2.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,756 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #18

May 012018

745

  • miles
I contacted BMW of North America just recently regarding the airbag sensor problem since we keep spending money on this car since the first day we got it nothing but problems. I would like them to purchased this car back from me since all I had is money losses and aggravation with this vehicle.

- Hesperia, CA, USA

problem #17

Mar 062018

745

  • miles
We have being having problems with the safety issues of this car, sometimes the car will be fine and all of the sudden it dies completly leaving you stranded, the car will crank over and wont start. We have taking to the shop and we have emails from BMW of North America addressing this issue and they advice the repair shop to replace battery, fuel pump, and some modulators and the problem still not fix. This car is being a money pit. The car was towed again to the BMW service dealership to get diagnosed again for the same problem. Also in this BMW brake lights come on and there is nothing wrong with the brakes, airbag light will come on as well. I used to own a Mercedes Benz E430 and I never had any problems with it. My husband likes BMW's, but there is nothing but problems one after another very frustrating. Maybe we got a lemon car all alone and we have being paying the price ever since.

- Hesperia, CA, USA

problem #16

Jan 072014

745

  • 90,000 miles
Air bag light on seat driver want adjust proper

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #15

Jul 012016

745

  • miles
The seat belts in the car has not tightening tension. The red lights are on indicating that, fault in pass. - restraint system affecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt-force limiter. Fasten and continue to wear belts.

- Chicagp, IL, USA

problem #14

Jan 152012

745

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 BMW 745I. While driving approximately 55 mph, the air bag light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who checked all connections to the air bags, scanned the computer, and the light dimmed. The failure recurred after two weeks and the light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. A follow-up appointment was scheduled with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Hayward, CA, USA

problem #13

Nov 192015

745

  • 110,105 miles
I have read that there was a safety recall on some model of the BMW. And I would like to know why haven't the NHTSA haven't put out a bulletin on the BMW 745li about the seats blets and the airbags. When there are alot of complaints about this problem. I feel that we are driving a very unsafe car. Now on my vehicle the passenger seat belt will not retrack. And I am un able to carry anyone in the front seat. On the driver side I had that broblem to but the seat belt is able to fasten. This happen when I was driving.

- Capitol Heights, MD, USA

problem #12

Jul 232015

745

  • 101,000 miles
The airbag and seatbelt tensioner was recalled for same manufacturer for cars from 2004 and up. The 2002 and 2003 model had the same issue but was not part of the recall. I was driving on the freeway and the light for the seatbelt tensioner and the passenger airbag came on. This is a serious safety concern since airbags may not deploy and the seat belt may not tighten in an event of an accident.

- San Rafael, CA, USA

problem #11

May 152013

745 8-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
Airbag and seatbelt restraint fault light is on.

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

problem #10

May 262014

745 8-cyl

  • 149,000 miles
Started my 745I up for a quick trip to the store and received a restraint system failure light. After some research it seems that this has been a problem with the 7 series for some time and BMW has even issued a recall with a 10 year restriction. I cannot understand why my 2002 is not covered under this recall since BMW is aware that this has been a problem. Presently my car is unsafe to drive and the cost to repair by dealer is extremely high. BMW needs to own up to all models with this problem since this is a serious safety issue.

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #9

May 212013

745 8-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
Got on freeway drove 10 miles got off freeway. Stopped at lights in normal traffic, going 35mph. Than all of a sudden light and warning comes on saying pass-restraint air bag malfunction. Wont read my seatbelt when I buckle up nor when sitting in passenger is sitting.

- Caldwell, ID, USA

problem #8

Apr 012012

745

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 BMW 745I. The contact stated that the air bag warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the safety information module was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance because the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 85,000.

- Elgin, IL, USA

problem #7

Dec 202011

745

  • 89,000 miles
Fault in passenger restraint system affecting airbag belt tensioner or belt force limiter.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #6

Sep 012011

745 8-cyl

  • 81,000 miles
Passenger safety systems fault / air bag / seat belt tensioner warning light has activated on my car. 2004 onwards models were recalled for this same issue. Can you please advise why all affected cars are not covered as this is clearly a model / year wide safety fault with the sensor mat or belt tensioner systems. BMW are taking no responsibility and put the problem of recalls onto NHTSA. Please help as I do not want to Transport my family in an unsafe vehicle and cannot afford the $1800 repair while certain owners are having this taken care of by BMW under the recall.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #5

Aug 022011

745

  • 81,500 miles
The contact owns a 2002 BMW 745li. The contact stated that the front passenger air bag light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the air bag sensor mat was cracked, which in turn deactivated the air bag and made the light illuminate. The failure and current mileages were 81,500.

- Cranston, RI, USA

problem #4

Apr 162010

745

  • 123,000 miles
2002 BMW 745li. Air bag light on dash board came on, which means something is now wrong with the air bag or the air bag sensors. Because of this issue my air bags will not activate if a crash occurs. This safety issue concerns me and requires immediate attention. Another problem is the oil pressure valve is leaking oil which has caused slippery conditions and unwanted pollutants (dirty motor oil) to seep into the ground because of the continuous leaking.

- Allen Park, MI, USA

problem #3

Jun 042003

745 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,000 miles
The telematics and other electronics systems of the vehicle have failed or reported apparently erroneous information on many occasions. In most cases, these failures occur while the vehicle is in the midst of travel, which thereby causes the driver to become distracted from driving while focusing on the system failure. This poses a potential safety issue as it prevents the driver from devoting the needed attention to operation of the vehicle. Problems include, but are not limited to: Airbag and SRS warning messages; service engine messages indicating potential emissions problems; failure of dynamic drive system; inoperability of tire pressure monitoring; erroneous flat tire messages from tire pressure monitor; gas tank gauge reading empty although fule is in vehicle's tank; telephone system failures; failures and freezes of navigation system; failure of audio system which results in having to hold telephone or view navigation screen as audio commands are muted; inoperative voice commands.

- Oakton, VA, USA

problem #2

Jan 192003

745 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles
I purchase a new 745I and after 10months of constant aggravation and fustration by the numerous failures of this car, I would like for BMW to do something about this. My car constantly keep having engine failure, recently BMW had to replace the cylinder heads (for a new car this is unacceptable). I would to return this car to BMW for a fair exchange.

- South Ozone Park, NY, USA

problem #1

Aug 092002

745

  • miles
On 8/9/02, my car's seat belt and air bag warning light came on. The dealer took the car on 8/12/02, and returned it 8/21/02. Mr. Moody of leith reported that the problem had not been resolved but awaited delivery of revised software in "a couple of weeks". while the warning message was no longer posted (they said they had merely emptied the memory), they could not assure me that the safety mechanisms were operating properly. I had them pick up the car again, and they still could not assure me that the equipment was working properly. I spoke with an field engineer at BMW (dan) who assurred me that the problem (error code 9388) was a false reading and that the safety devices were operating correctly. I asked that this be put in writing, given that I had already rec'd several differing interpretations. I have now requested written asurance 3 times (once in writing) and have not received such confirmation. Hence, I do not know if this safety equipment is operating. The dealer indicated that this problem has occurred in other 2002 7.45I's.

- Pinehurst, NC, USA