2004 Bmw 745LI: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
95,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 33 complaints (24.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 27.3% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 18.2% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 18.2% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 18.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.0% |
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 | 8 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Seats | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
Air Bags: 8; Power Train: 7; Engine: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Seat Belts: 3; Seats: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 4
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2008: 1; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 9; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2018: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 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 10244483 · 2008-10-06 (October 6, 2008)
VEHICLE:2004 BMW 745LI DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT: SEVAS S-10 WHEELS AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT TWO HOURS GOING 65MPH ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEAR A LOUD POP AS MY VEHICLE STARTS TO SWERVE. I SAW SPARKS AND HEARD MORE GRINDING NOISES. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AS I PULLED TO SHOULDER, IT WAS APPARENT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, MY WHEELS JUST FELL APART. AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES A POLICE OFFICER STOPPED BY AND CALLED A WRECKER. THE FOLLOWING DAY I REPLACED THE DAMAGED SEVAS S-10 WHEELS WITH MY FACTORY WHEELS AND REALIZED JU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10244483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10278644 · 2009-07-29 (July 29, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG, ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SAFETY MODULE FAILED. THE REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $1,200. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V344000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13…
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10279153 · 2009-08-03 (August 3, 2009)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENED SLIGHTLY ON ITS OWN, AND THE SOFT CLOSE DOORS MUST HAVE REACTED AND CLOSED IT BACK SHUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279153 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294410 · 2009-12-03 (December 3, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT DETENTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE DETENTION SYSTEM WAS RESET; HOWEVER, THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PURCHASING THE REPAIR PART THAT WILL PROGRAM THE COMPUTER. RECALL 04V379000 FOR THE SEATS IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 12/22/09. *L…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296930 · 2009-12-24 (December 24, 2009)
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FAILING ON MY 2004 754LI THE FIRST YEAR I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE SENT TO THE VIST BMW IN CYPRESS CREEK FLORIDA OVER 20 TIMES IT STAYED IN THE THEIR HANDS FOR WEEKS ON END AND ALWAYS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. FOR YEARS IT WAS A CONSTANT CHORE TO DRIVE 30 MILES TO THEIR FACILITY AND FOR THEM TO INSPECT MY COMPLAINT TO SIMPLY TO TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. LOW AND BEHOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WHEN I WENT THERE AGAIN, THEY SAID " WELL IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WOULD NEED…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10373534 · 2010-12-30 (December 30, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10373534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10374954 · 2011-01-06 (January 6, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT A SOFTWARE UPGRADE WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10374954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392938 · 2011-03-26 (March 26, 2011)
NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING "POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE" AND "LOSS OF STABILITY CONTROL" LIT UP ON MY 2004 BMW 745LI. THE VEHICLE LOST ITS ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, WHICH EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATION I WAS EXPERIENCING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS FAILURE IS IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS THAT APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY IN THE VEHICLE AND THEN RESET THEMSELVES ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE DIAGNOSIS BY BMW WAS THAT THE MECHATRONIC UNIT ON THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED (AFTER ONLY 70,000 MIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392938 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.