2003 BMW 745I Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2003 BMW 745I, and owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2003 BMW 745I
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Engine and engine cooling
On certain passenger vehicles, the engine oil filter drain plug may be insufficiently tightened. This could lead to loosening of the plug causing an initial oil spray and a subsequent oil leak.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the torque of the oil filter drain plug and, if necessary, retighten the drain plug with the correctly specified torque. Owner notification began on september 12, 2003. Owners should contact BMW at…
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Engine and engine cooling
On certain passenger vehicles, due to a software error, a desynchronization of the valvetronic motors for engine banks i and ii may occur. If this occurs, the engine could stall.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the digital engine management control unit. Owner notification began july 8, 2003. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 BMW 745I have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA; 8 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 69,792 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2003 BMW 745i. The contact stated while pulling into the garage and depressing the brake pedal, the engine revved up loudly. The contact stated that upon releasing the brake pedal,”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 14, 2023 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“The car smokes from exhaust system when you pull off from red light, driveways, or whenever you excel in the car. I was told its a engine valve problem that BMW is aware of in the 7 series. This car c”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 3, 2018 · Engine
Compare BMW 745I model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 745I model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 BMW 745I | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 BMW 745I | 2 | 54 |
| 2003 BMW 745I | 2 | 32 |
| 2004 BMW 745I | 0 | 24 |
| 2005 BMW 745I | 3 | 16 |
| 2006 BMW 745I | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 BMW 745I | 1 | 1 |
| 2008 BMW 745I | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2003 BMW 745I
How do I know if my 2003 BMW 745I has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2003 BMW 745I; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V240000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.