2003 Bmw 745LI: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 50 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 32.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 16.0% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 10.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.0% |
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 | 10 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Equipment | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
Air Bags: 10; Power Train: 6; Service Brakes: 6; Electrical System: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Engine: 3; Equipment: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2007: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 8; 2011: 7; 2012: 6; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 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 10040061 · 2003-09-16 (September 16, 2003)
THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING 10-15 MPH THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR STARTED FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. *AK *TS *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040061 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049581 · 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)
REPETITIVE PROBLEMS WITH NAVIGATION, PHONE-- IDLING ISSUES THAT CAR VEHICLE TO SPUTTER AND OR LURCH FORWARD STABILITY CONTROL THAT SWITCHES ITSELF OFF WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION. AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050445 · 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)
WHILE WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN DEFECT, AND COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061231 · 2004-03-03 (March 3, 2004)
WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH TAILGATE UNEXPECTEDLY FELL OFF. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066860 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
WITHOUT WARNING, THE HOOD LATCH UNLOCKED AND CAUSED THE HOOD TO OPEN. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079062 · 2004-06-30 (June 30, 2004)
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN KANSAS IN JULY 2003. THE FIRST WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING OUT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS A DESIGN FEATURE. I MOVED OUT OF THE STATE AND CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP IN THE CORPUS CHRISTI, TX AREA ABOUT THE CONTINUING PROBLEM. OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCASSIONS WHEN THE STALLING WAS SUCH THAT THE CAR WOULD FAIL AND PLACE ME AND/OR MY FAMILY IN NEAR ACCIDENTS. I MADE VISITS TO THE TEXAS DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER 2003, TWICE IN JANUARY 2004 AN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098547 · 2004-11-09 (November 9, 2004)
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT RELEASE. REQUIRED SLIDING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH OF THE SEAT BELT. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112767 · 2005-03-09 (March 9, 2005)
I LEASE A BMW 745LI. THE LEASE BEGAN MAY 15, 2003. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THREE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LAST TWO WENT FLAT AS A RESULT OF DRIVING AT NIGHT OVER A LOW CURB (A SMALL ISLAND IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES HIGH) THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED SINCE I LAST TRAVELED THAT ROUTE. BOTH TIRES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WENT FLAT. I HAD STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND TWO OTHER CARS AND DID NOT SEE THE CURB (I HAVE PICTURES). SINCE I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE SPEED OF THE CAR WAS SLOW AS THE TIRES WENT OVER THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10112767 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 ↗