Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
125–50K
850–75K
675–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
23 reports with mileage · 10 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 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 4 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 reports4 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
33 reports
100,046 miles · Jun 3, 2021
Exterior LightingFire
The contact owns a 2005 BMW 645CI. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the independent mechanic for the front driver’s side bulb replacement, the mechanic informed the contact that the headlight wires were brittle and burnt. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to buy new headlamps. The …
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The contact owns a 2005 BMW 645CI. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the independent mechanic for the front driver’s side bulb replacement, the mechanic informed the contact that the headlight wires were brittle and burnt. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to buy new headlamps. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was 100,046.
NHTSA ODI #11419562
120,000 miles · Feb 11, 2021
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 645CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE VACUUM PUMP TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 645CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE VACUUM PUMP TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #11395819
65,000 miles · Nov 16, 2018
Air BagsSeat Belts
I PLACED AN ITEM IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WITHOUT FASTENING THE SEATBELT AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON... THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY BUT THE ENGIN WAS RUNNING.
NHTSA ODI #11152082
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
"TAKATA RECALL" HEADLIGHT WIRING BURNED
NHTSA ODI #11104868
105,000 miles · Apr 16, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
I OWN A BMW 645CI 2005 CONVERTIBLE I HAVE ISSUES YES ISSSUES WITH THIS VECHILE, FIRST ISSUE IS THE INFAMOUS IDRIVE THAT NEVER REALLY WORKED PROPERLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, IT BLINKS ON AND OFF FOR 30MINS THEN IT WOULD MAGICALLY COME ON UNTIL ONE DAY IT JUST DIDN'T COME BACK ON THIS WAS AFTER A TRIP TO THE DEALER TO GET THE C…
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I OWN A BMW 645CI 2005 CONVERTIBLE I HAVE ISSUES YES ISSSUES WITH THIS VECHILE, FIRST ISSUE IS THE INFAMOUS IDRIVE THAT NEVER REALLY WORKED PROPERLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, IT BLINKS ON AND OFF FOR 30MINS THEN IT WOULD MAGICALLY COME ON UNTIL ONE DAY IT JUST DIDN'T COME BACK ON THIS WAS AFTER A TRIP TO THE DEALER TO GET THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LOCK REPROGRAMMED.. SO THE CAR WAS INCLUDED IN THE LAWSUIT SO I TAKES IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPROGRAMMING AND MY CAR CAME OUT WORST THEN IT WENT IN THE IDRIVE NEVER WORKED TO THIS DAY WHICH IS 04/16/2018, MY TOP ONLY OPENS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SLIGHTLY OPENED YES THE DOOR HAS TO BE OPEN FOR THE TOP TO OPERATE... THIS IS WHAT THE DEALER TOLD ME SO I WAS SO CONFUSED OF WHAT THE REPROGRAMMING WAS FOR ? I NEED ANSWERS AND IT'S NOTHING I DID AS A OWNER I WAS VERY TO THE BOOK WHEN IT CAME TO OPENING MY TOP AND OPERATING THE IDRIVE AND ETC... THE INFAMOUS COOLANT LEAK ALSO COMES FROM A DEFECTIVE BIMMER PIPE THAT WAS INSTALLED BY THE MAKERS OF THE VEHICLE AND WE THE CUSTOMERS HAS TO PAY TO REPAIR THESE ISSUE THAT OCCUR ON 60% IF NOT MORE OF THESE CARS ...
NHTSA ODI #11088512
Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2018
Unknown Or Other
CONVERTIBLE TOP WARNING CAME ON SAYING IT WAS NOT LOCKED, COULD NOT USE THE WINDOWS OR ANYTHING
NHTSA ODI #11074628
111,000 miles · Mar 8, 2017
Air BagsSeat Belts
WHILE DRIVING, A SYMBOL ON THE DASBOARD DISPLAYED THE FOLLOWING ALERT MESSAGE "FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER." THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY DURING THIS OCCURANCE.
NHTSA ODI #10959546
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2016
SteeringSuspensionVehicle Speed Control
SOME DAY WHEN I COME OUT TO MY CAR IT WANT GO IN DRIVE AND DYNAMIC MALFUNCTION & TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION POP UP ON THE SCREEN
NHTSA ODI #10914395
96,500 miles · Jun 13, 2016
Service Brakes
THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP SEALS ARE LEAKING. THIS ULTIMATELY WILL AFFECT THE BRAKE ASSIST AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN FAILURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHIN PRESCRIBED STOPPING DISTANCES CREATING POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH. THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP IN HIGHLANDS RANCH DENVER. OCT 1 2010 BMW RECALLED 198,000 V…
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THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP SEALS ARE LEAKING. THIS ULTIMATELY WILL AFFECT THE BRAKE ASSIST AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN FAILURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHIN PRESCRIBED STOPPING DISTANCES CREATING POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH. THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP IN HIGHLANDS RANCH DENVER. OCT 1 2010 BMW RECALLED 198,000 VEHICLES INCLUDING V8 AND 6 SERIES VEHICLES FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT MY VIN SHOWS NO RECALL NOTICE HOWEVER IT HAS THE EXACT SAME COMPONENT EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AND BMW IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AS FOR THIS VIN THERE ARE NO OUTSTANDING NOTIFICATIONS. I REPEAT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE IS BEING EXPERIENCED ON MY VEHICLE AS WAS THE REASON FOR 198,000 VEHICLES RECALLED FROM THE NOTICE OF OCT 1 2010
NHTSA ODI #10873926
76,000 miles · Mar 10, 2016
SeatsFire
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, WHEN SMOKED FILLED THE CABIN OF THE CAR. SHE PANICKED AND CALLED ME AND I TOLD HER TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND GET OUT. MY SON NOTICED THAT HIS MOTHER WAS SMOLDERING. PLEASE SEE THE PICTURES ATTACHED. I CONTACTED BMW AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. I LOOK ONLINE AND FOUND THE DOCU…
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, WHEN SMOKED FILLED THE CABIN OF THE CAR. SHE PANICKED AND CALLED ME AND I TOLD HER TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND GET OUT. MY SON NOTICED THAT HIS MOTHER WAS SMOLDERING. PLEASE SEE THE PICTURES ATTACHED. I CONTACTED BMW AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. I LOOK ONLINE AND FOUND THE DOCUMENT ATTACHED AND NOTICED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. HOW MANY TIMES DOES THIS NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURTS SERIOUSLY. PLEASE CONSIDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SO THAT THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE WARMERS CAN BE CHECKED OR REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #10845871
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.
2005 BMW 645CI Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year