2002 BMW 745I Problems and Recalls (54 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2002 BMW 745I is Transmission / driveline (26% of 54 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 54 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 2002 BMW 745I?

14 of 54 filings named Transmission / driveline (26% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Brakes (9 reports).

There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.

What to check before you buy a 2002 BMW 745I

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  4. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 14 complaints · 25.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 3
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 0
  • Deaths 0
All BMW 745I years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 14 of 54 owner complaints (25.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 14 complaints, 25.9% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 crash reports 14 · 25.9% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 9 complaints, 16.7% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 9 · 16.7% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 7 complaints, 13.0% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 7 · 13.0% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 5 complaints, 9.3% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 5 · 9.3% Engine (ENGINE): 5 complaints, 9.3% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 5 · 9.3% Parking brake (PARKING BRAKE): 3 complaints, 5.6% of reports Parking brake (PARKING BRAKE) 1 crash reports 3 · 5.6% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 2 complaints, 3.7% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 · 3.7% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 2 complaints, 3.7% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 2 · 3.7% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 1 complaints, 1.9% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 · 1.9% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 24 complaints, 44.4% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 24 · 44.4% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 14 25.9% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 9 16.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 7 13.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 5 9.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 5 9.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Parking brake (PARKING BRAKE) 3 5.6% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 3.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 2 3.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 1.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 24 44.4% 1 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 2002; the first recall shown was reported in Jun 2002. 2002-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2004-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Apr 2002 Jan 2020 Recall campaign 02V150000 ◆ Recall campaign 02V150000 Recall campaign 03V240000 ◆ Recall campaign 03V240000 Investigation PE11025 ● Investigation PE11025 Investigation EA12002 ● Investigation EA12002
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2002-Q2 Owner reports 1
2002-Q3 Owner reports 1
2003-Q1 Owner reports 2
2003-Q2 Owner reports 2
2003-Q3 Owner reports 4
2004-Q2 Owner reports 1
2004-Q4 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q3 Owner reports 1
2008-Q3 Owner reports 1
2009-Q1 Owner reports 1
2009-Q3 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q4 Owner reports 1
2011-Q1 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 2
2011-Q3 Owner reports 5
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2012-Q1 Owner reports 3
2012-Q2 Owner reports 4
2012-Q3 Owner reports 2
2012-Q4 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q2 Owner reports 2
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q4 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q4 Owner reports 1
2015-Q1 Owner reports 1
2015-Q3 Owner reports 1
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 02V150000
Recall campaign 1 03V240000
Defect investigation 1 PE11025
Defect investigation 1 EA12002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Fuel system.

  1. Recall campaign 02V150000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE COULD STALL AND NOT BE RESTARTED UNTIL MORE FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE FUEL TANK. THIS COULD OCCUR EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT FUEL STILL REMAINED IN THE TANK.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL SYSTEM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-332-4269.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 03V240000

    Safety recall 03V240000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IN THOSE CASES, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF ENGINE ROUGHNESS, OR STALLING, AS WELL AS TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE DRIVER'S REACTIONS, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 9 of 54 complaints · page 1 of 3
2020-02-24Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11311060
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SOMEONE IN CASH. IT HAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPES. WHEN ITS SITTING AND IDLING FOR A WHILE IT SMOKES TERRIBLY.
2017-12-12Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11054084
CrashFireInjuryDeath
AIR BAG LIGHT ON SEAT DRIVER WANT ADJUST PROPER
2016-05-06Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10863653
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO CHECKED ALL CONNECTIONS TO THE AIR BAGS, SCANNED THE COMPUTER, AND THE LIGHT DIMMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER TWO WEEKS AND THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
2016-01-26Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 10822343
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE HAS A RECALL FOR BRAKE VACUUM PUMP 10V-446. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HE DID RESEARCH AND SAID THAT IT WAS A BMW RECALL. FINALLY TOOK VEHICLE INTO BMW (TUCSON) AND THE SAID THEY SAW NO OIL LEAK, THEREFORE MASTER CYLINDER WOULD NOT BE REPLACED. THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1,175 TO FIX IT. THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP AND MASTER CYLINDER WORK TOGETHER. BMW IS NOT FIXING THE REAL PROBLEM, THEY ARE EXPECTING ME TO FIX THE FLAWED BRAKE SYSTEM. THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE CAN BURN OIL OFF, SO JUST BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SEE IT, DOESN'T MEAN IT WASN'T THERE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER DIAPHRAGM. WHEN THE PART CONNECTED THE RECALL AND IS FAULTY, THAT SHOULD BE COVERED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW IS NOT FIXING AND ALLOWING VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH FAULTY BRAKES. THEY DESIGNED THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND BEING SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF A VEHICLE, THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ALL BRAKING PARTS ARE ORIGINAL BMW PARTS.
2015-07-14Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
NHTSA ODI 10733823
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I GOT INTO MY 745I 2002,"FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR SAFETY BELT DESPITE FAULT." THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECTIVE MATERIALS FROM BMW MANUFACTURING PLANT.
2015-03-16Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 10694591
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED WITH EXTREME FORCE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
2014-11-13Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 10654654
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
2014-05-28Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10594469
CrashFireInjuryDeath
STARTED MY 745I UP FOR A QUICK TRIP TO THE STORE AND RECEIVED A RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT. AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE 7 SERIES FOR SOME TIME AND BMW HAS EVEN ISSUED A RECALL WITH A 10 YEAR RESTRICTION. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY 2002 IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL SINCE BMW IS AWARE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. PRESENTLY MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE COST TO REPAIR BY DEALER IS EXTREMELY HIGH. BMW NEEDS TO OWN UP TO ALL MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM SINCE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
2013-11-19Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 10553003
CrashFireInjuryDeath
IN 2009 THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT FROM ANOTHER OWNER. AT THE TIME OF THIS PURCHASE, THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT AS A LEMON LAW BUYBACK BECAUSE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT IS ALWAYS ON. A FEW MONTHS AFTER BUYING THIS CAR, THE CAR STARTED THROWING A BLUE SMOKE OFF HE TAIL PIPE. EVERY TIME I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR A FULL 2 MINUTES AND LET THE CAR IDLE AND THEN WOULD ACCELERATE ON GREEN, THE CAR WOULD THROW BLUE SMOKE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEMS BUT THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE ENGINE AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND WAS CHARGE NEARLY $6000.00 DOLLARS FOR THIS REPAIR. 2) ON 11/09/13, WHILE HAVING REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING, STATING THAT THE OIL PAN AND GASKET WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PRIVATELY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,050 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,347. UPDATED 11/19/13 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2002 BMW 745I?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 14 of 54 reports (26%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2002 BMW 745I?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2002 BMW 745I?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources