RecallRepo

2005 BMW 745li Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2005 BMW 745li has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 98,469 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 17V328000 2017-05-18 45,484 affected
Defect

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2005-2008 745i, 745Li, 750i, 750Li, 760i, 760Li, and B7 Alpina vehicles equipped with both the Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options. In these vehicles, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently open.

Consequence

The door may unexpectedly open due to road or driving conditions or occupant contact with the door. The sudden opening may result in occupant ejection or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the door latch system, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12V502000 2012-10-17 45,500 affected
Defect

BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 7-Series vehicles, equipped with the Comfort Access option, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through July 24, 2008. The affected vehicles have an electronic key and an electronic connection between the gear shifter and the transmission (shift-by-wire) that automatically…

Consequence

If the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may rollaway. Unattended rollaway incidents often result in a crash or cause injury to pedestrians attempting to stop or enter the vehicle or to other bystanders in the path of the vehicle.

Remedy

BMW will notify owners beginning in November 2012. The remedy became available in March 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 12V504000 2012-10-17 7,485 affected
Defect

BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 7-Series vehicles, equipped with both Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through September 3, 2007. Due to a software problem, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently open.

Consequence

The door may unexpectedly open due to road or driving conditions or occupant contact with the door. The sudden opening may result in occupant ejection or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy

BMW will notify owners and dealers will update software. The recall began on December 12, 2012. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS
5
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
4
3crashes5injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
2crashes4injuries
SEAT BELTS
3
ENGINE
2
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2
2crashes4injuries
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2
1injuries
POWER TRAIN
2
Total complaints41

What owners report

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

“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 745li. The contact took the vehicle to bmw of riverside (3060 adams st, riverside, ca 92504, [REDACTED]) to be repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 17v328000 (latches/locks/linkages). Shortly after the recall repair, the contact noticed that the rear driver and…”

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · reported 2018-04-10

“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…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2017-08-16

“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…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE · reported 2017-03-24

“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 745li. The contact stated that the front driver and passenger side doors opened independently. The door ajar warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it diagnosed that the lock motion kit and lock safety kit needed to be replaced. The…”

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR · reported 2015-09-30

“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 745li. The contact stated that the front driver and passenger side doors opened independently. The door ajar warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it diagnosed that the lock motion kit and lock safety kit needed to be replaced. The…”

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES · reported 2015-09-30

“Tl*the contact owns a 2005 bmw 745li. The contact stated when attempting to place the vehicle in park, the transmission shift back to neutral without warning. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician was unable to diagnose the…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2015-01-16

“Tl* the contact owned a 2005 bmw 745li. While driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and the check engine failsafe mode warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator housing failed. The vehicle was repaired. On another…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR · reported 2015-01-02

“Tl* the contact owned a 2005 bmw 745li. While driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and the check engine failsafe mode warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator housing failed. The vehicle was repaired. On another…”

ENGINE · reported 2015-01-02

Defect investigations

Investigation EA08001 Opened 2008-01-04 · closed 2008-12-31

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND…

Investigation EA08001 Opened 2008-01-04 · closed 2008-12-31

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND…

Investigation EA08001 Opened 2008-01-04 · closed 2008-12-31

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND…

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 PE07045 Opened 2007-09-04 · closed 2008-01-04

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE…

Investigation PE07045 Opened 2007-09-04 · closed 2008-01-04

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE…

Investigation PE07045 Opened 2007-09-04 · closed 2008-01-04

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND 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 2005 BMW 745li as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.