NHTSA vehicle safety data
2004 BMW 6 Series Recalls & Complaints
The 2004 BMW 6 Series has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 BMW 6 Series. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2004 BMW 6 Series owner complaints
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 BMW 6 Series, describing incidents dated July 2, 2004 to April 5, 2011.
Most-cited components
- Electrical System 1 complaint
- Engine 1 complaint
- Power Train 1 complaint
Newest complaints
ODI #10397431 · Filed
BMW 645CI: TRANSMISSION SURGES BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 30-40MPH WHILE APPLYING CONSTANT THROTTLE. *TR
ODI #10093654 · Filed
VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES WHILE IDLING OR ON TURNING. VEHICLE RESTARTS AFTER STALL, BUT ALL STEERING IS LOST UNTIL RESTARTED. BMW HAS REPLACED THE MAIN COMPUTER CONTROL BOARD TWICE (DME). STALLING IS STILL EVIDENT. TOTAL NUMBER OF KNOWN STALLS - 4. ALSO, BASED ON POSTINGS ON HTTP://BIMMER…
ODI #10091708 · Filed
2004 BMW 645: WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE STALLING PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION…
Engine Cooling Fan Assemblies/Service Parts
NHTSA #12E029000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Cooling System — Fan · NHTSA notice
Reported August 10, 2012 · Valeo
Potentially affected: 585 vehicles
Repair completion: 33.1% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Owners notified August 22, 2012
Defect description
This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.
Safety consequence
This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.
Manufacturer remedy
Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
BATTERY CABLE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR
NHTSA #12V126000 · Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery — Cables · NHTSA notice
Reported March 26, 2012 · BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Potentially affected: 367,682 vehicles
Owners notified April 30, 2012 · Vehicles built September 1, 2003 – July 31, 2010 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 6-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 M5, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 M6 VEHICLES. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR FOR THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAN LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION. AS IT LOOSENS, AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AT THIS CABLE CONNECTION IS POSSIBLE AND COULD CAUSE THE CABLE CONNECTION TO OVERHEAT.
Safety consequence
OVERHEATING COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN USE. AS A PRECAUTION, OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO PARK OUTSIDE UNTIL THE REMEDY HAS BEEN MADE.
Manufacturer remedy
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND SECURE THE BATTERY BOLT CABLE CONNECTION AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
Notes
CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
BRAKE VACUUM PUMP
NHTSA #10V446000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Power Assist — Vacuum · NHTSA notice
Reported October 1, 2010 · BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Potentially affected: 198,352 vehicles
Owners notified November 24, 2010
Defect description
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Safety consequence
POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
Notes
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .
BMW/ENGINE CONTROL MODULE/ENGINE STALLING
NHTSA #04V344000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Control Module (TCM/PCM/TECM) · NHTSA notice
Reported July 14, 2004 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Potentially affected: 4,102 vehicles
Owners notified July 16, 2004 · Vehicles built May 12, 2004 – July 6, 2004 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8 AND 12 CYLINDER ENGINES, THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL (EMC) UNITS WERE NOT PRODUCED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS.
Safety consequence
AS A RESULT, ENGINE STALLING WILL OCCUR AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF OPERATION. THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART. ALSO, A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND, AFTER REPEATED ACTUATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ASSIST WILL OCCUR. THESE CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Notes
CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
BMW\FUEL SUPPLY LINE CLIP
NHTSA #04V303000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice
Reported June 23, 2004 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Potentially affected: 7,532 vehicles
Owners notified July 5, 2004 · Vehicles built September 4, 2003 – April 28, 2004 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8-CYLINDER ENGINES, A CIRCULAR RETENTION CLIP AT THE QUICK-RELEASE COUPLING ALONG THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE WAS INADVERTENTLY NOT INSTALLED.
Safety consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE FRONTAL CRASH, THE QUICK-RELEASE COUPLING COULD SEPARATE CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CIRCULAR RETENTION CLIP AT THE QUICK-RELEASE COUPLING ALONG THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Notes
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Other BMW 6 Series model years
Check your 2004 BMW 6 Series VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 6 Series at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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