Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 BMW 645CI, most frequently naming the airbags, seat belts and electrical categories. 45 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 1 |
| Jun 2012 | 1 | 2 |
| Nov 2012 | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 2013 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 2014 | 1 | 5 |
| Nov 2014 | 1 | 6 |
| Mar 2015 | 1 | 7 |
| May 2017 | 1 | 8 |
| Aug 2018 | 1 | 9 |
| Sep 2021 | 1 | 10 |
| Mar 2024 | 1 | 11 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
My Bmw got impounded illegally from my location where I rent commercial space and there is no signs saying car wheel be parked there at 12 at night this was an illegal tow by tow guys 3823 losse rd 702 598 1630 I payed $474.64 to get my car out impound
The idrive system in my car continues to cut on and off, this eventually caused my car to shut off on me two times while in traffic with no warning or indication of the shut off. The sensor alert continuously goes off for everything in the car. I took my car to the BMW dealership in Huntsville Alabama, they had my car for almost a month and could not find the issue with the drive or anything the sensors were notifying me of. The system constantly says my car is overheating, but I just got the radiator hose fixed and the dealership checked it for leaks while they had it and they did not see any other leaks or any other issues causing it to overhear. I researched this issue on a BMW form and I see this is a common issue with the electrical system. This issue is very alarming to me because the sensors do not work properly so I wouldn’t know what is really wrong with the car and with all the electrical issues I am afraid the car might catch on fire. I can’t believe this problem is so common and he has not been recalled due to the safety and the devastating results it could cause it’s gone unnoticed for so long. I would hate for someone to lose their life, regarding this faulty issue in this car; these cars are not cheap no matter how old they are so I feel like BMW should stand behind their product and stop selling us faulty unsafe vehicles. We pay good money for these cars, this issue really needs to be fixed. I have a video of the iDrive system cutting on and off with the sensors alerting but this does not give me the option to upload a video. In addition the seatbelt will not retract in this car so it is not able to be worn properly. Also the engine seems like it is revving up sometime as if it wants to takeoff on its own. I have only experienced this issue a couple of times but not as much time as the iDrive issue mention above. Please assist in anyway you can I would really appreciate it. Have a great day!
PASSENGER SEAT OC3 OCCUPANCY MAT NOT WORKING-IT SHOWS A FAULT CODE- I TOOK IT TO BIRMINGHAM BMW AND WAS TOLD I HAVE TO GET A NEW BMW BATTERY AND BATTERY CABLE.THEY CHARGED ME $ 120 TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOTHING TO FIX THE OC3 MAT THAT IS FAULTING.I HAVE CHECKED ON LINE AND THIS DOES NOTHING.
ACTIVE STEERING MALFUNCTION, AIRBAGS LIGHTS, STABLE CONTROLL STEERING WHEEL IS COCKED ABOUT HALF TURN TO DRIVE STREIGHT.
I HAVE WARNING LIGHT WHEN I TURN ON MY CAR THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT AND AIRBAG IS INACTIVE AND THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL... THIS IS SAFETY NOT A LUXURY OPTION... BMW ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS SOME SENSOR AND I ASKED IF I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WILL THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY THEY SAID THERE IS A HIGH CHANCE IT WOULD NOT AND ALSO THE SEAT BELT COULD FAIL AS WELL... I SEEN OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS!! THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE NOT A OPTION!! PLEASE LOOK INTO IT!! BEING A CONVERTIBLE AND NO AIRBAGS IN A ACCIDENT IS A DEATH WAITING TO HAPPEN!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 645CI. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,587.
I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN WHICH THIS IS THE NUMBER YOU HAVE PROVIDED BUT NOT INCLUDING MY YR. IT WAS ONLY FOR 2006 MODELS AND I HAVE A 2004 BUT SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. I HAVE READ AND SEEN OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME DEALERSHIPS HONORED THE RECALL OR "SERVICE OFFER" BUT THEY WILL NOT FOR ME AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT A LUXURY OPTION. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA08001 NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : 08V384000. *TR
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE FAULT LIGHT HAS STARTED SHOWING ON MY BMW. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL REPORTED ON THE SAME COMPONENT "STATEMENT ON VOLUNTARY RECALL INVOLVING FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ON U.S.A. MODEL BMWS - AUGUST 13, 2008". IT IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I CALLED BMW AND THEY STATED THAT MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MY CAR IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL? THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I THINK BMW SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS FAULTY MAT SENSOR PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. I AM AFRAID TO CARRY PASSENGERS IN MY CAR FOR LIABILITY REASONS. *TR
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
ELECTRICAL 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 important information for the dealer on how to handle âÂÂdischarged batteryâ complaints.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC; STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. Braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees F) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
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 demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.
EQUIPMENT
CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT: 6 SERIES (E64) CONVERTIBLE TOP FUNCTION AND OPERATIONAL ISSUES. INFORMATION BULLETIN PROVIDES THE DCSNET CLAIM SUBMISSION INFORMATION.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
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 instance:
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.