BMW 745LI Problems by Year
NHTSA has 144 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file for the BMW 745LI, across 7 model years (2002–2008). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (50). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
BMW 745LI years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No 745LI model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 745LI: 50 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2002 745LI: 36 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2004 745LI: 33 complaints, 0 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 745LI problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 35 | 4 | 2 |
| Power Train | 32 | 4 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 22 | 4 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 4 | 3 |
| Engine | 13 | 4 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Equipment | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Steering | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 745LI model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 745LI | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2007 745LI | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2006 745LI | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2005 745LI | 25 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 745LI | 33 | 0 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2003 745LI | 50 | 2 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 745LI | 36 | 2 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 745LI years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2003 (50), 2002 (36), 2004 (33). 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 745LI?
Air Bags, with 35 complaints across 4 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW 745LI have?
6 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.