW AT 8PM WITH MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DISPLAY INDICATED A WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTION (WOULD NOT TURN OFF OR CONTROL SPEED OF WIPERS). AFTER A FEW MORE MILES, I NOTICED THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION TO ANY OF THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS, NOR DID THE TURN SIGNALS WORK (WOULD NOT STAY ON UNLESS HELD DOWN). ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME ON, SEAT BELT TENSIONERS MAY NOT FUNCTION, AND THE ACTIVE STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME ON, INDICATING THAT T…

Owner-reported narrative. 51,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330465 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10336613 · 2010-06-16 (June 16, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING MILDEW SMELL COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS DRAINED OF EXCESS WATER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336613 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.