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BMW 745LIModel year report

2002 BMW 745LI Problems

Complaints
36filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
97,000miles, 26 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns 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 2002 BMW 745LI (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2002 BMW 745LI. The part named most often is air bags, with 10 complaints (28% of the total), followed by electrical system (10) and fuel system (8). 26 of the complaints include a mileage, and 27% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 97,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 22 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 10 technical service bulletins 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: Equipment (1), Steering (1), Body and structure (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “2002 Bmw 745LI. Air bag light on dash board came on, which means something is now wrong with the air bag or the air bag sensors. Because of this issue my air bags will not activate if a crash occurs. This safety issue concerns me and requires immediate attention. Another problem is the oil pressure valve is leaking oil which has caused slippery conditions and unwanted pollutants (dirty motor oil) to seep into the ground because of the continuous leaking.”

NHTSA complaint #10326561, filed 2010-04, 123,000 miles

Electrical system: “Car stalled and all the lights are flashing on the dash... Will not start back up... Almost had a serious wreck at 75mph car just went off...had no steering and barley made it to the side of the road... Damaged the front end after hitting the curb trying to get off the highway to safety... Had it towed home then to a Bmw dealer who told me my cass went out and the computer was not responding and could be many things told me it would cost me over $4k to fix the car... I had the car towed home and it sits in my back yard now and has been sitting there for almost a year... …”

NHTSA complaint #11203845, filed 2019-04, 180,425 miles

Fuel system: “The telematics and other electronics systems of the vehicle have failed or reported apparently erroneous information on many occasions. In most cases, these failures occur while the vehicle is in the midst of travel, which thereby causes the driver to become distracted from driving while focusing on the system failure. This poses a potential safety issue as it prevents the driver from devoting the needed attention to operation of the vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #10021142, filed 2003-06, 2,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “I just came across NHTSA action number : pe11025 and wanted to make you aware of the following: I parked my car in front of my daughter's day care center (the goddard school, suwanee) on the monday before easter in 2010 (march 29, 2010). When I came out, I discovered the car approximately 40 yards away crashed into the embankment of the neighboring parking lot, at an incline of approximately 45 degrees. My car was damaged, as was the landscaping at the crash site, however, no one was injured. …”

NHTSA complaint #10429922, filed 2011-10, 109,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

27% of the 26 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 6,000 and 109,000 miles.

27%0–100%10–250%25–504%50–7523%75–10042%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (26 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 97,000 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.

2003820102012201520182020
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.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2002 BMW 745LI version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
745li RWD4.4L 8-cyl6-speed automatic162419$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

Recall details for the 2002 BMW 745LI → · Check a 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.

See all 22 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 745LI

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20052579,7503—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20043395,5000—19Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200350100,0002—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20023697,0002—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All BMW 745LI model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 BMW 745LI have?

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2002 BMW 745LI as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 BMW 745LI is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 10 complaints (28% of the total), followed by electrical system with 10.

Has the 2002 BMW 745LI been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2002 BMW 745LI get?

The EPA rates the 2002 BMW 745LI (745li, 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 2002 BMW 745LI reported?

Among the 26 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 97,000 miles and the middle half falls between 6,000 and 109,000 miles; 27% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.