NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 BMW 745LI Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 BMW 745LI has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 50 owner complaints on file as of October 21, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 BMW 745LI. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2003 BMW 745LI owner complaints

Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW 745LI, describing incidents dated April 15, 2003 to July 1, 2022.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 11 complaints
Power Train 8 complaints
Electrical System 7 complaints
Service Brakes 6 complaints
Engine and Engine Cooling 5 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 5 complaints

Of the 50 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 50 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11474996 · Filed July 20, 2022
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…
ODI #11366227 · Filed October 24, 2020
IT SHOWED UP ON MY DASH BOARD AND NOW ITS NOT GOING AWAY
ODI #11234197 · Filed July 23, 2019
THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND WARNING NEVER CLEARS WHEN DRIVING THE PASSGNERS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON , SAYING BRING TO NEAREST BMW DEALER SHIP.

Read all 50 complaints

BMW/ENGINE OIL FILTER DRAIN PLUG

NHTSA #03V324000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported August 26, 2003 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 2,400 vehicles

Owners notified September 12, 2003 · Vehicles built May 20, 2003 – July 18, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE OIL FILTER DRAIN PLUG MAY BE INSUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED. THIS COULD LEAD TO LOOSENING OF THE PLUG CAUSING AN INITIAL OIL SPRAY AND A SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.

Safety consequence

IF A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL LOSS OCCURS, ENGINE DAMAGE MAY RESULT. DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF THE OIL FILTER DRAIN PLUG AND, IF NECESSARY, RETIGHTEN THE DRAIN PLUG WITH THE CORRECTLY SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

BMW/ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT

NHTSA #03V240000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported July 1, 2003 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 5,470 vehicles

Owners notified July 8, 2003 · Vehicles built October 24, 2001 – April 9, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR, A DESYNCHRONIZATION OF THE VALVETRONIC MOTORS FOR ENGINE BANKS I AND II MAY OCCUR. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE COULD STALL.

Safety consequence

IN THOSE CASES, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF ENGINE ROUGHNESS, OR STALLING, AS WELL AS TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE DRIVER'S REACTIONS, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 BMW 745LI. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

50 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 BMW 745LI.

Service Brakes

ODI #11474996

Incident: July 1, 2022 · Filed: July 20, 2022

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.

Air Bags

ODI #11366227

Incident: May 6, 2020 · Filed: October 24, 2020

IT SHOWED UP ON MY DASH BOARD AND NOW ITS NOT GOING AWAY

Air Bags

ODI #11234197

Incident: April 9, 2012 · Filed: July 23, 2019

THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND WARNING NEVER CLEARS WHEN DRIVING THE PASSGNERS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON , SAYING BRING TO NEAREST BMW DEALER SHIP.

Power Train; Air Bags

ODI #11031541

Incident: October 1, 2016 · Filed: October 3, 2017

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.

Steering; Suspension; Power Train

ODI #10966711

Incident: March 11, 2014 · Filed: March 18, 2017

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.

Service Brakes

ODI #10935554

Incident: December 13, 2016 · Filed: December 15, 2016

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

Air Bags

ODI #10925064

Incident: August 1, 2016 · Filed: November 8, 2016

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.

Air Bags

ODI #10884208

Incident: April 14, 2016 · Filed: July 12, 2016

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.

Air Bags; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10838894

Crash 1 injury

Incident: January 19, 2016 · Filed: February 29, 2016

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.

Electrical System; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10809379

Incident: December 9, 2015 · Filed: December 10, 2015

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!?

Other BMW 745LI model years

Check your 2003 BMW 745LI VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 745LI at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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