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2004 BMW 545I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

38 reports with mileage · 6 unknown

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 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine complaints

10 reports
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97,000 miles · Sep 8, 2019
Engine

VALVE COVER GASKET LEAK, TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET LEAK, VALVE STEM LEAK.

NHTSA ODI #11253982

220,000 miles · Aug 11, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

DRIVE MODERATELY KEEPS POPPING UP AN SERVICE ENGINE AFTER GETTING BMW TO CHECK IT AN FIX IT ALSO IT WON'T CRANK SOMETIMES BUT THE BATTERY AN ALTERNATOR IS BRAND NEW BUT AFTER IT SIT FOR HOURS IT FINALLY CRANK UP, MAYBE IT'S AN SECURITY ISSUE BUT IT'S UNNECESSARY

NHTSA ODI #10895079

140,000 miles · May 16, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT STATED STATED THAT THE PUMP COOL PIPE WAS MAKING THE VEHICLE OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10865210

71,487 miles · Sep 9, 2013
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

CUSTOM ORDERED 545I IN 2004 AS STILL ORIGINAL/EXISTING OWNER. HAVE HAD REPEATED ELECTRICAL ERRORS ON I DRIVE "DYNAMIC DRIVE FAILURE PROCEED WITH CAUTION AS THE STEERING HAS BEEN EFFECTED AND SEE YOUR BMW AUTHORIZED REP," "ELECTRICAL FAILURE SEE YOUR BMW AUTHORIZED REP. IMMEDIATELY PROCEED WITH CAUTION, "PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAU…

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CUSTOM ORDERED 545I IN 2004 AS STILL ORIGINAL/EXISTING OWNER. HAVE HAD REPEATED ELECTRICAL ERRORS ON I DRIVE "DYNAMIC DRIVE FAILURE PROCEED WITH CAUTION AS THE STEERING HAS BEEN EFFECTED AND SEE YOUR BMW AUTHORIZED REP," "ELECTRICAL FAILURE SEE YOUR BMW AUTHORIZED REP. IMMEDIATELY PROCEED WITH CAUTION, "PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAULT PROCEED WITH CAUTION EFFECTING BELT AND BELT FORCE LIMITER, STALLING AT VERY LOW AND AS HIGH RATES OF SPEED AS HIGH AS 70 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING." SOMETIMES THE CAR LOGS THE ERRORS AND MANY TIMES IT DOESN'T FULLY THAT IT TAKES BMW NA'S COMPUTER TO ACCESS THE EXTENDED RAM IN THE CAR TO RETRIEVE PER BMW NA THAT THE DEALERSHIPS CAN'T. I EVEN HAVE PICTURES OF THE ERRORS THE CAR DOESN'T LOG SO THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. BMW ENGINEERS IN GERMANY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AS THE CAR REFUSED TO REPROGRAM TWICE FOR THE DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR IS COMPLIANT W/ALL RECALLS PER THE DEALER AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 16 TIMES W/ONLY 70K MILES. THE DEALER AND BMW NA CAN'T DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS EXCEPT TO SAY THEY THINK THEY'RE BEING TRIGGERED BY LOW VOLTAGE AND ITS HAD 3 BATTERIES AT LESS THAN 70K MILES, ISN'T DRIVEN MUCH, AND BMW NA NOR THE DEALERSHIP CAN PERMANENTLY RESOLVE THE ERRORS AND STALLING AND/OR STOP THEM. BMW NA AND THE DEALERSHIP HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS AT 13K MILES, HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AFTER QUALIFYING AS A LEMON UNDER THE LEMON LAW SINCE BEFORE 10K MILES AND BEEN GIVEN MULTIPLE EXCUSES FOR ALL OF THE ERRORS THEY CAN'T RESOLVE. THEY KEEP TELLING US TO BRING IT BACK EVERY TIME, BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT $6K TO CONTINUALLY SERVICE ELECTRICAL AND STALLING/RUNNING ROUGH ISSUES THEY CAN'T FIX UNDER ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY. THEY'RE NOT REPORTING SERVICE TRIPS TO CARFAX AND REFUSE TO RELEASE DOCUMENTATION ON THE CAR REGARDING THE PROBLEMS TO US OR OUR ATTORNEYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10542730

94,000 miles · Jun 19, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE VALVE STEM SEALS HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE VALVE STEM SEALS HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ODI #10520647

104,000 miles · May 16, 2013
Air BagsEngine

WHEN I GOT UP OUT THE SEAT THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT INDICATOR CAME ON AND IS STILL ON. IT SAYS PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. AND IT WILL NOT DEPLOY AIRBAGS. ALSO THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW OIL LEAKS IN THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512462

87,000 miles · May 13, 2013
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

VEHICLE SLIPS IN AN OUT OF 5TH AND 6TH GEAR WHEN TRAVELING AT CONSTANT 35 TO 40 MPH IN AUTO MODE AND AROUND 60 MPH IN DS MODE. NOTICEABLE OIL LEAKS AS WELL AS OCCASIONAL SMOKE FROM TAILPIPE AND VEHICLE BANGS INTO GEAR ( WHILE DOWNSHIFTING ON OCCASION) ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO CUT OUT FOR A SPLIT SECOND W…

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VEHICLE SLIPS IN AN OUT OF 5TH AND 6TH GEAR WHEN TRAVELING AT CONSTANT 35 TO 40 MPH IN AUTO MODE AND AROUND 60 MPH IN DS MODE. NOTICEABLE OIL LEAKS AS WELL AS OCCASIONAL SMOKE FROM TAILPIPE AND VEHICLE BANGS INTO GEAR ( WHILE DOWNSHIFTING ON OCCASION) ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO CUT OUT FOR A SPLIT SECOND WHILE DRIVING. HEADS UP DISPLAY AND RADIO ILLUSTRATES THIS FINDING AS THEY SHUT OFF FOR A SECOND. THE CLOCK IS ALSO BEHIND A FEW MINUTES / WEEK BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511606

156,215 miles · Nov 26, 2012
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SLIPS. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR. THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THIS OCCURRED DURING WET OR ICY ROAD CONDITIONS DUE TO BREAKING TRACTION FROM WHEELS AND ROAD SURFACE. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THOUSANDS OF 5 SERIES BMW'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE RE…

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TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SLIPS. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR. THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THIS OCCURRED DURING WET OR ICY ROAD CONDITIONS DUE TO BREAKING TRACTION FROM WHEELS AND ROAD SURFACE. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THOUSANDS OF 5 SERIES BMW'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE RESULT IS A DEFECTIVE MECHATRONICS WHICH COSTS BETWEEN $5000-$8000 TO FIX AND NOT COVERED BY BMW OR UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486122

65,000 miles · Nov 26, 2012
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

WHEN BEGINNING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLAM TO THE POINT WHERE I THOUGHT I WAS REAR ENDED. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THE FIX WAS COSTLY. CONTINUES TO DO THIS AT TIMES AND WILL ALSO DO A SMALLER SCALE SLAM WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486032

75,000 miles · Jul 16, 2012
EnginePower Train

INTERMITTENT HARSH 2-1 DOWNSHIFT (JOLT) WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATION. JOLTS AND/OR JERKS FELT WHEN REACCELERATING AFTER COASTING. JUDDER WHEN GENTLY ACCELERATING (MOST NOTICEABLE AT AN ENGINE SPEED BELOW 2,000 RPM). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465857

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.