2002 BMW 745I Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2002 BMW 745i most often report air bag and restraint-system warning lights, followed by transmission shifting and fail-safe problems and brakes that are slow to respond or need extreme pedal force. Reports range from very low mileage to about 156,000 miles, and many fall between 80,000 and 120,000 miles. Engine shutdowns and brake response problems are often described as sudden events while driving, while air bag complaints more often involve a warning light that appears and returns.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag and restraint system warning light

   • 12 complaints (22%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 10.3 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2017

   Owners describe an air bag or restraint-system warning light that comes on while driving or at startup, sometimes with a message about the passenger restraint, seat belt tensioner, or belt force limiter. Some say the light dims or clears and then returns, and some report that seat belt sensing did not register a passenger. According to complaints, dealers pointed to a sensor, a safety information module, or a computer fault, and a computer reprogramming was described as only a temporary fix. Some owners say they worry the restraints may not deploy in a crash, and some report the manufacturer offered no help after the warranty expired. Reported from about 11,000 to about 149,000 miles, with many between 80,000 and 115,000 miles, sometimes at startup and sometimes while driving.

   What to check: Ask the dealer to scan the restraint system for stored fault codes and confirm the air bag and belt warning light goes out after the ignition is turned on. Ask whether any open recall or service bulletin applies to the vehicle's VIN before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle is a 2002 Bmw 745I that has an drive system and the latest warning note came up on the idrive screen that says, fault in pass.-restraint system affecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt-force limiter. Fasten and continue to wear belts. Please contact the nearest Bmw center . My research indicates that there is a service bulletin that Bmw initiated that covers this issue for a 10 year period.”

   NHTSA complaint #10262000, filed 2009-03, 99,800 miles

   “Got on freeway drove 10 miles got off freeway. Stopped at lights in normal traffic, going 35mph. Than all of a sudden light and warning comes on saying pass-restraint air bag malfunction. Wont read my seatbelt when I buckle up nor when sitting in passenger is sitting.”

   NHTSA complaint #10513202, filed 2013-05, 115,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifting problems and fail-safe mode

   • 16 complaints (30%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 9.2 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2014

   Owners describe rough or jerky shifts, clunking or skipping between gears, and occasionally a failure to shift into drive or out of first gear. Some report a transmission fail-safe message on the display that limits which gears can be selected, and some describe stalling or a failure to restart. Some complaints say the problem returned after a dealer repair, and others describe a control module replacement or a recommended transmission replacement. Based on complaints, the manufacturer was told of the problem but said no recall applied. Reported from about 50,000 to about 140,000 miles, and some describe the problem when stopping or at low speed.

   What to check: Test the shifts from park to drive and through several stops, and ask the dealer to scan the transmission for stored fault codes. Ask for repair records, since several complaints describe repeat visits for the same symptom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle just shut off while I was driving this has happened a total of four times while driving and three times total while idle. Just recently when the vehicle shut off I almost got rear ended. The vehicle also would not start after it had shut itself off. I tried to start it but it wouldn't turn over. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10511472, filed 2013-05, 139,345 miles

   “Subject: transmission failsafe issue on Bmw 745 I've been having electronic transmission failsafe errors on my vehicle for the past 2 years. Bmw of manhattan couldn't replicate the problem twice within a 2 year period. No one wants to do anything about it but my vehicle stalls, loses gears and doesn't start. These faults occur every week right now. This is a very common issue on these cars and Bmw doesn't want to do anything about it! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10335559, filed 2010-06, 85,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brakes slow to respond or need extreme pedal force

   • 10 complaints (19%)
   • median 101,000 mi at 9.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2016

   Owners describe brake pedal pressure that has to be very hard to slow or stop the car, and some reports say the car would not come to a stop at low speed. Several complaints tie the problem to the brake vacuum pump, booster, or vacuum lines, including reports of oil leaking from the pump. Some describe the problem on wet roads or after a car wash. Some say recall work covered only hoses or did not include their VIN, and some mechanics recommended replacing the booster or vacuum parts. Reported from about 70,000 to about 150,000 miles, mostly between 80,000 and 110,000, and some describe wet roads or car washes.

   What to check: Ask whether the brake vacuum pump, booster, and lines have been checked for leaks, and test the brake pedal feel at low speed in an empty, safe area. Ask the dealer to confirm in writing whether the VIN is covered by any brake recall or service campaign.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took my car for the recall for the brakes all they replaced was the hoses saying that the vacuum pump which is the cause of my brakes failing isn't covered under recall so my car leaks a lot of oil from the pump which could cause lost of brake power which happened plenty of times.”

   NHTSA complaint #10446049, filed 2012-01, 80,000 miles

   “2002 Bmw 745I. Consumer states that he received a recall for the brake booster and vacuum line repair. Consumer paid for the repair in july 2010 prior to the official recall. The consumer is requesting reimbursement.”

   NHTSA complaint #10375891, filed 2011-01
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine stalling, sudden shutdowns, or no-start

   • 11 complaints (20%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 9.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2013

   Owners describe the engine shutting off while driving, sometimes after a rough idle, or stalling. Some report a sudden loss of power at highway speed, and some say the car would not restart after shutting off. Several complaints describe hard starting or no-start conditions, and some say the dealer could not reproduce the problem. In a reported case a dealer reprogrammed the engine computer, and in another an independent mechanic found a fuel pump failure. Reported from about 7,600 to about 139,000 miles, with several around 100,000 miles, and some describe shutdowns at highway speed.

   Recall 03V240000Recall 02V1500002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the dealer to scan the engine and fuel system for stored fault codes, including low fuel pressure codes, and confirm whether recall 03V240000 or 02V150000 applies to the vehicle's VIN. Several complaints describe repeat visits without the problem being found, so ask for service records showing any shutdown or no-start repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After having my car serviced approximately three months prior to the incident and then complaining to the dealership after I picked it up from being serviced that my car was idling rough, I was advised by the service technician to change to texaco gas. I was going on vacation to virginia and was on i95 driving at approximately 60 miles per hour, when my car started shutting down in the fast lane as cars were traveling behind me at a high rate of speed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10424226, filed 2011-09, 102,000 miles

   “I took my car to Bmw service dept. In march and april to get my car serviced for scheduled service and for the check engine soon light displayed. Immediately following the service I experienced my car hesitating to start and also sounded rough and idled. I called the next morning and spoke with a service advisor about my car and he said to bring it in. I stopped there on my way to work the next morning and they started my car and asked me what type of gas I was using and I said exxon. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10284931, filed 2009-09, 102,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Parking brake failure or car moving after parking

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • median 112,020 mi at 9.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2013

   Owners describe a parking brake that will not engage, makes a grinding noise, or keeps a warning light on the dash. Some complaints say a plastic and nylon gear inside the parking brake assembly wears or breaks, and quoted repair costs were high. Other reports say the car rolled after being left in park or after the driver got out, and a crash into another vehicle was described. According to complaints, a technician could not diagnose the rollaway and the manufacturer offered no help because the car was not covered by a recall. Reported from about 60,000 to about 156,000 miles, and some describe the car moving after it had been parked.

   What to check: Before buying, test that the parking brake holds the car on a safe slope and that its warning light goes out normally. Ask whether the parking brake assembly or park function has been repaired, and ask for the records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The parking brake assembly located in the trunk of the 2002 Bmw 745I, is faulty. The gears inside the assembly are made of plastic and nylon. When the nylon gear breaks, and it will, you will no longer be able to use your parking brake. I brought my car to Bmw of honolulu today and was told that the part was about $1100.00. The service advisor even told me that he had seen 4 of the 7 series with the same problem in the past month. I have to drive around with this yellow parking light on my dash. This is a safety issue that Bmw should take of. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10369833, filed 2010-12, 60,000 miles

   “While parked, the vehicle will come out of p (park mode) and fall away unattended. The vehicle was put into park automatically by pushing the start/stop button, and after leaving the vehicle, it was seen rolling across the street as if it was in neutral hitting the curb across the street.”

   NHTSA complaint #10419177, filed 2011-08, 91,000 miles

Buying note. Ask the seller for repair records covering the restraint system, transmission, and brake vacuum system, and check the VIN against recall records before buying. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a fault-code scan and a test of the warning lights and parking brake can help, since many complaints involve cars with 80,000 to 120,000 miles.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 48 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.