There are no safety recalls for the 2004 BMW 545i, but owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA.
2004 BMW 545i problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Air Bags | 19 | |
| Electrical System | 12 | |
| Engine | 10 | |
| Power Train | 8 | |
| Seat Belts | 5 | |
| Steering | 4 | |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 4 | |
| Service Brakes | 3 | |
| Seats | 3 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | |
Most reported parts
- Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 101,565 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2004 BMW 545i complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Air Bags · reported Feb 4, 2020
My car has the passenger restraint system warning everytime I start my car. The air bag recall is by takata is for the 2003 545i model. My car was manufactured in sep of 2003 with those takada airbags.
Electrical System · at 180,000 miles · reported Nov 28, 2019
Electrical wiring in headlights are disintegrating. The shielding is dry rotting and flaking off nearly every wire in both headlights causing them to malfunction during driving. Lights will cut off randomly. I'd imagine the wires are shorting out.
Electrical System · at 119,000 miles · reported Feb 7, 2019
Bare wires inside the headlight housing, these are HID lights made by hella for bmw they are OEM. When contacting bmwna they say that's not how they make there lights and blame heat and the car not being maintained at a bmw dealership, well the rest of the wiring on the car is just fine even the wires that come in contact with a high heat producing engine... It's the same exact issue mercedes benz had on the w202 chassis, wires that would degrade at an extremely fast rate. But for headlights that cost well over $1000 each. But my question is what happens when a family is out at night and there…
Air Bags · reported Jun 7, 2018
In 10/17 I bought the above vehicle from private owner. From the time I started driving it to currently, the control display has been showing a passenger airbag and/orseatbeit warning. The current warning reads: "pass. Restraint system. Fault in passenger-restriant system affecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt force limiter." the display between the speedometer and tachometer shows a red airbag symbol and a red fasten seatbelt symbol, which do not go off with operation of vehicle. These 2004/2005 bmw 545i had a NHTSA safety recall (08v384000) but certain vins, including mine were not…
Air Bags · at 190,000 miles · reported May 19, 2018
Same problem everyone else has with passenger side air bag malfunction. $1500+ repair, but will do it again, as it is faulty parts. Someone sits down in the passenger seat too hard, and it sets off the warning.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2004 BMW 545i have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2004 BMW 545i as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 BMW 545i?
Owners report air bags problems most often (19 reports), followed by electrical system (12). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 101,565 miles.
Are BMW recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized BMW dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.