BMW 745Li Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank BMW 745Li model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2005 drew the fewest (25) and the 2003 the most (50).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Among the fewest complaints |
25 | 3 | Air bags | — | 19 |
| 2004 Among the fewest complaints |
33 | 0 | Power train | — | 19 |
| 2002 Among the fewest complaints |
36 | 2 | Air bags | — | 19 |
| 2003 Among the most complaints |
50 | 2 | Air bags | — | 19 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the BMW 745Li years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2003 BMW 745Li: 50 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 11 (22%); Service brakes 9 (18%); Power train 8 (16%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 100,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2002 BMW 745Li: 36 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 10 (28%); Electrical system 10 (28%); Power train 8 (22%).
Reports mention 3 crashes. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 98,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2004 BMW 745Li: 33 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 11 (33%); Air bags 9 (27%); Engine 6 (18%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 96,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The BMW 745Li years with the fewest complaints
2005 BMW 745Li: 25 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 5 (20%); Power train 5 (20%); Electronic stability control 4 (16%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 8 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 81,500 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2004 BMW 745Li: 33 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 11 (33%); Air bags 9 (27%); Engine 6 (18%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 96,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2002 BMW 745Li: 36 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 10 (28%); Electrical system 10 (28%); Power train 8 (22%).
Reports mention 3 crashes. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 98,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in BMW 745Li owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 81,500 |
| 2004 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 96,000 |
| 2003 | 50 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100,000 |
| 2002 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest BMW 745Li recalls
- Keyless Ignition System Vehicle Rollaway (2005 model year; 45,500 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2012; 12V502000)
- Doors May Not Fully Latch (2005–2008 model years; 45,484 vehicles across all models; filed May 2017; 17V328000)
- BMW/FUEL PUMP (2002 model year; 8,412 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2002; 02V150000)
- Doors May Not Fully Latch (2005 model year; 7,485 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2012; 12V504000)
- BMW/ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT (2002–2003 model years; 5,470 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2003; 03V240000)
All 6 BMW 745Li recall campaigns · BMW 745Li problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
BMW 745Li years FAQ
Which BMW 745Li year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2005 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (25). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there BMW 745Li years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2003, 2002 and 2004 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the air bags. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common BMW 745Li problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the air bags (35 of 144 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the BMW 745Li have?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns covering the BMW 745Li. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the BMW 745Li recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
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.