Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–78 of 78

2005 BMW 545i complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2005 record →

Seat Belts
Filed Jan 23, 201265,350 milesTX

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A WEEK FROM THE DATE THAT I LAST DRIVEN IT AND TO THE TIME I WENT AND START UP THE CAR. AFTER A WEEK OF NO USAGE AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT RESTRAINT AND AIRBAG LIGHT SHOWED UP AS A MALFUNCTION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I NOTICE THAT BMW HAD A RECALL ON A SEAT MAT SENSOR ON 200,000 5 SERIES BUT AFTER TALKING TO BMW MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH AND NOTICE THAT THERE IS A GREAT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN BECAUSE THE SEAT MAT SENSOR IS BAD THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

Seats
Filed Jan 6, 2012NY

A PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAS CAME ON MY 2005 545 BMW. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON ON BMWS AND I FEEL AS ITS AN ISSUE WITH THE PRODUCTION OF THE CAR AND SHOULD NOT BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR A FAULTY PRODUCTION. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS REPAIR AND I'VE CONTACTED THE BMWNA AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT NOT ON MY CAR. THE COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $2000 AND I FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSORS. *TR

Power TrainCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 22, 2011112,200 milesID

MY BMW 545I 2005 HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH MECHATRONICS FOR SOME TIME. ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY CAR HAS DOWN SHIFTED FROM HIGH 4TH GEAR TO 2ND AND CAUSED ME TO DRIVE INTO A DITCH. LUCKILY I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT BUT STILL EXPERIENCED NECK INJURIES FROM HITTING THE DITCH. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS A RECALL BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED. BMW CAN NO LONGER COVER THIS UP AND THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. MANY FORMS ON THE INTERNET HAVE ADDRESSED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NO LONGER A ISSUE, ITS A LIFE SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Dec 16, 201140,656 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,656 UPDATED 03/16/12 *BF

Power Train
Filed Dec 1, 2011TX

2005 BMW 545I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL ISSUES WITH VEHICLE TO INCLUDE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND LEAKS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS RECALLED. EVEN THOUGH THE PART WAS REPLACED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY AND EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS STATED IN THE RECALL, THE CONSUMER'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A JOLT/DELAY WHEN PULLING AWAY. WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT BETWEEN 30-40 MPH AS IF IT WERE NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. THERE WAS ALSO A COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM THE VALLEY PAN, A HOSE AND THE COOLANT TANK WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN 2008, AND SINCE THEN, THE VEHICLE USED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF COOLANT. *JB

Power Train
Filed Nov 23, 2011104,000 milesCT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG AND POWER TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE ALSO OCCASIONALLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V504000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) RECALL, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Nov 17, 201170,000 milesMD

OCCURRENCE IS VERY SIMILAR TO OID 10399328, 10328989 AND 10407868. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AT SLOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE SLOWED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED NORMALLY BUT DID NOT COME TO A FULL STOP. HAD TO STOMP ON THE BRAKES WILL EXTREME FORCE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE CAR IN FRONT. PROBLEM RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY 3 TIME BEFORE REPAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, FREQUENTLY WHEN FOOT WAS ON BRAKE WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF THE PEDAL WOULD FORCEFULLY PUSH BACK AGAINST FOOT. SERVICE ON RECALL FOR HYDRAULIC POWER VACUUM PUMP ON THE BOOSTER WAS PERFORMED IN JANUARY. DEALER SAID THE CURRENT PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AS IT IS A COMPLETE BOOSTER FAILURE NOT THE VACUUM PUMP. MY PERCEPTION IS THAT THE FIRST RECALL WAS NOT COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS A LARGER GENERAL PROBLEM VEHICLE'S BOOSTER BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 4, 201164,000 milesMD

THE COOLANT TRANSFER PIPE WHICH RUNS THROUGH THE ENGINE LEAKED ALL OF THE COOLANT AND REQUIRED AN IMMEDIATE SHUT DOWN. IT REQUIRED A REPAIR COSTING APPROXIMATELY $6,700 WHICH INCLUDED 38 HOURS OF LABOR. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. IT IS WIDELY CITED ON THE INTERNET. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jun 21, 201187,500 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,500.

Wheels
Filed Jun 16, 201183,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL DEFLATED WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE WHEEL WAS FRACTURED IN HALF. THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED AND BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jun 14, 201183,000 milesCA

COMING TO A STOP SIGN, HAD TO EXERT AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP. GOING TO THE DEALER TO HAVE MY BRAKES CHECKED UNDER THE BMW BRAKE RECALL, I WAS TOLD I HAD NO OIL IN MY BRAKE LINE, BUT THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A VACUUM PUMP OIL LEAK. REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE PUMP AND CLEAN, FOR $1300. IF YOU LOOK ON THE BMW E60 FORUM, AND OTHERS, THERE ARE NUMEROUS IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 9, 201167,500 milesTX

I HAVE BEEN REVIEWING BLOGS ON THE 2005 BMW 545I SERIES. ABOUT A MONTH AGO I STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY CAR. THE CAR IS ACCELERATING AT TIMES ON ITS OWN AS I SWITCH THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE AND I LET GO OF THE BRAKE. IT GIVES A BOOST OF ACCELERATION WHERE I ALMOST HIT MY GARAGE DOOR. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN I ROLL FROM A STOP SIGN THE CAR EXPERIENCES A BIG JOLT AS IF I JUST GOT REAR ENDED. IT IS SO HARD THAT MY 4 YEAR OLD GOT FLUSTERED AND STARTED TO CRY. AT 30-40 MILES THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AS WELL. I TOOK IT INTO BMW BUT SINCE THE SENSOR DOES NOT PICK UP THE PROBLEM THEY WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ACCORDING TO THEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT IS HARD TO TELL WHAT IS WRONG IT COULD BE TRANSMISSION, SENSOR, BRAKES, ENGINE, ETC...I FEEL THEY KNOW BUT DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE EXTEND OF THE PROBLEM IS. THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEY NEED TO ADMIT IT AND IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRONIC ISSUE WITH THE GEAR BOX FUNCTIONALITY. IT SEEMS THEY NEED SOME PRESSURE BEFORE IT CAUSES A FATALITY. THE ACCELERATION AND JOLT ARE A BIG PROBLEM. PLEASE ADDRESS AND LET'S NOT ADD TO YOUR NUMBER OF DEATHS COLUMN BEFORE YOU REACT.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum
Filed May 6, 201194,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACTS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM). RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THE RECENT REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 5, 201170 milesIL

2005 BMW 545I. IF THE CAR DOES NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND I ACCELERATE WHILE IN A SLOW ROLL, THERE IS AN EXTREMELY HARD SLAM FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THROUGHOUT BMW OWNER OF THE 545I SERIES. BMW HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THE FAULT IN EITHER THERE PROGRAMMING OR THERE TRANSMISSION AND SHOULD RECALL AND FIX PROPERLY. ANYONE CAN GO TO THE NUMEROUS BMW FORUMS THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET AND FIND THE MANY THREADS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 13, 201172,000 milesNY

I OWN A 2005 545I. I WAS PULLING INTO THE GAS STATION TO REFUEL. I BEGAN TO HIT THE BRAKE THE CAR STARTED TO JERK BACK AND FORTH AND THEN IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I BEGAN TO PUMP THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STOP SHORT OF THE MINI MART THANK GOD! AFTERWARDS A GEAR INDICATOR APPEARED AND THE CAR WENT INTO SAFE MODE AND SHUT OFF. I COULDN'T START THE CAR AND I TRIED FOR THIRTY MINUTES AND ONLY THE GEAR INDICATOR WOULD COME ON. I THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK COMPANY AFTER THIRTY MINUTES, RIGHT BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED THE CAR STARTED. I TOOK THE CAR TO BMW OF ROXBURY AND I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MY DSC LIGHT WAS ON THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIR TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER CHALLENGING THEM, HOW CAN A ADD ON FEATURE (TO INCREASE STABILIZATION AND TRACTION) THAT I NEVER USED WHEN IT WAS WORKING CAUSE THE CAR TO DRIVE BY ITSELF. THEY DROPPED THE ISSUES CALLED ME BACK AFTER A HOUR AND SAID THEY DROVE THE CAR AROUND FOR 25 MIN AND NOTHING IS WRONG. ALSO THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE GEAR INDICATOR COMING ON EVEN THOUGH IT CAME ON TWENTY OR SO TIMES WHEN I WAS TRYING TO START THE CAR. SO I GUESS I WILL GET MY CAR BACK AND PAY THEM A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR NOTHING. IS FINE AND THERE IS NO RECORD THE GEAR LIGHT EVER CAME ON. SO. *TR

Steering
Filed Dec 12, 201058,990 milesVA

I HAVE 2005 545I BMW, LAST WEEK I RECEIVED RECALL ON BRAKING SYSTEM ASKED TO TAKE MY CAR TO DEALER AND GET IT FIX. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE DEFECTED PART. THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING AND MENTION EVERYTHING IS FINE. TODAY AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 PM I HAVE RECEIVED ACTIVE STEERING MALFUNCTION MESSAGE . I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND WHILE DRIVING MESSAGE POPPED UP. FLUID LEVEL LOOKS FINE BUT DID NOT GET IT CHECKED BY ANYONE YET. BMW NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR CARS AS THEY SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES. I ALSO RECENTLY REPLACED THE SMG PUMP AS WELL AS ENGINE MODULE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 24, 201098,625 milesVA

I HAVE A 2005 BMW 545I. WHEN I AM DECELERATING AND ROLLING TOWARDS A STOP AND THEN ACCELERATE BEFORE A FULL STOP I WILL GET A LARGE JERKING TRANSMISSION BANG COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. IN ADDITION WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AROUND 35-40 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT AND BACK CAUSING THE CAR TO SURGE AND JERK SLIGHTLY. *TR

Wheels
Filed Sep 2, 201058,474 milesCA

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2005 BMW 545I. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JAN 2009 FROM BMW OF PLEASANT GROVE IN SALT LAKE CITY UTAH WITH APPROX. 35,000 MILES. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP IT HAD DUNLOP RUN-FLAT TIRES ON IT. BY AUGUST 31ST 2010 THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 58,000 MILES ON IT AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT TIRES. I TOOK IT TO DISCOUNT TIRE IN SAN DIEGO(PACIFIC BEACH LOCATION) AND HAD (4) NEW MICHELIN TIRES INSTALLED. I DROVE HOME AND THE NEXT DAY ON SEPTEMBER 1ST 2010 WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ONE OF THE TIRES WENT FLAT. I RETURNED TO DISCOUNT TIRE THAT EVENING AND THEY RE-INFLATED THE TIRE AND PLACED IT INTO A WATER TANK TO CHECK FOR LEAKS. THAT IS WHEN THE EMPLOYEE TOLD ME THAT I HAD A CRACKED RIM. I CONTACTED THE BMW OF SAN DIEGO DEALERSHIP REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND AFTER INSPECTING THE RIM THEY STATED THE RIM CRACKED AND "FAILED DUE TO IMPACT" AND CLAIMED THAT I HAD MOST LIKELY HIT A CURB OR A LARGE POT HOLE WHICH CAUSED THE RIM TO CRACK. I WAS FORCED TO BUY A NEW RIM FOR $363 DOLLARS. I AM NOT THE ONLY BMW OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS AT DISCOUNT TIRE ON SEPTEMBER 1ST 2010 A GENTLEMEN DRIVING A 2005 645I CAME IN AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM- CRACKED REAR RIM. THE MANAGER AT DISCOUNT TIRE STATED HE SEES 4-5 BMW'S PER WEEK THAT COME IN WITH CRACKED RIMS. BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE RIMS ON THEIR VEHICLES ARE NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED, ENGINEERED, OR MANUFACTURED TO WITHSTAND NORMAL DAILY DRIVING CONDITIONS. I HAVE OWNED

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 20, 201069,000 milesGA

I PURCHASED MY USED 2005 BMW 545I WITH ONLY 55K MILES ON IT IN MAY 2009. ON OR ABOUT MARCH 2010, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING DURING ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES A HARD "JOLT" AS IF YOU HIT A LARGE OBJECT IN THE ROAD OR HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. ON ACCELERATION, THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES REV WAY UP, WITHOUT ENGAGING THE TRANSMISSION, AND THEN SLAM INTO ACTION SO FAST THAT IT FEELS LIKE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. IT IS LIFE-THREATENINGLY DANGEROUS, BECAUSE WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT IS SUCH A SHOCK YOU ARE DISTRACTED FROM DRIVING. IT NORMALLY HAPPENS FROM A FULL STOP, BUT HAS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY NUMEROUS TIMES AS I WAS TRYING TO MOVE FROM A SLOW LANE TO A FASTER LANE. WHEN IT SLAMS, THE NATURAL TENDENCY IS TO LET OFF THE GAS, HOWEVER, THERE WAS FASTER TRAFFIC APPROACHING FROM THE REAR, AND I ALMOST GOT HIT. AFTER CHECKING POPULAR BMW OWNER WEBSITES SUCH AS BIMMERFEST, I NOTICED THERE WERE COUNTLESS OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MODEL YEARS (2004-2005 545I) WHICH HAS THE V-8 ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN. BMW HAS NOT RECALLED THIS DEFECT AS OF THIS DATE AND WILL NOT UNLESS SOMEONE GETS KILLED, SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR RECEIVE MAJOR PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT LIKE TOYOTA'S ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE (FIX) AVAILABLE FROM BMW THAT WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY PREFER CUSTOMERS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET (OUT OF WARRANTY CUSTOMERS) OPPOSED TO VOLUNTARY RECALLS FORCED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR BAD PR FROM THE MEDIA PRESS. THE BMW SERVICE INFORMATION BUL

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 24, 201048,705 milesIN

MY 2005 BMW 545I HAS A HESITATION, AND STRONG HARD DOWNSHIFT PRESENT, UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS, AND NOW OUTSIDE OF FACTORY WARRANTY I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES, AND NO ONE IS WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AT MY DEALER BASNEY IMPORTS. WHEN CALLING BMWNA THEY ARE UNWILLING TO HELP UNTIL A "HARD CODE" IS PRESENT, EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE ADVISOR, AND TECHNICIANS HAVE ROAD AROUND WITH ME IN THE CAR, AND FELT THE SITUATION. *TR

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Jun 16, 201035,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING MILDEW SMELL COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS DRAINED OF EXCESS WATER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed May 14, 201051,050 milesIL

ON MAY 12TH, I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 545I BMW AT 8PM WITH MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DISPLAY INDICATED A WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTION (WOULD NOT TURN OFF OR CONTROL SPEED OF WIPERS). AFTER A FEW MORE MILES, I NOTICED THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION TO ANY OF THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS, NOR DID THE TURN SIGNALS WORK (WOULD NOT STAY ON UNLESS HELD DOWN). ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME ON, SEAT BELT TENSIONERS MAY NOT FUNCTION, AND THE ACTIVE STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME ON, INDICATING THAT THE CAR'S STEERING WHEEL MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ALIGNED WITH THE WHEELS. THE CAR BECAME MORE DIFFICULT (MORE EFFORT) TO STEER, WITH LOSS OF SOME POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR BACK DOWN TO 20 MPH. AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR ENTERED TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE PROGRAM, LIMITING THE CAR TO GEARS R, N, 1, 2, 3 FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP HOME. THE NEXT MORNING, THE HIGH BATTERY DRAIN INDICATOR CAME ON ALSO. POWER WINDOWS AND REMOTE KEY FUNCTIONS CEASED TO WORK, ALTHOUGH I COULD STILL CONTROL THE SUNROOF. I PROMPTLY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING ON MAY 13TH. THE BMW DEALERSHIP RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND STATES THE SZL MODULE IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS AT 51050 MILES, AND BEYOND WARRANTY COVERAGE AT 5 YEARS OLD. BMW NA WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS OF REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B340506) ISSUED FOR 2006

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum
Filed May 5, 201060,000 milesVA

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FULLY ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED BUT WOULD NOT STOP. SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM HAD FAILED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS YET MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 19, 201043,000 milesVA

1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE - BRAKE LOSS 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES: THIS STARTED ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS AGO. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25-30MPH AND HAD TO STOP BECAUSE THE LIGHT TURNED RED. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES BUT MY CAR DID NOT STOPPED. IT FELT LIKE I WAS STEPPING ON A BRICK BUT THERE WAS NO BRAKE PRESSURE. I PULLED THE E-BRAKE, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN AND IT WAS OK AFTER THAT. I IGNORED THAT ISSUE THINKING IT WAS JUST A PHANTOM ISSUE - JUST LIKE MOST ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH BMW'S. I DON'T DRIVE MY CAR EVERYDAY - MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK AT THE MOST. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, I HAD THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN, IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. SAME SCENARIO - DRIVING ABOUT 30-35MPH. IT IS NOT SPONGY (I KNOW FOR SURE IF IT WAS CAUSED BY AIR ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM) - IT DEFINITELY FELT LIKE STEPPING ON A BRICK, AS IN LITERAL BRICK. I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAVE TO CHANGE THE BRAKE FLUID SINCE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE FLUID EVERY 2 YEARS. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, I WAS DRIVING AT THE INTERSTATE DRIVING ABOUT 70MPH, I HAD TO PRESS MY BRAKE BECAUSE A LOW MOVING VEHICLE MOVED IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE THEN HAD THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. I HAVE TO DRIVE ON THE LEFT PAVED SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE VAN IN FRONT OF ME. YESTERDAY, I CHANGED MY BRAKE FLUID. WENT TO THE GROCERIES TO TEST DRIVE IT. DRIVING ABOUT 15-25MPH ON TRAFFIC - HAD THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. NO BRAKES, NO PRESSURE, FELT LIKE STEPPING ON A BRICK. TURNED OF

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 4, 201042,000 milesTX

BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

Wheels
Filed Jan 4, 201040,000 milesTX

THE WHEELS ON MY 2005 BMW 545 HAVE ALL CRACKED. THE WHEELS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Sep 6, 2006CA

2005 BMW 545I STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED, STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DIDN'T WORK WHEN IT RAINED, HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AT NIGHT TIME, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *KB THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WENT BLANK, THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. THE STEERING COLUMN MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE WATER WAS FOUND IN THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT WHICH HAD DAMAGED THE WIRES.*JB

Tires
Filed Feb 6, 20051,000 milesTX

THE TIRES WORE OUT IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON A NEW CAR. THE COMPANY (BMW) WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT DELIVERED THE CAR WITH THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. *JB

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2005 BMW 545i → · Every 545i year → · How the figures are calculated →