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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

What owners actually said

44 reports
66,627 miles · Jul 28, 2013
Air Bags

I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE ON 2012, THREE DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE, I COME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE "AIR BAG LIGHT ITS ON", TWO DAYS LATER WHEN I PICK UP MY CAR, AIR BAGS LIGHTS STILL ON, THE MECHANIC SAID ITS A SENSOR. A YEAR LATER BRING THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO SAID ITS "NO AIR BAG CONNECTED" WHICH SCARED ME BECAUSE…

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I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE ON 2012, THREE DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE, I COME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE "AIR BAG LIGHT ITS ON", TWO DAYS LATER WHEN I PICK UP MY CAR, AIR BAGS LIGHTS STILL ON, THE MECHANIC SAID ITS A SENSOR. A YEAR LATER BRING THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO SAID ITS "NO AIR BAG CONNECTED" WHICH SCARED ME BECAUSE ME AND MY ENTIRE FAMILY ARE ON RISK, WHAT HAPPENED IF WE CRASH? WHERE ITS THE AIR BAGS? THEY WAS DEPLOYED BEFORE IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH A PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT DEALERSHIP DON'T TELL ME NOTHING ABOUT THIS, THEY SOLD ME THE CARS SAID "ITS NOT CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVED". NOW I TRY TO THEY TAKE HIS CAR AND PAY ME BACK WHAT I PAY OR JUST GIVE ME ANOTHER CAR, BUT ITS DIFFICULT TO TALK TO THIS PEOPLE. I FEEL AS VICTIM OF "FRAUD" IF I HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS CAR HAD A ACCIDENT BEFORE, I DON'T TAKE THIS VEHICLE. HAVE TO BE A RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS OUTLAW ACTION. THE DEALERSHIP NAME ITS "FLORIDA FINE CARS" LOCATED ON "21151 NW 2ND AVENUE- MIAMI GARDENS, FL 33169." PHONE "(305) 384-6400. I JUST NEED JUSTICE IN THIS CASE PLEASE, HELP ME PLEASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532187

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

90,000 miles · Dec 14, 2012
SeatsFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER ENGAGED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER. SEVERAL MOMENTS LATER, THEY NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE SEAT. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTING THE FAILURE, THE DRIVER DISCOVERED A LARG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER ENGAGED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER. SEVERAL MOMENTS LATER, THEY NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE SEAT. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTING THE FAILURE, THE DRIVER DISCOVERED A LARGE BURN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE DRIVER WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AS WELL, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10488777

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

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering

ON BMW WITH THE N62 4.4L V8 ENGINE THERE'S AN OIL LEAK ON THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET THAT LEAKS FOR A WHILE UNTIL IT IS INSPECTED AND FOUND IT LEAKS OIL ON THE STEERING COMPONENTS I THINK CAUSING THE STEERING COMPONENTS TO DETERIORATE AFTER A WHILE CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE OIL LEAK EVENTUALLY HAPPENS TO ALL N62 4.4L V8 ENGINES. …

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ON BMW WITH THE N62 4.4L V8 ENGINE THERE'S AN OIL LEAK ON THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET THAT LEAKS FOR A WHILE UNTIL IT IS INSPECTED AND FOUND IT LEAKS OIL ON THE STEERING COMPONENTS I THINK CAUSING THE STEERING COMPONENTS TO DETERIORATE AFTER A WHILE CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE OIL LEAK EVENTUALLY HAPPENS TO ALL N62 4.4L V8 ENGINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475298

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

52,890 miles · Jul 5, 2012
Power Train

WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR HAS A VERY BAD JERK LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR IT WANTS TO BE IN. AND SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND WITH HOW HARD OTHER JERKS ARE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464279

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.