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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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How this year compares

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

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Service Brakes complaints

3 reports
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113,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER THAT HAD BEEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ODI #10604260

121,000 miles · May 7, 2014
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN BRAKING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN BRAKING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PUMP, BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP SEAL, AND THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10587017

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

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.