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BMW 7 SeriesModel year report

2004 BMW 7 Series Problems

Complaints
28filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
54,500miles, 23 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 BMW 7 Series (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 2004 BMW 7 Series. The part named most often is brakes, with 5 complaints (18% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (4) and air bags (3). 23 of the complaints include a mileage, and 35% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 54,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 33 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the vacuum filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) and 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (1), Body and structure (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “I applied the brakes and they got hard and went to the floor. Brakes would be soft initially and as pressure was continued would get hard and required sustained intense effort to stop the vehicle. This is a known problem by Bmw involving the booster and they claim to have inspected vehicle for this problem in 2011 and it did not require being fixed. This was before I bought the vehicle from the dealer. They now refuse to fix the vehicle. This is a safety issue that obviously has not been appropriately addressed by Bmw. …”

NHTSA complaint #10512238, filed 2013-05, 114,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Vehicle became hard to control, and consumer was able to contain it. After coming to a full stop rear driver's wheel continued to spin. Vehicle had to be towed, and no defects were found.”

NHTSA complaint #10119244, filed 2005-04, 21,000 miles

Air bags: “I have been getting this error in my idrive system: fault in passive restraint system affecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt-force limiter. Fasten and continue to wear belts. Please contact the nearest Bmw center.”

NHTSA complaint #10862673, filed 2016-05, 185,000 miles

Electrical system: “The rear side door unexpectedly open while driving, a week later the other side did the same thing the for open then it closed by its self. I was driving straight on a highwsy.”

NHTSA complaint #10785243, filed 2015-10, 140,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

35% of the 23 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 44,827 and 70,000 miles.

17%0–104%10–2513%25–5039%50–7513%75–1009%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (23 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 54,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

200520082011620132016
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2004 BMW 7 Series → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 33 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 33 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 7 Series

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2009967,5002———Not enough data
20081186,5001———Not enough data
200713109,3201———Not enough data
20062977,5472——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20042854,5004——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20038100,8582———Not enough data

All BMW 7 Series model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 BMW 7 Series have?

NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 2004 BMW 7 Series as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2004 BMW 7 Series is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 5 complaints (18% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 4.

Has the 2004 BMW 7 Series been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2004 BMW 7 Series reported?

Among the 23 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 54,500 miles and the middle half falls between 44,827 and 70,000 miles; 35% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.