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Electrical systemPart report

2002 BMW 745I Electrical system Problems

Complaints
8about this part
Share
15%of 54 total for the year
Median mileage
66,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the electrical system of the 2002 BMW 745I, 15% of the 54 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 66,000 miles.

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.

“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! When I had the warranty on the vehicle they didn't do anything and now that the warranty has expired they don't want to do anything either. …”

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

“I leased this vehicle june/2002 and have had constant aggravation and frustration by the numerous failures of this car, this car has been at the Bmw service center 6 times in the year I have had it -- 3 times for the engine failing to start,leaving me stranded at night in unfamillar and dangerous areas-- 2 times this vehicle had to be towed to dealer at night, each time waiting more than 3 hours for Bmw assist to have a tow truck come and get car -most recently I waited more then 4 hours -- I do not feel safe driving this car as I don't know when it will brake down and not start. …”

NHTSA complaint #10040971, filed 2003-09, 7,620 miles

“My Bmw 745I 2002 with drive by wire six gear automatic transmission developed a rough shift, clunk in the lower gear ranges. In the lower gears, the vehicle sometimes down shifts unexpectedly resulting in a sudden drop in speed. This could cause an accident if someone was following to close behind.”

NHTSA complaint #10463120, filed 2012-06, 66,000 miles

“The safety restraint device continuously malfunctioned, which resulted in the entire restraint system, including the air bags becoming inoperative. Dealership indicated the this malfunction was caused by a failure in the I/drive computer system. Dealership reprogramed the computer drive which only provided a temporary solution to the problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10071520, filed 2004-04, 11,000 miles

“Vehicle keeps shutting down; I was driving on the beltway going 60 MPH and vehicle shut down almost causing accident, this vehicle has been serviced 4 times for this problem Bmw service can not detect the problem. Please help me this vehicle is not safe to drive you don't know when or where it will shut off.”

NHTSA complaint #10168070, filed 2006-09

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2005425%
2004938%
2003413%
2002815%

Other parts of the 2002 BMW 745I

Transmission and drivetrain
17 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsAir bags
11 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsEngine
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2002 BMW 745I

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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