2004 Bmw 745I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
84,230 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 24 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 29.2% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 16.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
Electrical System: 9; Power Train: 8; Engine: 6; Service Brakes: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2011: 1; 2012: 10; 2014: 6; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10427185 · 2011-09-26 (September 26, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY DECELERATED TO A STOP AS THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME AND PARKED WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 149,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10427185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10442427 · 2012-01-04 (January 4, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DECREASED HIS DRIVABILITY. IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER, NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449102 · 2012-02-23 (February 23, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. AFTER ADDING ANTIFREEZE, THE FLUIDS WENT RIGHT TO THE PIPE AND SPILLED ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PIPE WAS FRACTURED FROM THE RADIATOR TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450593 · 2012-03-07 (March 7, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC FAILED TO PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN …
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457270 · 2012-04-27 (April 27, 2012)
2004 BMW 745I. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE RAN THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY RUNNING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED INVESTIGATION NUMBER PE11025. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10457270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457469 · 2012-05-04 (May 4, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE PARK SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10457469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10464455 · 2012-07-06 (July 6, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE DYNAMIC DRIVE INACTIVE SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THIS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 129,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10471383 · 2012-08-18 (August 18, 2012)
ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LOST POWER AND WENT BLACK. NO SPEEDOMETER, NO TACHOMETER. NO WARNING LIGHTS WORKING. NOTHING IS WORKING THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. COULD NOT TELL HOW FAST I WAS TRAVELING, OR IF TURN SIGNALS WERE WORKING, SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471383 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.