2003 BMW 745LI Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 745LI years
- More complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW 745LI. That is the most of any 745LI model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is air bags (11 complaints, 22%), typically at around 129,500 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 50owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 BMW 745LI 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 11 | 22% | 129,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 16% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 7 | 14% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 12% | 114,875 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 10% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 10% | 126,303 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 8% | 106,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 8% | 21,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 6% | 143,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 6% | 49,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 6% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 6% | 125,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 6% | 25,625 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 2% | 131,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 2% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 2% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 2% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 BMW 745LI recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: If a large amount of oil loss occurs, engine damage may result. Depending on the extent of the damage, a crash could occur.
Fix: 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.
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the digital engine management control unit. Owner notification began july 8, 2003. 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Vehicle Rollaway (EA12002) — opened Apr 10, 2012, closed Jan 24, 2013, led to recall 12V502000.
- Vehicle Rollaway (PE11025) — opened Aug 5, 2011, closed Apr 23, 2012.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
It showed up on my dash board and now its not going away
The airbag light and warning never clears when driving the passgners airbag warning light is on , saying bring to nearest bmw dealer ship.
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…
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…
Other BMW 745LI years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 745LI | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 745LI | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 745LI | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 745LI | 25 | 3 |
| 2004 745LI | 33 | 0 |
| 2003 | 50 | 2 |
| 2002 745LI | 36 | 2 |
See all BMW 745LI 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 2003 BMW 745LI?
Owners most often report air bags, power train, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 11 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 BMW 745LI?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 BMW 745LI a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 745LI model years, the 2003 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.