2003 Bmw 745I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
74,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 32 complaints (15.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 28.1% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 28.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Air Bags: 4; Engine: 4; Power Train: 4; Seat Belts: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Electrical System: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2004: 6; 2005: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2018: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10059420 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
CONSUMER WAS ADVISED OF A SOFTWARE PROBLEM ON VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS LEASED. (NAR) *LA *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060878 · 2004-03-09 (March 9, 2004)
CAR ROLLS BACKWARD ALTHOUGH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND ENGAGED IN FORWARD DRIVE GEAR. THIS HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS BY MY CAR ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO THE ONE BEHIND ME. CARS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS DO NOT ROLL BACKWARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061005 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
A DAY AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, TWO RED LIGHTS WOULD COME ON TO WARN CONSUMER THAT RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. *LA *MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065254 · 2004-03-30 (March 30, 2004)
STEERING MECHANISM ON THE VEHICLE WOULD LOCK UP AT THE END OF THE STEERING ROTATION. (NAR) *PH NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM, RADIO, BUMPER AND WINDOWS WERE DEFECTIVE. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072452 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
NEW BMW 745I WAS PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 29, 2003. SINCE JANUARY 2004, VEHICLE HAS ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS EXHIBITED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ON EACH OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT VERY HARD SHIFTING, FOLLOWED BY VIOLENT JERKING, HALTING AND DOWNSHIFTING WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEED ON THE STREET OR HIGHWAY, THROWING THE PASSENGERS FORWARD VIOLENTLY. MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION WARNING SOUNDS AND MESSAGES ARE DISPLAYED. LOUD METALLIC GRINDING AND RATTLING NOISES COME FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA. THE CAR THROWS ITSELF INTO PARK AS THE CAR SLOWS TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103231 · 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)
THE SEAT HEATER STARTED TO SMOKE, BURNING A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10,844 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106930 · 2005-01-06 (January 6, 2005)
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE AND HIT A WALL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113599 · 2005-03-07 (March 7, 2005)
WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DAMAGING 5 OTHER VEHICLES IN THE PROCESS. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113599 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.
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 ↗03V324000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE OIL FILTER DRAIN PLUG MAY BE INSUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED. THIS COULD LEAD TO LOOSENING OF THE PLUG CAUSING AN INITIAL OIL SPRAY AND A SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.
Consequence: IF A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL LOSS OCCURS, ENGINE DAMAGE MAY RESULT. DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF THE OIL FILTER DRAIN PLUG AND, IF NECESSARY, RETIGHTEN THE DRAIN PLUG WITH THE CORRECTLY SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
NHTSA campaign record ↗