2002 BMW 745I Recalls, Complaints & Safety

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.

AIR BAG LIGHT ON SEAT DRIVER WANT ADJUST PROPER

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V240000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

GOT ON FREEWAY DROVE 10 MILES GOT OFF FREEWAY. STOPPED AT LIGHTS IN NORMAL TRAFFIC, GOING 35MPH. THAN ALL OF A SUDDEN LIGHT AND WARNING COMES ON SAYING PASS-RESTRAINT AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. WONT READ MY SEATBELT WHEN I BUCKLE UP NOR WHEN SITTING IN PASSENGER IS SITTING. *TR

MY VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING THIS HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND THREE TIMES TOTAL WHILE IDLE. JUST RECENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE ALSO WOULD NOT START AFTER IT HAD SHUT ITSELF OFF. I TRIED TO START IT BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. THEN A MESSAGE ON THE THE DISPLAY READ "TRANSMISSION DRIVE FAIL SAFE MALFUNCTION ONLY GEARS P,N,R, D3 AND D5 CAN BE ENGAGED WITHOUT PRESSING THE PARKING BRAKE." AND IT ALSO DISPLAYED SOMETHING ABOUT BATTERY DISCHARGED AND WILL BE DISCONNECTED SOON. THEN I WAS PROMPTED TO "RECHARGE BATTERY" AFTER THE MESSAGE. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ALMOST AN HOUR I STARTED IT. THERE WEREN'T ANY MESSAGES IN THE DISPLAY ABOUT MALFUNCTIONS OF ANY KIND EVERYTHING WAS CLEARED. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND TURNED IT OFF AND ON ABOUT FIVE TIMES AND IT STARTED FINE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN I IDLE MY CAR AND I GET OUT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT OR LIFT OUT OF THE SEAT AND SIT BACK DOWN BOTH TIMES I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP BUZZING FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.*TR

Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SKIPPED AND JERKED AND FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

ON MANY OCCASIONS AS I APPROACH A STOP RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR STOP IN TRAFFIC THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AS IF I PUSHED DOWN ON THE GAS EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR COULD ACTUALLY HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IF MY FOOT WERE NOT ON THE BRAKE. ONCE I START MOVING FORWARD AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH THE CAR STARTS TO ALMOST ACT LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO STALL UNTIL I EITHER SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN WHICH IS A CONCERN THAT IT MAY STALL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE DROVE THE CAR AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPEN BUT THEY SAY NO CODES COME UP SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE CONSIDERING THE COST OF THIS CAR AND WHAT THEY CHARGE TO RUN THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS BLUE SMOKE BEING EMITTED FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PCV VALVE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

MY BMW 745I 2002 WITH "DRIVE BY WIRE" SIX GEAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A ROUGH SHIFT, "CLUNK" IN THE LOWER GEAR RANGES. IN THE LOWER GEARS, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES DOWN SHIFTS UNEXPECTEDLY RESULTING IN A SUDDEN DROP IN SPEED. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE WAS FOLLOWING TO CLOSE BEHIND.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM). THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 08/14/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO, HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TOT HE DEALER, AFTER HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, HE NOTICED HE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKE A LITTLE HARDER, IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. A LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE BRAKING PROBLEMS. UPDATED 08/16/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SAFETY INFORMATION MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILURE. PLASTIC GEAR BRAKES REOCCURRING PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ON WET ROADS OR IN THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND APPLY THE BRAKES WITH EXTREME PRESSURE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE T O RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

I TOOK MY CAR FOR THE RECALL FOR THE BRAKES ALL THEY REPLACED WAS THE HOSES SAYING THAT THE VACUUM PUMP WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF MY BRAKES FAILING ISN'T COVERED UNDER RECALL SO MY CAR LEAKS A LOT OF OIL FROM THE PUMP WHICH COULD CAUSE LOST OF BRAKE POWER WHICH HAPPENED PLENTY OF TIMES. *TT

TRANSMISSION GIVES A LOT OF PROBLEMS THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION IS HORRIBLE WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP IT FEELS AS IF YOU HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED WHICH MAKES THE CAR LAUNCH FORWARD WHICH COULD RESULT IN A ACCIDENT IF FOOT IS OFF THE BREAK. *TT

FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. *TR

PASSENGER SAFETY SYSTEMS FAULT / AIR BAG / SEAT BELT TENSIONER WARNING LIGHT HAS ACTIVATED ON MY CAR. 2004 ONWARDS MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE WHY ALL AFFECTED CARS ARE NOT COVERED AS THIS IS CLEARLY A MODEL / YEAR WIDE SAFETY FAULT WITH THE SENSOR MAT OR BELT TENSIONER SYSTEMS. BMW ARE TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY AND PUT THE PROBLEM OF RECALLS ONTO NHTSA. PLEASE HELP AS I DO NOT WANT TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND CANNOT AFFORD THE $1800 REPAIR WHILE CERTAIN OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS TAKEN CARE OF BY BMW UNDER THE RECALL. *KB

AFTER HAVING MY CAR SERVICED APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THEN COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM BEING SERVICED THAT MY CAR WAS IDLING ROUGH, I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO CHANGE TO TEXACO GAS. I WAS GOING ON VACATION TO VIRGINIA AND WAS ON I95 DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN MY CAR STARTED SHUTTING DOWN IN THE FAST LANE AS CARS WERE TRAVELING BEHIND ME AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER MYSELF OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE BELTWAY BEFORE MY CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AND WENT INTO DRIVER FAILSAFE MODE, WHICH I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANT. I WAS LATER TOLD BY A BMW DEALERSHIP THAT THE MECHATRONIC UNIT WENT BAD AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF $9,000 WITH A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION, WHICH I FELT WAS OBSCURED. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND THEY HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THAT YEARS MODEL AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS THAT WERE BUILT BY GM. GM RECALLED OTHER 2002 VEHICLES WITH THOSE TRANSMISSIONS IN THEM, BUT BMW WILL NOT OWN UP TO THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINES TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I FEEL THAT AS A CONSUMER WHO HAS INVESTED A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY FOR THIS LUXURY VEHICLE AND WHO HAS ALSO HAVE MAINTAINED THE SERVICE AND UPKEEP, THAT MY LIFE AND POTENTIALLY THE LIVES OF OTHERS SHOULD NOT BE JEOPARDIZED BY THE ARROGANCE OF A COMPANY TO NOT OWN UP TO THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE ENDED IN TRAGEDY AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO HOLD A COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE FOR POOR QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP. IF YOU LOOK INTO IT, YOU WILL FIND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHANGED IN 2003 DUE TO THE ISSUES THAT FOUND WITH THE 2002 MODEL. I WANT THEM TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR AND OTHERS. SO MY ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE SITS COVERED. I TRIED REACHING OUT TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, BUT TO NO AVAIL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM) MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WILL COME OUT OF P (PARK MODE) AND FALL AWAY UNATTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO PARK AUTOMATICALLY BY PUSHING THE START/STOP BUTTON, AND AFTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS SEEN ROLLING ACROSS THE STREET AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL HITTING THE CURB ACROSS THE STREET. *TR

Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMX 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING, HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT THEN FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS, PER THE MANUFACTURERS WEBSITE, AND ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE MANUALLY. THE PARKING BRAKE EMITTING A GRINDING NOISE WHILE IT WAS BEING ENGAGED AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 156,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. 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 NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,084 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,347. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ UPDATED 07/15/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO GET A RESPONSE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM) BUT THE MANUFACTURER MADE THE CONTACT AWARE THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,700.

2002 BMW 745I. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM LINE REPAIR. CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIR IN JULY 2010 PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL RECALL. *KB THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.

THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF THE 2002 BMW 745I, IS FAULTY. THE GEARS INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND NYLON. WHEN THE NYLON GEAR BREAKS, AND IT WILL, YOU WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO USE YOUR PARKING BRAKE. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO BMW OF HONOLULU TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS ABOUT $1100.00. THE SERVICE ADVISOR EVEN TOLD ME THAT HE HAD SEEN 4 OF THE 7 SERIES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE PAST MONTH. I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH THIS YELLOW PARKING LIGHT ON MY DASH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW SHOULD TAKE OF. THIS COULD EASILY BE REMEDIED BY BMW REPLACING THE NYLON GEAR WITH A MORE DURABLE ONE, BUT THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE THE CONSUMER BUY THE ENTIRE UNIT FOR $1100.00, THEN PAY ANOTHER $200-$300 FOR LABOR. *TR

SUBJECT: TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE ISSUE ON BMW 745 I'VE BEEN HAVING ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE ERRORS ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. BMW OF MANHATTAN COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM TWICE WITHIN A 2 YEAR PERIOD. NO ONE WANTS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT MY VEHICLE STALLS, LOSES GEARS AND DOESN'T START. THESE FAULTS OCCUR EVERY WEEK RIGHT NOW. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE ON THESE CARS AND BMW DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! WHEN I HAD THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AND NOW THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING EITHER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS FOR DRIVING AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BEFORE SOMEONE WILL GET SERIOUSLY HURT. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS IF NEEDED AT [XXX]. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

VEHICLE: 2002 BMW 745I 7 SERIES 2002 BMW 745I WAS THE FIRST RELEASE OF THIS NEW MODEL AND THE MANUFACTURER (BMW) IS AWARE OF THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED AND FIXED THEM IN THE LATER MODELS ON 2/2/10, I TOOK MY CAR IN TO WEATHERFORD BMW FOR SERVICE DUE TO A TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE FAILURE CHECK ENGINE PROBLEM AND INFORMED THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE KNOWN 2002/2003 7 SERIES BMW PROBLEMS. ON 2/4/10, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS FIXED AND TEST DRIVEN. I DROVE THE CAR FOR A TOTAL OF 10-15 MILES WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FAILSAFE FAILURE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RECURRED. I CALLED BMW OF NORTHERN AMERICA AND A REPRESENTATIVE ON 2/9/2010. SHE TOOK MY COMPLAINT AND INFORMED ME THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002 AND 2003 7 SERIES MODEL AND DID EXTEND WARRANTY FOR ALL OWNERS FOR 6 MONTHS TO HELP FIX SUCH PROBLEM. I INFORMED HER THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE KNOWN PROBLEMS AND OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. SHE CHECKED THE CAR HISTORY AND INFORMED ME THAT THE OWNERSHIP RECORD WAS NEVER CHANGED TO MY NAME, AND SHE THEN CHANGED IT. A REPRESENTATIVE FURTHER INFORMED ME THAT A COMMITTEE IS SETUP BY BMW THAT DECIDES WHEN AND WHO TO GRANT A ONETIME ASSISTANCE AT NO COST. SHE THEN ASKED IF I HAVE BENEFITED FROM BMW ASSISTANCE IN THE PAST, TO WHICH I ANSWERED NO. A REPRESENTATIVE THEN SAID IN A CASE SUCH AS MINE, THE DECISION MAKING COMMITTEE CAN ONLY EXTEND THIS OFFER ONCE. I FURTHER THAT BMW WARRANTY PRECLUDES OWNERS OF THE 7 SERIES FROM TAMPERING WITH THE TRANSMISSION AS IT IS SEALED. SINCE BMW WARRANTY COVER UP TO 100,000 MILES AND MY CAR IS ONLY 90,000 MILES. A REPRESENTATIVE CALLED ME ON 2/18/2010 THAT BMW HAS DECLINED ANY ASSISTANCE TO ME WITHOUT REASON. BMW ACKNOWLEDGES KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002 AND 2003 745I MODELS THAT REQUIRED EXTENSION OF WARRANTY TO SOME OWNERS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THE CAR AND NEED ASSISTANCE OR AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY OFFERED TO OTHER OWNERS. *TR

THE VEHICLE JAMS INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. OCCURS JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AFTER HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE'S MECHETRONIC MODULE, TRANSMISSION COMPUTER, WAS REPLACED AT OVER 3,000 DOLLARS. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR TO BMW SERVICE DEPT. IN MARCH AND APRIL TO GET MY CAR SERVICED FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE AND FOR THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT DISPLAYED. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SERVICE I EXPERIENCED MY CAR HESITATING TO START AND ALSO SOUNDED ROUGH AND IDLED. I CALLED THE NEXT MORNING AND SPOKE WITH A SERVICE ADVISOR ABOUT MY CAR AND HE SAID TO BRING IT IN. I STOPPED THERE ON MY WAY TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY STARTED MY CAR AND ASKED ME WHAT TYPE OF GAS I WAS USING AND I SAID EXXON. I WAS TOLD THAT I PROBABLY GOT A HOLD OF SOME BAD GAS AND WHEN I ASKED WHAT SHOULD I DO, I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL ABOUT 7-8 FILL UPS TO ALLOW THE GAS TO BURN OUT AND IF I STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM TO BRING IT BACK. THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT BMW RECOMMENDS USING TEXACO GAS WITH TECHRON. RECENTLY, I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN WITH MY TWO NEPHEWS IN MY CAR IN THE FAST LANE ON ROUTE 95 SOUTH WHEN I HEARD A SOUND THAT RESEMBLED A CAR BACK FIRING AND THEN FELT MY CAR LOSE POWER WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING SITUATIONS THAT I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED. I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE AND NOTICED ON MY DISPLAY MY CAR READ "TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE MODE" AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL RUNNING AND THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED. I HAD MY CAR TOWED HOME BECAUSE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT OPEN. THE FOLLOWING WEEK I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE BMW TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TOLD THEM TO NOTIFY MY HUSBAND OF THE RESULTS. MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE DUE TO A BAD MECHATRONIC UNIT, BUT THERE WERE RECOMMENDING REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF $12,000 (REMANUFACTURED) DUE TO BEING CHANGED IN 2004. I WAS INFURIATED BY THE FACT THAT THE SERVICE MANUAL SAYS THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE SERVICED AT 1000,000 MILES, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION NOR WAS I NOTIFIED BY BMW THAT NEEDED TO TAKE PLACE. TO BE PLACED IN A DANGEROUS AND POTENTIAL FATAL SITUATION AT MY COST IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 BMW 745I THAT HAS AN DRIVE SYSTEM AND THE LATEST WARNING NOTE CAME UP ON THE IDRIVE SCREEN THAT SAYS, "FAULT IN PASS.-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. FASTEN AND CONTINUE TO WEAR BELTS. PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST BMW CENTER". MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT BMW INITIATED THAT COVERS THIS ISSUE FOR A 10 YEAR PERIOD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE FRONTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 69,800. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE AC WAS NOT WORKKING ON HIGH. UPDATED 10/21/08.*JB