2005 BMW 745LI problems & reliability
25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 BMW 745LI, alongside 3 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
6 complaints report injuries (8 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2005 BMW 745LI vehicles were involved in 2 fatal crashes with 3 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 | 20% |
| Power Train | 5 | 20% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 16% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 16% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 16% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 16% |
| Electrical System | 3 | 12% |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 12% |
| Structure | 3 | 12% |
| Engine | 2 | 8% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 14 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 22 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 79,750 miles (middle 50% between 58,457 and 116,515 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 745li. The contact took the vehicle to bmw of riverside (3060 adams st, riverside, ca 92504, 1 (951) 373-5000) to be repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 17v328000 (latches/locks/linkages). Shortly after the recall repair, the contact noticed that the rear driver and passenger side door…”
Latches/locks/linkages · filed Sep 13, 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 745li. Upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained lit while driving. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing and repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not mention any recalls…”
Air Bags · filed Sep 12, 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 745li. After inserting the key into the ignition switch, the transmission would immediately switch to the park or neutral position. As a result, the engine would not start. The dealer diagnosed that the cas module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of…”
Electrical System · filed Apr 7, 2017
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Vehicle Rollaway
Engineering Analysis EA12002 · opened Apr 10, 2012 · closed Jan 24, 2013 · led to recall 12V502000
- Vehicle Rollaway
Preliminary Evaluation PE11025 · opened Aug 5, 2011 · closed Apr 23, 2012
- BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION
Engineering Analysis EA08001 · opened Jan 4, 2008 · closed Dec 31, 2008 · led to recall 08V384000
- BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION
Preliminary Evaluation PE07045 · opened Sep 4, 2007 · closed Jan 4, 2008
Technical service bulletins
27 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2005 BMW 745LI. The 10 most recent:
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
B510819 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 16, 2024
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information…
B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 11, 2024
Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system…
B160623 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 20, 2023
Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicleâ  s equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the…
B653423 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 22, 2023
Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.
B662419 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 1, 2022
Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on…
B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 1, 2020
NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:
B650709 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 1, 2018
NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:
B650709 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2018
Diagnosing Stored Fault Codes to Help Avoid Repeat Repair Visits This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B07 03 14 dated October 2015.. Fault codes stored in vehicles being serviced are not being diagnosed…
B070314 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 1, 2016
This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B07 03 14 dated October 2015. Diagnosing Stored Fault Codes to Help Avoid Repeat Repair Visits. Fault codes stored in vehicles being serviced are not being diagnosed…
B070314 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 1, 2016
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2005 BMW 745LI has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2005 BMW 745LI?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 79,750 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.