RecallRepo

2003 BMW 7 Series Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2003 BMW 7 Series has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 216,257 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 10V446000 2010-10-01 198,352 affected
Defect

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

Consequence

POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

SEATS 04V575000 2004-12-06 17,905 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT HEATING SYSTEMS, UPON ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, EXCESSIVE CONTACT WITH THE SIDE BOLSTER THAT IS CONTAINED IN THE SEAT'S BACKREST MAY DAMAGE THE HEATING MAT LOCATED IN THIS AREA. IF SUCH DAMAGE WERE TO OCCUR, WITH THE SYSTEM TURNED ON, THE VEHICLE…

Consequence

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HEATING MAT IN THE BACKREST'S SIDE BOLSTER COULD OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE, OR MELT A SMALL HOLE IN, THIS AREA OF THE SEAT COVER. IF THIS HAPPENED, IT COULD LEAD TO AN OCCUPANT BEING BURNED.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE SEAT HEATING CIRCUIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS
1
ENGINE
1
EQUIPMENT
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
SEAT BELTS
1
SEATS
1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
1
TIRES
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
Total complaints11

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Without warning, the hood latch unlocked and caused the hood to open while driving , happened on several occasions since 2017/1/23. Dealership has to see it happen in order to fix. Mileage 100858 at time I first notice it.”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2017-01-23

“The contact owns a 2003 bmw 745li. After the vehicle was serviced, the air bag warning light illuminated continuously. In addition, the tension seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2016-09-13

“Seat belt restraint tensioner faulty”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2015-02-10

“Car does not start correctly and stalls while sitting at lights. It also cuts off while driving. *tr”

ENGINE · reported 2013-08-14

“Car does not start correctly and stalls while sitting at lights. It also cuts off while driving. *tr”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2013-08-14

“Tires uneven wear. *tt”

TIRES · reported 2011-07-17

“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw 7 series. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign id number: 10v446000 (component: service brakes, hydraulic: power assists: vacuum). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vacuum pump was leaking but would not be…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · reported 2010-11-24

“Driving on interstate 295s in washington dc around 11:30pm on dec 28th 2008. All of a sudden I hear a loud bang and immediately loss control of vehicle. I swerved to the right shoulder of the interstate and stopped the vehicle. Upon inspecting vehicle I noticed my drivers side front and rear tire…”

WHEELS · reported 2008-12-28

Defect investigations

Investigation EA12002 Opened 2012-04-10 · closed 2013-01-24

Vehicle Rollaway

In a letter dated October 16, 2012, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), NHTSA Recall No. 12V-502 to NHTSA identifying a safety defect involving the possibility of unattended vehicle rollaway in MY 2005 through 2008 BMW 7-Series (approximately 45,000) vehicles equipped with the…

Investigation EA12002 Opened 2012-04-10 · closed 2013-01-24

Vehicle Rollaway

In a letter dated October 16, 2012, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), NHTSA Recall No. 12V-502 to NHTSA identifying a safety defect involving the possibility of unattended vehicle rollaway in MY 2005 through 2008 BMW 7-Series (approximately 45,000) vehicles equipped with the…

Investigation EA12002 Opened 2012-04-10 · closed 2013-01-24

Vehicle Rollaway

In a letter dated October 16, 2012, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), NHTSA Recall No. 12V-502 to NHTSA identifying a safety defect involving the possibility of unattended vehicle rollaway in MY 2005 through 2008 BMW 7-Series (approximately 45,000) vehicles equipped with the…

Investigation EA12002 Opened 2012-04-10 · closed 2013-01-24

Vehicle Rollaway

In a letter dated October 16, 2012, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), NHTSA Recall No. 12V-502 to NHTSA identifying a safety defect involving the possibility of unattended vehicle rollaway in MY 2005 through 2008 BMW 7-Series (approximately 45,000) vehicles equipped with the…

Investigation PE11025 Opened 2011-08-05 · closed 2012-04-23

Vehicle Rollaway

In response to the Office of Defects Investigation's (ODI) Information Request (IR) for PE11-025, BMW provided ODI with 1 complaint and 46 field reports relating to either incidents of unattended vehicle rollaway or vehicle movement after the driver expected the vehicle gearshift to automatically shift to park. ODI's…

Investigation PE11025 Opened 2011-08-05 · closed 2012-04-23

Vehicle Rollaway

In response to the Office of Defects Investigation's (ODI) Information Request (IR) for PE11-025, BMW provided ODI with 1 complaint and 46 field reports relating to either incidents of unattended vehicle rollaway or vehicle movement after the driver expected the vehicle gearshift to automatically shift to park. ODI's…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 BMW 7 Series as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.