RoadVitals

2002 BMW 745I Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Jan 26, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
24%
of 54 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 BMW 745I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Jan 26, 2016

VEHICLE HAS A RECALL FOR BRAKE VACUUM PUMP 10V-446. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HE DID RESEARCH AND SAID THAT IT WAS A BMW RECALL. FINALLY TOOK VEHICLE INTO BMW (TUCSON) AND THE SAID THEY SAW NO OIL LEAK, THEREFORE MASTER CYLINDER WOULD NOT BE REPLACED. THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1,175 TO FIX IT. THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP AND MASTER CYLINDER WORK TOGETHER. BMW IS NOT FIXING THE REAL PROBLEM, THEY ARE EXPECTING ME TO FIX THE FLAWED BRAKE SYSTEM. THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE CAN BURN OIL OFF, SO JUST BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SEE IT, DOESN'T MEAN IT WASN'T THERE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER DIAPHRAGM. WHEN THE PART CONNECTED THE RECALL AND IS FAULTY, THAT SHOULD BE COVERED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW IS NOT FIXING AND ALLOWING VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH FAULTY BRAKES. THEY DESIGNED THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND BEING SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF A VEHICLE, THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ALL BRAKING PARTS ARE ORIGINAL BMW PARTS.

NHTSA ID
10822343
Incident
Jan 26, 2016
Brakes
Filed Mar 16, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED WITH EXTREME FORCE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10694591
Incident
Mar 2, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 25, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM). THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 08/14/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO, HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TOT HE DEALER, AFTER HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, HE NOTICED HE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKE A LITTLE HARDER, IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. A LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE BRAKING PROBLEMS. UPDATED 08/16/12

NHTSA ID
10463066
Incident
Oct 25, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 6, 2012

PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILURE. PLASTIC GEAR BRAKES REOCCURRING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10454395
Incident
Feb 28, 2012
Mileage
116,040 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 6, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ON WET ROADS OR IN THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND APPLY THE BRAKES WITH EXTREME PRESSURE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE T O RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID
10450468
Incident
Feb 21, 2012
Mileage
101,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 31, 2012

I TOOK MY CAR FOR THE RECALL FOR THE BRAKES ALL THEY REPLACED WAS THE HOSES SAYING THAT THE VACUUM PUMP WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF MY BRAKES FAILING ISN'T COVERED UNDER RECALL SO MY CAR LEAKS A LOT OF OIL FROM THE PUMP WHICH COULD CAUSE LOST OF BRAKE POWER WHICH HAPPENED PLENTY OF TIMES. *TT

NHTSA ID
10446049
Incident
May 19, 2011
Mileage
80,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 19, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM) MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ID
10420713
Incident
Aug 1, 2011
Mileage
108,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 10, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMX 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING, HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT THEN FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS, PER THE MANUFACTURERS WEBSITE, AND ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE MANUALLY. THE PARKING BRAKE EMITTING A GRINDING NOISE WHILE IT WAS BEING ENGAGED AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 156,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10418403
Incident
Aug 10, 2011
Mileage
156,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 10, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO GET A RESPONSE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM) BUT THE MANUFACTURER MADE THE CONTACT AWARE THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,700.

NHTSA ID
10399911
Incident
May 2, 2011
Mileage
83,700 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 14, 2011

2002 BMW 745I. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM LINE REPAIR. CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIR IN JULY 2010 PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL RECALL. *KB THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA ID
10375891
Incident
Jul 31, 2010
Brakes
Filed Dec 9, 2010

THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF THE 2002 BMW 745I, IS FAULTY. THE GEARS INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND NYLON. WHEN THE NYLON GEAR BREAKS, AND IT WILL, YOU WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO USE YOUR PARKING BRAKE. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO BMW OF HONOLULU TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS ABOUT $1100.00. THE SERVICE ADVISOR EVEN TOLD ME THAT HE HAD SEEN 4 OF THE 7 SERIES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE PAST MONTH. I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH THIS YELLOW PARKING LIGHT ON MY DASH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW SHOULD TAKE OF. THIS COULD EASILY BE REMEDIED BY BMW REPLACING THE NYLON GEAR WITH A MORE DURABLE ONE, BUT THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE THE CONSUMER BUY THE ENTIRE UNIT FOR $1100.00, THEN PAY ANOTHER $200-$300 FOR LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10369833
Incident
Dec 8, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesSteering
Filed Nov 23, 2004

DEFECTIVE BRAKES, TRUCK LID, STEERING AND SUSPENSION. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE TO L WHEN TURNING R AND VICE VERSA. *BF UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM STOP OR SLOW SPEED WHEN STRAIGHTENING THE VEHICLE TO TRACEL IN A STRAIGHT LINE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS CRANKED TO THE LEFT AND OFF CENTER BY 45 DEGREES. THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO RETURN TO A NORMAL POSITION. WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL NOTICEABLY FIGHTS THE DRIVER AND ATTEMPTS TO TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE WAY THE CONSUMER IS TURNING. THE VEHICLE OVER STEERS WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE STEERING OFTEN SPINS IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER WHEN VEHICLE BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED. THE BRAKES GRIND AND SQUEAK. *TC

NHTSA ID
10103329
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Brakes
Filed Jan 2, 2003
Crash reported

BRAKES FAILED FOR 2ND TIME IN 2 WEEKS, RESULTING IN FENDER DAMAGE TO 3 VEHICLES; ACCIDENT OCCURED AT 5 MPH. THE SAME FAILURE HAD OCCURED 2 WEEKS EARLIER (WITHOUT ANY DAMAGES), AND THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP "REPAIRED" THE BRAKE WHEEL SENSORS, STATING THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE THAT COULD BE USED IN SUCH AN EMERGENCY (ONLY A BUTTON ON THE DASH).

NHTSA ID
10000689
Incident
May 31, 2002
Mileage
3,500 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .