IllustrationTHE '04 BWM 545I HAS BEEN LEAKING MOTOR OIL THROUGHOUT THE MOTOR GASKET AND HOLES. THE POWER STEERING IS LEAKING HOLES CONNECTING TO THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING AND THE RESERVOIR STAYS LOW ON FUILD DUE TO THE ISSUE I HAD TO PARK THE CAR IN GARAGE, IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING USED BECAUSE ALL OF THESE ISSUES NOT DRIVEABLE
2004 BMW 1 Series
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 1 Series years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reportsGAS TANK IS NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY. GAUGE SHOWS NEEDING FUEL BUT GAS COMES OUT WHEN YOU ARE PUMPING SIGNIFYING THAT IT IS FULL. ALSO, PUMP TO WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID IS NOT WORKING. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 5301. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER RESET THE AIR BAG SYSTEM HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 5301. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER RESET THE AIR BAG SYSTEM HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.