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BMW 745LIModel year report

2005 BMW 745LI Problems

Complaints
25filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
79,750miles, 22 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of 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 2005 BMW 745LI (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2005 BMW 745LI. The part named most often is air bags, with 5 complaints (20% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (5) and brakes (4). 22 of the complaints include a mileage, and 9% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 79,750 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 8 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 27 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 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: Fuel system (1), Seats (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “I started my car up at approx. 6 pm 5/22/2011 and a warning light on my dashboard indicating that my seat belt tensioner & passenger air bag is not working.”

NHTSA complaint #10407180, filed 2011-06, 56,031 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “My vehicle stalls in traffic and once it cuts off there is no way to put it in neutral. A police tried to help me out and told me that is a safety hazard. I keep having this problem especially when I'm driving on highways once it cuts off there's no way for me to steer off of the road. It's frightening.”

NHTSA complaint #10622607, filed 2014-08, 130,000 miles

Brakes: “I purchase Bmw 2005 745LI about 60 days ..I was driving on the street with my 2 year old daughter .the red light I try to step on brake wont stop ..I call towing truck to town my car to deal ...mechanic told me the booster brake not working ..I think this is the safety issue ..the dealer I call the Bmw car dealer they said they not responsibility for this matter . I need help!”

NHTSA complaint #10327106, filed 2010-04, 73,000 miles

Electronic stability control: “Dynamis drive inactive light comes on until the car is shut off and restarted but it won't store the code. Bmw said that this can't happen so when it happened I drove the car to the dealer and he saw it was on but as soon as he shut the car off and restarted it the light was off and the code gone. The car acts like a big boat when this happens and can cause you to lose control because of the way it moves side to side.”

NHTSA complaint #10312152, filed 2010-02, 26,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

9% of the 22 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 58,423 and 122,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–259%25–5036%50–7518%75–10036%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (22 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 79,750 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

20052010552012201420162018
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 2005 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 2005 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. 27 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 27 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 2005 BMW 745LI have?

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2005 BMW 745LI as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 BMW 745LI is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 5 complaints (20% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 5.

Has the 2005 BMW 745LI been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2005 BMW 745LI get?

The EPA rates the 2005 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 2005 BMW 745LI reported?

Among the 22 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 79,750 miles and the middle half falls between 58,423 and 122,000 miles; 9% 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.