2005 BMW 745I Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 BMW 745I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical420.0%
- Interior & seats420.0%
- Airbags315.0%
- Engine210.0%
- Brakes210.0%
- Other / unspecified210.0%
- Suspension15.0%
- Powertrain (other)15.0%
- Body & structure15.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING FROM WORK AN MY CAR JUST STARTED LOSING POWER I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AN BATTERY AN THE CAR DID THE SAME THING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V504000 (LATCHES, LOCKS AND LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 7/10/15*CN UPDATED 10/11/2017*CN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V328000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR SUDDENLY UNLOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCK THE DOOR A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW OF MOUNTAIN VIEW (150 E EL CAMINO REAL, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94040; 650-200-0149). THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MATTER HAD NOT BEEN SETTLED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED IN THE REAR DOORS WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS IN THE REAR SEAT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V328000(LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE STERLING BMW DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 172,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY CAR WAS DUE FOR STATE INSPECTION AND I TOOK IT INTO RICHMOND BMW IN MIDLOTHIAN VA. THE TECHNICIAN CALLED AND SAID THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE SENSOR IS BAD. THERE IS AN AIRBAG RECALL FOR THE OTHER BMW SERIES BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE SEVEN SERIES. THERE ARE OTHER 7 SERIES OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. I READ THIS ON THE BMW FORUMS AND IT IS A LOT OF BMW OWNERS SPENDING MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL. CAN YOU PLEASE CONSIDER OUR CARS AS WELL. *TR
CAR IS A 2005 BMW 745I. DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT SENSOR (IN SEAT) HAS CRACKED AND IS CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND AS I UNDERSTAND IS DISABLING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THE CAR FOR THE PASSENGER-SIDE SENSOR CRACKING, WHICH IS A VERY SIMILAR PART. DEALERSHIP AND BMW USA IS REFUSING TO ASSIST ME, I BELIEVE THAT DUE TO THE SIMILARITIES IN NATURE TO THE PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT SENSOR RECALL, THE DRIVERS-SIDE SEAT SENSOR NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE COOLANT SYSTEMS FAILED .AND WITH RESEARCH I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER A STEADY PROBLEM FOR THESE MODELS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND WHILE IN PARK, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS WITH A ROUGH IDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION COIL, AIR PUMP, ENGINE SUPPLY PIE AND ENGINE VALVES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V240000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE BEEN HAVING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES ON MY 2005 745I THE ISSUES I AM HAVING ARE ALL ELECTRICAL AND BRAKES, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW NOT INITIATED, LICENSE PLATE LAMP NOT INITIATED, TRUNK BUTTON NOT WORKING ON DASH PANEL OR KEY FOB OR BUTTON ON TRUNK LID, PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TO WARP WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE COME ON SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS MOVING FROM A SPOT I WAS PARKED AT, *TR
POWER BRAKE FAILURE. WE NEVER RECEIVED OCTOBER 2010 RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW USA. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED LEAKING VACUUM PUMP BUT NEVER ADVISED OWNER TO REPLACE/REPAIR; DEALERSHIP HAD TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO CORRECT, BUT DIDN'T.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE DRIVER DOOR EJECTED OPEN CAUSING ME TO STOP INSTANTLY TO WHERE THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE HELD IN ORDER FOR ME TO MAKE IT TO A SAFE DESTINATION SO UNREAL I WAS SCARED TO DEATH IT DOESNT CLOSE AT ALL IN ORDER TO DRIVE NOW. *TR
TRANSMISSION SKIPPED, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP...IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND "REPAIRED" BY REPLACING THE "MECHATRONICS" IN THE VEHICLE. NOW, IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN, AND THEY CLAIM NOW THAT IT IS THE FAILURE OF THE DOOR OPENING SYSTEM, INSTALLED BY BMW, THAT'S CAUSING THE BATTERY TO "LEAK", THEREFORE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION..I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO ITEMS, AND IF SO THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND FAMILY. THE CAR COULD COME TO A SUDDEN STOP AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE US TO GO FORWARD, AND POSSIBLE TO DO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, OR THE BATTERY COULD EXPLODE AGAIN CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE RECORDS THEY PROVIDED TO ME, AND BE ASSURED THAT THIS PROBLEM ISN'T ONE THROUGHOUT THEIR VEHICLES, LIKE A BOMB READY TO GO OFF AT ANY TIME. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS A RECALL ON THE REAR SUSPENSION CAUSING THE BUSHINGS TO GO OUT. MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CARE IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU CAN EMAIL ME A LETTER INCLUDING MY VIN NUMBER. I THINK IT SHOULD BE ALL OF THEM. IT IS CAMPAIGN NUMBER 06V27000. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION SKIPPED, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP...IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND "REPAIRED" BY REPLACING THE "MECHATRONICS" IN THE VEHICLE. NOW, IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN, AND THEY CLAIM NOW THAT IT IS THE FAILURE OF THE DOOR OPENING SYSTEM, INSTALLED BY BMW, THAT'S CAUSING THE BATTERY TO "LEAK", THEREFORE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION..I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO ITEMS, AND IF SO THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND FAMILY. THE CAR COULD COME TO A SUDDEN STOP AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE US TO GO FORWARD, AND POSSIBLE TO DO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, OR THE BATTERY COULD EXPLODE AGAIN CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE RECORDS THEY PROVIDED TO ME, AND BE ASSURED THAT THIS PROBLEM ISN'T ONE THROUGHOUT THEIR VEHICLES, LIKE A BOMB READY TO GO OFF AT ANY TIME. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE DRIVER DOOR EJECTED OPEN CAUSING ME TO STOP INSTANTLY TO WHERE THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE HELD IN ORDER FOR ME TO MAKE IT TO A SAFE DESTINATION SO UNREAL I WAS SCARED TO DEATH IT DOESNT CLOSE AT ALL IN ORDER TO DRIVE NOW. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .