2004 BMW 5 Series Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 9%of 64 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,719miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2004 BMW 5 Series, 9% of the 64 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,719 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Vehicle lunges forward at low speeds such as parking; 4 times in the last month, when I am pulling out of a parking space, the vehicle has lunged forward. 2 of those 4 times, I almost hit the vehicle in front of me. I had shifted from reverse, to drive, and just taken my foot off of the brake, and the vehicle jumped forward. The dealer has continued to say that things are ok and normal. They are not normal. …”
NHTSA complaint #10418216, filed 2011-08, 79,000 miles“Transmission slams into gear when taking off from an almost stopped position causing the vehicle to jump forward violently. This has launched me into intersections and caused me to almost rear-end several vehicles. This happens on a weekly basis of daily driving. The dealership wants to reprogram the transmission computer at a cost to me(vehicle out of warranty) even though this is a known problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10344193, filed 2010-07, 65,000 miles“1. I identified a problem with the 2004 Bmw 545i which I have. I researched the issue, which I will explain below (in section 2 as requested), online, and found that hundreds of people have had the same issue. I found that in some instances, Bmw correctly diagnosed the issue, however in many instances, they did not (in section 3, as requested). 2. The car would shift into 5th gear & then between 35-40mph at a very low 1200rpm or so I would get the surging or slipping of the transmission. It was a very light repetitive hesitation. …”
NHTSA complaint #10345611, filed 2010-07, 68,438 miles“Car suddenly and violently lunges forward from a stop, slow speeds or when at low rpms. It occurs several times per day and it feels as if being rear ended.”
NHTSA complaint #10323285, filed 2010-04, 48,000 miles“The contact owns a 2004 Bmw 545. The contact was driving approximately 10 MPH when the accelerator pedal was engaged, the vehicle began to shudder. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who recommended that the transmission be replaced; and offered to pay for half of the repair cost. The vehicle had not been repaired when the complaint was filed. Additionally, prior to the transmission failure the vehicle was taken to the dealer in regards to a burning odor and a transmission fluid leak in which the vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 73,000. The current mileage was 74,100.”
NHTSA complaint #10324351, filed 2010-04, 73,000 milesRelated recalls
- 04V344000Jul 14, 2004On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 8 and 12 cylinder engines, the digital engine management control (emc) units were not produced according to…Covers: BMW 5 Series 2004, X5 2004, 7 Series 2004 +1 more
Related service bulletins
- 10051439Dec 1, 2012Bmw: intermittently goes into park during a msa engine start. The transmission can intermittently go into the park position (p) when msa engine start is occurring. A drive gear…
- 10040045Apr 1, 2011Bmw: a new technical support process has been created regarding transmission concerns.
- 10032849Nov 1, 2007Bmw vehicle: dsc disabling function. Due to revised dme, dsc and ccc software, the mdm (m dynamic mode) button located in the center console switch cluster (szm) now has triple…
- 10032825Nov 1, 2007Bmw vehicle: sport transmission paddle shifters inoperative-diagnosis. The direct communication input line between the paddle shifters and the egs transmission control module is…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2004 BMW 5 Series
29 complaintsSeats
11 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsSeat belts
7 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 BMW 5 Series
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology