2002 Bmw 745I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
54 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
95,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 42 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 54 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 29.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 24.1% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 9.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Parking Brake | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
Air Bags: 9; Power Train: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8; Electrical System: 6; Engine: 3; Parking Brake: 3; Seat Belts: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 12 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 8; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 9; 2012: 10; 2013: 6; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10000689 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
BRAKES FAILED FOR 2ND TIME IN 2 WEEKS, RESULTING IN FENDER DAMAGE TO 3 VEHICLES; ACCIDENT OCCURED AT 5 MPH. THE SAME FAILURE HAD OCCURED 2 WEEKS EARLIER (WITHOUT ANY DAMAGES), AND THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP "REPAIRED" THE BRAKE WHEEL SENSORS, STATING THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE THAT COULD BE USED IN SUCH AN EMERGENCY (ONLY A BUTTON ON THE DASH).
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003550 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
I PURCHASE A NEW 745I AND AFTER 10MONTHS OF CONSTANT AGGRAVATION AND FUSTRATION BY THE NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THIS CAR, I WOULD LIKE FOR BMW TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MY CAR CONSTANTLY KEEP HAVING ENGINE FAILURE, RECENTLY BMW HAD TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEADS (FOR A NEW CAR THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE). I WOULD TO RETURN THIS CAR TO BMW FOR A FAIR EXCHANGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015889 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
WHEN DECELERATING VEHICLE MAKES A SUDDEN ACCELERATION INTO TRAFFIC THROWING PASSENGERS AGAINST THE SEATS. MR *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022997 · 2003-06-13 (June 13, 2003)
VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION, FUEL DELIVERY RELATED MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDING FAILED AND RUPTURE FUEL LINES, MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS CONTROLS IN DASH, IT HAS BEEN AT DEALER OVER TEN TIMES DURING THE FIRST YEAR AND IT STILL MALFUNCTIONS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031547 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)
GNITION COIL FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032039 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AND ABOUT THREE HOURS LATER SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE GARAGE. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND DAMAGED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE GARAGE. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE ,AND DETERMINED THAT FIRE CAME FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. *AK CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OTHER FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE INCLUDING: FAILURE TO START, 3 RECALLS PERTAINING TO FUEL SYSTEM AND COMPUTER, COMPUTER CRASHED AND ACCESSORIES DIDN'T OPERATE, AND HEAD REST MOVED ON IT'S OWN. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039129 · 2003-09-18 (September 18, 2003)
WHILE DECELERATING AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES, THROWING PASSENGERS AGAINST THE SEATS AND DASHBOARD, BACK AND FORTH. THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS !. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040971 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
I LEASED THIS VEHICLE JUNE/2002 AND HAVE HAD CONSTANT AGGRAVATION AND FRUSTRATION BY THE NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THIS CAR, THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT THE BMW SERVICE CENTER 6 TIMES IN THE YEAR I HAVE HAD IT -- 3 TIMES FOR THE ENGINE FAILING TO START,LEAVING ME STRANDED AT NIGHT IN UNFAMILLAR AND DANGEROUS AREAS-- 2 TIMES THIS VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER AT NIGHT, EACH TIME WAITING MORE THAN 3 HOURS FOR BMW ASSIST TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK COME AND GET CAR -MOST RECENTLY I WAITED MORE THEN 4 HOURS -- I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR AS I DON'T KNOW WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040971 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V150000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
Reported: 2002-06-03 (June 3, 2002)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP RUNS AT A ROTATIONAL SPEED THAT COULD RESULT IN REDUCED LUBRICATION OF ITS INTERNAL COMPONENTS. OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, WEAR-INDUCED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE FUEL PUMP COULD RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE WHEN THE FUEL TANK CONTAINS ONE-THIRD OR LESS OF ITS MAXIMUM FUEL CAPACITY.
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE COULD STALL AND NOT BE RESTARTED UNTIL MORE FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE FUEL TANK. THIS COULD OCCUR EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT FUEL STILL REMAINED IN THE TANK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL SYSTEM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-332-4269.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V240000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR, A DESYNCHRONIZATION OF THE VALVETRONIC MOTORS FOR ENGINE BANKS I AND II MAY OCCUR. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE COULD STALL.
Consequence: IN THOSE CASES, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF ENGINE ROUGHNESS, OR STALLING, AS WELL AS TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE DRIVER'S REACTIONS, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
NHTSA campaign record ↗