2004 BMW 6 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 6 Series years
- Not enough data 4th of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 BMW 6 Series. That ranks 4th out of 8 6 Series model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 33%), typically at around 500 miles. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 3owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 BMW 6 Series problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 33% | 500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 33% | 45,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 BMW 6 Series recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 8 and 12 cylinder engines, the digital engine management control (emc) units were not produced according to specifications.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Bmw 645ci: transmission surges between speeds of 30-40mph while applying constant throttle. *tr
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…
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…
Other BMW 6 Series years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 6 Series | 2 | 1 |
| 2010 6 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 2009 6 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 6 Series | 6 | 2 |
| 2007 6 Series | 2 | 3 |
| 2006 6 Series | 5 | 5 |
| 2005 6 Series | 7 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 | 4 |
See all BMW 6 Series problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW 6 Series?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, power train problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2004 BMW 6 Series?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 BMW 6 Series a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 6 Series model years, the 2004 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.