2004 BMW 7 Series
Only 28 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 28 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
- Complaints
- 28
- Recalls
- 4
- Investigations
- 3
- Top problem
- —
Too few to rank
Campaigns on file for 2004
Opened by NHTSA
Not enough data
Complaints per year
2004: 28 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 28 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 29 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 11 |
Known problem areas
Only 28 complaints on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
Service brakes
6 of 28 total reports mention: service brakes, most commonly citing hydraulic.
Show complaint excerpts
I applied the brakes and they got hard and went to the floor. Brakes would be soft initially and as pressure was continued would get hard and required sustained intense effort to stop the vehicle.
NHTSA ODI report, 2013-05-15
Vehicle is leaking oil into the brake booster and I have to add more pressure to the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. Vehicle had a recall campaign November 2010 No. 10V-446: brake vacuum pump.
NHTSA ODI report, 2013-04-22
Power train
4 of 28 total reports mention: power train, most commonly citing automatic transmission and transfer case (4-wheel drive).
Seats
3 of 28 total reports mention: seats.
Show complaint excerpts
I started my BMW 745I to warm it up along with the heated seats. Came out of my house three minutes later to leave and smelled something burning on the inside of the car. I looked around but didn't see anything outright obvious.
NHTSA ODI report, 2010-12-07
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 BMW 745LI. The contact received a warning from the computer to engage his seat belt. The seat belts were already engaged, however, he continued to receive the message.
NHTSA ODI report, 2007-07-26
Engine and engine cooling
3 of 28 total reports mention: engine and engine cooling.
Steering
3 of 28 total reports mention: steering, most commonly citing hydraulic power assist system.
Safety timeline
4 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
-
R
2004-07-16Power train04V344000 On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 8 and 12 cylinder engines, the digital engine management control (Emc) units were not produced according to specifications.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new digital engine management control unit. The recall began on July 16, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
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R
2004-10-13Seats04V379000 On certain passenger vehicles, the software programming of the driver's seat occupant detection system (Ods) may not be able to reliably determine if the driver's seat is occupied.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the software for the driver's seat occupant detection system. The recall began October 13, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
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R
2004-12-14Seats04V575000 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…
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.
-
I
2008-01-04Engineering analysisClosed 2008-12-31 BMW airbag light illumination
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R
2010-11-24Service brakes, hydraulic10V446000 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.…
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.
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I
2011-08-05Preliminary evaluationClosed 2012-04-23 Vehicle Rollaway
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I
2012-04-10Engineering analysisClosed 2013-01-24 Vehicle Rollaway
Buy-smart checklist
2004 BMW 7 Series — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Service brakes: 6 reports on file for this year.
- Power train: 4 reports on file for this year.
- Seats: 3 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 04V344000 · Power train
- Recall 04V379000 · Seats
- Recall 04V575000 · Seats
- Recall 10V446000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
FAQ
- Is the 2004 BMW 7 Series reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW 7 Series?
- The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 21% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2004 BMW 7 Series have?
- 4 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.