BMW 745I Problems by Year
BMW 745I years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 745I year: 2002, 2003. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2002 745I: 54 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2003 745I: 32 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2004 745I: 24 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2001 745I: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2007 745I: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2005 745I: 16 complaints, 3 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW 745I problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 38 | 4 | 10 |
| Electrical System | 27 | 6 | 4 |
| Air Bags | 20 | 4 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 | 4 | 4 |
| Engine | 15 | 5 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Steering | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Wheels | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 745I model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 745I | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2007 745I | 1 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2006 745I | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2005 745I | 16 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 745I | 24 | 0 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 745I | 32 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 745I | 54 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 745I | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 745I years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2002 (54), 2003 (32) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 745I year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW 745I?
Power Train, with 38 complaints across 4 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW 745I have?
6 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.