2004 Bmw 7 SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. A DAY LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. DEALER FOUND THAT THE FENDER COVER CAME OFF, AND COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081631 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2004 BMW 745LI ON JULY 1, 2004. A WEEK LATER, I WAS CALLED AND TOLD OF THIS RECALL. I'M NOW TOLD THAT IT WILL TAKE A MONTH TO EVEN GET A PART FOR THIS CAR. I FEEL THAT BMW KNEW OF THIS DEFECT PRIOR TOP DELIVERING ME THIS CAR AND THEREFORE, SOLD ME A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, EIF YOUR RECORDS REFLECT WHEN BMW KNEW OF THIS DEFECT.I ALSO DO NOT FEEL THAT A MONTH IS NOT A SUFFICINET TIME TO REPLACE THIS ONE PART. WHEN I CALLED BMW, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CARS REGISTERED IN GERMANY WILL BE REPAIRED FIRST. THIS IS WRONG, W…

Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082522 at NHTSA ↗

HELLO, SOMETHING SIMPLY MUST BE DONE ABOUT THESE CARS WITH THE EXTREMELY BRIGHT, OFTEN BLUE IN COLOR HEADLIGHTS! THEY ARE A SAFETY HAZARD! AT THE VERY BEST THEY ARE DISTRACTING AND IRRITATING. IT IS HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE SOME OF THESE LIGHTS ARE LEGAL, BUT THEY APPARENTLY ARE. IT SEEMS INCREASING NUMBERS OF NEW CARS, MOSTLY IMPORTS, ARE EQUIPPED WITH THEM FROM THE FACTORY. FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE, THE BMWS ARE THE WORST. AUDI, ACURA, LEXUS, INFINIT, NISSAN, CADILLAC ESCALADE AND CHRYSLER PACIFICA ARE ALSO PRETTY BAD. I AM SURE T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086761 at NHTSA ↗

THE HORN DID NOT WORK. AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER FOR MORE THAN 5 MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE HORN ONLY WORKED IN CERTAIN PLACES BECAUSE OF THE AIR BAG. *JB THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE HORN PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE WAY THE AIR BAG IS SITUATED AND UNFORTUNATELY NO ADJUSTMENTS COULD BE MADE TO THE DESIGN OF THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087934 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER TWO WEEKS OF PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL MODE WITH THE GEAR SHIFT STILL IN DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE FOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL TWICE. ON BOTH ITEMS THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A 9/1/04 RECALL NOTICE TO REPROGRAM THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT DURING THIS RECALL PERIO…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,386 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089256 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO CONTROL, AND CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN IT. AFTER COMING TO A FULL STOP REAR DRIVER'S WHEEL CONTINUED TO SPIN. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, AND NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119244 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER'S SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THERE WERE NO UNTOWARD INCIDENTS EXCEPT THAT I HAD TO DRIVE ABT. 65 MILES, MISS MY OFFICE HOURS, UNABLE TO USE THE CAR FEARLESSLY, AND PUT MYSELF IN DANGER.THE RECALL IN YOUR REPORT DID NOT INCLUDE MY CHASSIS NUMBER(DS54945), WHICH I PURCHASED 23 NOV 2004.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,674 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128954 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER 2004 BMW 745 LI CAR PHONE DID NOT REGISTER WHEN IN THE CRADLE. NAVIGATION DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *** NAR RECEIVED 10-18-05*** *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL SOFTWARE UPGRADES TO GET THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM TO WORK. ON MULTIPLE OCCASION, THE FLAT TIRE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE A FLAT TIRE. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW NEVER OPENED OR CLOSED ALL THE WAY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10141051 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-07-14 (July 14, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8 AND 12 CYLINDER ENGINES, THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL (EMC) UNITS WERE NOT PRODUCED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence: AS A RESULT, ENGINE STALLING WILL OCCUR AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF OPERATION. THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART. ALSO, A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND, AFTER REPEATED ACTUATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ASSIST WILL OCCUR. THESE CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2004-08-09 (August 9, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELIABLY DETERMINE IF THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS OCCUPIED.

Consequence: IN CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG, HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONER, AND KNEE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SOFTWARE FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 13, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2004-12-06 (December 6, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT HEATING SYSTEMS, UPON ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, EXCESSIVE CONTACT WITH THE SIDE BOLSTER THAT IS CONTAINED IN THE SEAT'S BACKREST MAY DAMAGE THE HEATING MAT LOCATED IN THIS AREA. IF SUCH DAMAGE WERE TO OCCUR, WITH THE SYSTEM TURNED ON, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY FEEL EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THIS AREA.

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HEATING MAT IN THE BACKREST'S SIDE BOLSTER COULD OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE, OR MELT A SMALL HOLE IN, THIS AREA OF THE SEAT COVER. IF THIS HAPPENED, IT COULD LEAD TO AN OCCUPANT BEING BURNED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE SEAT HEATING CIRCUIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2010-10-01 (October 1, 2010)

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

Consequence: POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.