Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 50 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 BMW 745LI. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 50 · page 1 of 2
The contact owns a 2003 BMW 745LI. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the brake fluid warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with rotors, brake wear sensors, and brake failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 174,500.
IT SHOWED UP ON MY DASH BOARD AND NOW ITS NOT GOING AWAY
THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND WARNING NEVER CLEARS WHEN DRIVING THE PASSGNERS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON , SAYING BRING TO NEAREST BMW DEALER SHIP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745LI. AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW OF STERLING LOCATED IN STERLING, VIRGINIA AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.
MY CAR IS HAVING SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT WERE RECALLED ON OTHER CARS OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. ALSO THE PARK LIGHTS WON'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME. THE TRACTION CONTROL AS WELL AS THE ANTILOCK BRAKES GO IN AND OUT. THE STABILITY CONTROL ON THE FEONT PASSENGER SIDE GOES OUT. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING.
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND ALMOST REAR ENDED A STOPPED VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WHERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AFTER THAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE I WAS TOLD VACUUM BRAKE PUMP, THE LOCK RING SEAL, AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL BMW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED FOR MY VEHICLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE TO REPAIR.THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745LI. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE TENSION SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,082.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745LI. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LEG, BACK, AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE CRASH SCENE TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
BOUGHT 2003 745LI NEW. MANY PROBLEMS FROM THE START AND OFTEN IN FOR SERVICE. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR QUIT WORKING A YEAR AGO. LEARNED THIS IS COMMON WITH OTHER BLOGS AND BMW OWNERS. CURRENT MILES ARE ONLY 70,000. OVER THE PAST YEAR THE ENGINE HAS RUN EXTREMELY ROUGH EVEN HAVING TO STOP THE CAR BECAUSE OF IT. OCCASIONALLY HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO RESTART. AFTER THREE WEEKS IN THEIR SERVICE CENTER BMW CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE BUT WANT TO DO $4500 OF WORK IN THE ENGINE WHILE TELLING ME THEY CAN'T BE SURE THAT WHAT THEY DO WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM!?
THE CAR IS BUCKING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED LIKE IT IS TRYING TO THROW ME OUT THE WINDOW
I HAVE A SERIOUS OIL LEAK MY, LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING, AIRBAG IN THE SEAT NOT WORKING, BRAKES AND HUD ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CHIME SOUNDED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745L. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG PASSENGER RESTRAINT WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S RESTRAINT MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2006 BMW 745LI MODEL VEHICLE BUT NOT THE 2003 MODEL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:13V564000: AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
IN 2011 ROSEVILLE BMW BEGAN WORK ON A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE (RECALL CAMPAIGN 10V- 446.) THE FIRST STEP OF THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED BUT DUE TO A ?VISUAL INSPECTION? IT WAS DEEMED THAT THE REMAINING STEPS WERE NOT NECESSARY. ACCORDING THE RECALL NOTICES THEY DID NOT PROPERLY PERFORM THE RECALL AND WITHIN 18 MONTHS THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND PUMP BEGAN TO FAIL, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER ASSIST BRAKING TO BE INOPERABLE. AFTER BRINGING IT TO 2 BMW TECHNICIANS AND THE ROSEVILLE BMW DEALERSHIP IT HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY DEEMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE EXACT SAME RESULT OF THE RECALL WITH THE SAME CAUSE. IN FACT, NO ONE HAS DENIED THAT THE PROBLEM I AM NOW EXPERIENCING IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE RECALL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP AND BMW HAVE BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO GET APPROVAL TO FINISH THE RECALL CLAIM SINCE THE WORK WAS ALREADY STARTED. I HAVE NOT BEEN FURNISHED WITH ANY OF THE DETAILS FOR DENIALS AND THUS FAR NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR BMW ARE WILLING TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE DENIAL DETAILS, OR INITIAL RECALL WORK THAT WAS CONDUCTED (I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS WORK AT THE TIME AND THOUGHT THEY JUST REPLACED MY BATTERY, WHICH WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE SERVICE.) IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP? LEGAL ACTION? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 760LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE EMISSION FILTER AND FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELTS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE ALSO COULD NOT BE SHIFTED FROM PARK. THE CONTACT HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE ENGAGED IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
TERRIBLE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR!!!WHILE DRIVING, THIS CAR JUMPS INTO GEAR. FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND WHENEVER I STOP. IT ALSO STARTED LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS CAR, I HAVE FOUND OUT THE 745LI MODELS ARE KNOWN FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS,AND LEAKS. THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON IT,BECAUSE APPARENTLY BMW KNOWS THIS,AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY SHOULD MAKE CONSUMERS AWARE THEY HAVE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS. I WENT TO DROP CAR OFF FOR REPAIR,AND THERE WERE 4 OTHER 745LI'S NEEDING SAME REPAIR. BMW SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THESE CARS,AND PAY TO HAVE THEM REPAIRED,OR REIMBURSE US IF WE ALREADY HAD THIS FIXED. *TR
THE 2003 BMW 745LI HAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.10V-446: BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. TOOK CAR IN TO LOCAL DEALER AND DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM RECALL DUE TO VACUUM PUMP LEAKING OIL, AND MUST BE REPLACED FIRST FULL OF CHARGE AT $1300.00USD. WHEN IN RECALL LETTER IT STATES THE PROBLEM TO BE "SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL COULD LEAK FROM THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP INTO THE VACUUM HOSE, DEALER CLAIMS THERE ARE TO ONLY REPLACE VACUUM LINE HOSE. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PERFORM THE SERVICE AND THE MOMENT SO NOW I MUST DRIVE VEHICLE WITH FAULTY BRAKES! THANKS BMW USA! *TR
BRAKE AND DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.. PARKING BRAKE WITHOUT EMERGENCY BRAKING FUNCTION. AVOID HARD BRAKING. *JS
PARKING BRAKE FAULT LIGHT ON. STATES NO PARKING BRAKE AVAILABLE USING BUTTON WHEN STATIONARY. *JS
MY VEHICLE IS A 2003 BMW 745LI THAT HAS AN DRIVE SYSTEM AND THE LATEST WARNING NOTE CAME UP ON THE IDRIVE SCREEN THAT SAYS, "FAULT IN PASS.-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. FASTEN AND CONTINUE TO WEAR BELTS. PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST BMW CENTER". *TR
I PURCHASED A 2003 745LI NOVEMBER 2007 WHEN COMING TO A STOP THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE WITH HARSH DOWNSHIFT. TOOK CAR DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH CONCERN AND AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE ISSUE WAS FINALLY MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING TRANSMISSION ISSUE. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY FROM TRANSMISSION AND ADVISED ME TO COME BACK FOR REPAIRS. IN NOVEMBER 2008 WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE CLUNKING WITH HARSH DOWNSHIFT. THIS ISSUE RETURNED AND PROGRESSED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME DUE TO SAME ISSUE 08-2009. AFTER SECOND TRANSMISSION INSTALLED ISSUE STILL EXISTED AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A SOFTWARE ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION AND THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY OTHER UPDATES AT THIS TIME AND THE INFORMATION WOULD BE FORWARDED FOR BMW FOR ANALYSIS. THE UNIVERSAL /GUIBO HAS BEEN REPLACED 3-4 TIMES SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR BECAUSE OF CLUNKING NOISE HARSH DOWNSHIFTING. AS TIME WENT ON AROUND MAY 2011 THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE AS I WAS DRIVING, APPROACHING AND COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN, IN ADDITION TO THE HARSH CLUNKING THE CAR JERKED AND ACCELERATED FORWARD ALMOST INTO ONGOING TRAFFIC. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY MENTIONED THE SERVICE BULLETIN AGAIN CONCERNING THE ISSUE STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY FIRST REPLACED THE UNIVERSAL/GUIBO, WHICH I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AND THE ISSUE STILL EXISTS. THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN MAY 2011 HAPPENED AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN NOV. 2011. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SOME MAJOR ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN HAVING, BRAKE/DRIVE MALFUNCTION AMONG OTHER ISSUES. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE SAFETY CONCERN. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED. *TR
11/09 DRIVERSIDE WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACED;CONSTANTLY REPLACING DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL BULB; IN APPROX. MARCH 2010 CAR WOULD RANDOMLY NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO DRIVE CAR WOULD FEEL SLUGGISH OR WHEN COMING TO A STOP FELT AS IF I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND OR CAR WOULD GO INTO FAILSAFE MODE AND I WOULD BE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE, HAD DIAGNOSED BY BMW WAS TOLD 10K+ TO HAVE TRANNY REPLACED ; FOUND A REBUILT TRANNY AND REPLACED IN APPROX. MAY 2010; HERE WE ARE IN AUGUST 2011 AND CAR AGAIN BEGAN TO NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND GIVE A FAILSAFE NOTIFICATION; ATTEMPTED TO START CAR TODAY 8/8 TO TAKE TO SHOP; HOWEVER CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND WHEN IT FINALLY INDICATED IT WAS IN REVERSE; ACTUALLY WENT FORWARD BEGAN TO MAKE A WEIRD GRINDING NOISE SO I TURNED IT OFF AND THERE IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY LEAKING WHAT I PRESUME TO BE TRANSMISSION FLUID UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. CURRENT MILEAGE 133K
03 745LI IN FOR SERVICE REGARDING "SERVICE ENGINE" ; WHEN CAR WAS READY WE PICKED IT UP AND THE PARK BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THEY RESET IT AND I LEFT. 2 HRS LATER LIGHT RETURNED. NOW THEY SAY PARKING BRAKE/ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OVER $1000.00. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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