2004 BMW 745I Problems
- Complaints
- 24filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 84,230miles, 19 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 19 mpgcombined, 4.4L 8-cyl RWD · 16 city / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 BMW 745I (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2004 BMW 745I. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 11 complaints (46% of the total), followed by electrical system (9) and engine (6). 19 of the complaints include a mileage, and 21% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 84,230 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 22 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 13 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
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.
- Electrical system9 38%
- Engine6 25%
- Brakes4 17%
- Air bags2 8.3%
- Engine cooling2 8.3%
- Exterior lighting1 4.2%
- Other or unknown1 4.2%
- Seats1 4.2%
Also reported: Steering (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “I have driven 2004 Bmw 745I for the past 10 years. It has 44000 miles on the odometer. Recently, it stops while driving. Each time it stops, the gear is shifted to neutral. When I tried to start engine, it won't start. After using cell phone to request for help, the engine starts. It happened more than five times.”
NHTSA complaint #10667212, filed 2014-12, 44,000 milesElectrical system: “I was driving on the expressway and everything went haywire and all the lights came on and the engine felt like it shut off. After I pulled over I shut it off and tried turning it back on but it wouldn't start. I sat on the side of the road for 25 min and tried it again and it finally turned back on.”
NHTSA complaint #10472584, filed 2012-08, 79,550 milesEngine: “I have a 2004 Bmw 745I, I noticed a lot of smoke coming from tail pipe when the car is idling/driving. I took it in for a diagnostic at a replicable repair shop, and I was told the valve guide seal's where worn and needed replacement. The problem is that the valve guide seals becomes hard over time and doesn't provide a proper seal for the valve stem's. This allows oil to pass through the valve stem seals and enter the combustion chamber and the exhaust.( not only does this cause pollution) it damages the cat converter therefore you can not pass a smog test. …”
NHTSA complaint #10561726, filed 2014-01, 136,000 milesBrakes: “I am the owner of a 2004 Bmw 745I. I received a letter in november 2010 from Bmw stating that there was recall on brake vacuum pump. On november 11 2010 before receiving this recall letter. I had repairs done to my brake vacuum pump. When I called Bmw to get my money refunded they basically told me it was different. I was charged over 6,000 dollars for this service. I have spoken to several people and was given different numbers to try to get my money back and have been unsuccessful. I also noticed on a february 2011 st. Pete times issue Bmw was fined $3million dollars for delaying recalls. …”
NHTSA complaint #10472469, filed 2012-08Mileage when problems were reported
21% of the 19 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 52,000 and 129,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2004 BMW 745I version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 745i RWD | 4.4L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 16 | 24 | 19 | $4,350 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2004 BMW 745I in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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. 22 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10249437Jan 16, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors), Electrical system. The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- 10249027Jan 11, 2024Electrical system. The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers…
- 10247567Dec 20, 2023Fuel system, Engine cooling. Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel…
- 10245422Nov 22, 2023Equipment, Electrical system. Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicleâÂÂs equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation…
- 10225126Sep 1, 2022Equipment. Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.
- 10182619Oct 1, 2020Equipment, Electrical system. Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased…
- 10145306Jun 1, 2018Equipment. NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for…
- 10143564May 1, 2018Equipment. NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for…
- 10146779Nov 1, 2016Electrical system. Diagnosing Stored Fault Codes to Help Avoid Repeat Repair Visits This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B07 03 14 dated October 2015.. Fault codes stored in vehicles being serviced are not…
- 10151115Feb 1, 2016Electrical system, Equipment. SUBJECT Audio System Speaker Testing. For audio system speaker testing there is a NED (Non Electrical Diagnosis) Test Plan available. CAUSE We previously recommended use of the Audio Test CD (ATC)…
Other model years of the BMW 745I
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 16 | 109,410 | 3 | — | 19 | — | Stable |
| 2004 | 24 | 84,230 | 0 | — | 19 | — | Falling |
| 2003 | 32 | 74,000 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2002 | 54 | 95,400 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 BMW 745I have?
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2004 BMW 745I as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2004 BMW 745I is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 11 complaints (46% of the total), followed by electrical system with 9.
Has the 2004 BMW 745I been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2004 BMW 745I get?
The EPA rates the 2004 BMW 745I (745i, 4.4L 8-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2004 BMW 745I reported?
Among the 19 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 84,230 miles and the middle half falls between 52,000 and 129,000 miles; 21% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
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.