Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2004 BMW 7 Series. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗BRAKE VACUUM PUMP
- Summary
- BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
- Consequence
- POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
BMW/SEAT HEATING SYSTEM
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT HEATING SYSTEMS, UPON ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, EXCESSIVE CONTACT WITH THE SIDE BOLSTER THAT IS CONTAINED IN THE SEAT'S BACKREST MAY DAMAGE THE HEATING MAT LOCATED IN THIS AREA. IF SUCH DAMAGE WERE TO OCCUR, WITH THE SYSTEM TURNED ON, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY FEEL EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THIS AREA.
- Consequence
- IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HEATING MAT IN THE BACKREST'S SIDE BOLSTER COULD OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE, OR MELT A SMALL HOLE IN, THIS AREA OF THE SEAT COVER. IF THIS HAPPENED, IT COULD LEAD TO AN OCCUPANT BEING BURNED.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE SEAT HEATING CIRCUIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
BMW/DRIVER'S SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELIABLY DETERMINE IF THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS OCCUPIED.
- Consequence
- IN CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG, HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONER, AND KNEE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SOFTWARE FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 13, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
BMW/ENGINE CONTROL MODULE/ENGINE STALLING
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8 AND 12 CYLINDER ENGINES, THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL (EMC) UNITS WERE NOT PRODUCED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS.
- Consequence
- AS A RESULT, ENGINE STALLING WILL OCCUR AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF OPERATION. THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART. ALSO, A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND, AFTER REPEATED ACTUATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ASSIST WILL OCCUR. THESE CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (28)
28 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 28 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 5 | 17.9% |
| Power train | 4 | 14.3% |
| Air bags | 3 | 10.7% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 10.7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 10.7% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 10.7% |
| Seats | 3 | 10.7% |
| Steering | 3 | 10.7% |
| Visibility | 2 | 7.1% |
| Equipment | 1 | 3.6% |
How 2004 compares with other 7 Series years
Best and worst 7 Series years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | 4 | 1 |
| 2003 | 8 | 2 |
| 2004 | 28 | 4 |
| 2005 | 4 | 1 |
| 2006 | 29 | 2 |
| 2007 | 13 | 1 |
| 2008 | 11 | 1 |
| 2009 | 9 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 16 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $5,150
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 555 g/mi
- EPA class
- Large Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 16 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 L 12-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 / 21 / 16 | $5,150 | 555 |
| 6 L 12-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 / 21 / 16 | $5,150 | 555 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2004 7 Series for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2004 BMW 7 Series FAQ
How many recalls does the 2004 BMW 7 Series have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 10V446000 (brake), 04V575000 (seat), 04V379000 (seat), 04V344000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2004 BMW 7 Series problems?
Owners filed 28 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (5), Power train (4), Air bags (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2004 BMW 7 Series get?
EPA rates the 6 L 12-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 13 city, 21 highway and 16 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2004 7 Series compare with other years?
Among the 2000–2009 BMW 7 Series model years at least five years old, the 2000 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 2006 the most (29). The 2004 drew 28. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.