2005 BMW 645Ci

Routine

Owners filed 33 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags10
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
000
Seats3
010
Service Brakes2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling2
010
Engine2
000
Electrical System2
000
Wheels1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Unknown or Other1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior LightingFire
Filed Jun 3, 2021100,046 milesLA

The contact owns a 2005 BMW 645CI. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the independent mechanic for the front driver’s side bulb replacement, the mechanic informed the contact that the headlight wires were brittle and burnt. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to buy new headlamps. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was 100,046.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 11, 2021120,000 milesNV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 645CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE VACUUM PUMP TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 16, 201865,000 milesVA

I PLACED AN ITEM IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WITHOUT FASTENING THE SEATBELT AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON... THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY BUT THE ENGIN WAS RUNNING.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 30, 2018FL

"TAKATA RECALL" HEADLIGHT WIRING BURNED

Electrical System
Filed Apr 16, 2018105,000 milesNC

I OWN A BMW 645CI 2005 CONVERTIBLE I HAVE ISSUES YES ISSSUES WITH THIS VECHILE, FIRST ISSUE IS THE INFAMOUS IDRIVE THAT NEVER REALLY WORKED PROPERLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, IT BLINKS ON AND OFF FOR 30MINS THEN IT WOULD MAGICALLY COME ON UNTIL ONE DAY IT JUST DIDN'T COME BACK ON THIS WAS AFTER A TRIP TO THE DEALER TO GET THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LOCK REPROGRAMMED.. SO THE CAR WAS INCLUDED IN THE LAWSUIT SO I TAKES IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPROGRAMMING AND MY CAR CAME OUT WORST THEN IT WENT IN THE IDRIVE NEVER WORKED TO THIS DAY WHICH IS 04/16/2018, MY TOP ONLY OPENS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SLIGHTLY OPENED YES THE DOOR HAS TO BE OPEN FOR THE TOP TO OPERATE... THIS IS WHAT THE DEALER TOLD ME SO I WAS SO CONFUSED OF WHAT THE REPROGRAMMING WAS FOR ? I NEED ANSWERS AND IT'S NOTHING I DID AS A OWNER I WAS VERY TO THE BOOK WHEN IT CAME TO OPENING MY TOP AND OPERATING THE IDRIVE AND ETC... THE INFAMOUS COOLANT LEAK ALSO COMES FROM A DEFECTIVE BIMMER PIPE THAT WAS INSTALLED BY THE MAKERS OF THE VEHICLE AND WE THE CUSTOMERS HAS TO PAY TO REPAIR THESE ISSUE THAT OCCUR ON 60% IF NOT MORE OF THESE CARS ...

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 24, 2018MD

CONVERTIBLE TOP WARNING CAME ON SAYING IT WAS NOT LOCKED, COULD NOT USE THE WINDOWS OR ANYTHING

Air Bags
Filed Mar 8, 2017111,000 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING, A SYMBOL ON THE DASBOARD DISPLAYED THE FOLLOWING ALERT MESSAGE "FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER." THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY DURING THIS OCCURANCE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 7, 2016IL

SOME DAY WHEN I COME OUT TO MY CAR IT WANT GO IN DRIVE AND DYNAMIC MALFUNCTION & TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION POP UP ON THE SCREEN

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 13, 201696,500 milesCO

THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP SEALS ARE LEAKING. THIS ULTIMATELY WILL AFFECT THE BRAKE ASSIST AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN FAILURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHIN PRESCRIBED STOPPING DISTANCES CREATING POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH. THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP IN HIGHLANDS RANCH DENVER. OCT 1 2010 BMW RECALLED 198,000 VEHICLES INCLUDING V8 AND 6 SERIES VEHICLES FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT MY VIN SHOWS NO RECALL NOTICE HOWEVER IT HAS THE EXACT SAME COMPONENT EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AND BMW IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AS FOR THIS VIN THERE ARE NO OUTSTANDING NOTIFICATIONS. I REPEAT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE IS BEING EXPERIENCED ON MY VEHICLE AS WAS THE REASON FOR 198,000 VEHICLES RECALLED FROM THE NOTICE OF OCT 1 2010

SeatsFire
Filed Mar 10, 201676,000 milesSC

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, WHEN SMOKED FILLED THE CABIN OF THE CAR. SHE PANICKED AND CALLED ME AND I TOLD HER TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND GET OUT. MY SON NOTICED THAT HIS MOTHER WAS SMOLDERING. PLEASE SEE THE PICTURES ATTACHED. I CONTACTED BMW AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. I LOOK ONLINE AND FOUND THE DOCUMENT ATTACHED AND NOTICED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. HOW MANY TIMES DOES THIS NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURTS SERIOUSLY. PLEASE CONSIDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SO THAT THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE WARMERS CAN BE CHECKED OR REPLACED.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 7, 2015102,000 milesAE

I WAS DRIVING ON THE AUTOBAHN AND MY BMW 645 AND ALL FAULT MESSAGE WERE DISPLAYED. AFTER THAT, THE CAR SPEED ABRUPTLY,THEN JUST CUT OFF!I IT RESTARTED WITH CODES AND ALL THEN SHUT OFF AGAIN. THIS CONTINUED FIVE TIMES UNTIL I REACHED MY DESTINATION. I RESTART THE CAR,AND IT STARTED, BUT THE RADIO AND DOOR SIREN WAS NOT WORKING WITH NO FAULT MESSAGES;NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT; AND DROVE FINE FOR A FEW MIN. AND THEN DID THE SAME THING AGAIN!! I TOOK THE CAR TO A BMW REPAIR SHOPPED TO HAVE THE FAULT CODES READ, WHICH END UP BEING A LONG LIST OF CODES.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 1, 201479,321 milesVA

WHILE DRIVING, A SYMBOL ON THE DASBOARD DISPLAYED THE FOLLOWING ALERT MESSAGE "FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER." *JS

Air Bags
Filed Sep 30, 2014MD

THIS VEHICLE WAS ONLY 31,000 MILES ON IT. HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE BRINGING HOME 9 YEARS AGO. I WAS JUST INFORMED TODAY THAT THE ENTIRE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS ALL AIR BAGS IS DEFECTIVE. THIS CAR HARDLY GETS DRIVEN.. HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT.. NEVER DRIVEN IN SNOW.. ONLY A HANDFUL OF RAIN STORMS AND THAT WAS BECAUSE I GOT CAUGHT IN ONE. IT IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION!! I JUST CALLED AN INDEPENDENT BMW SUPPLIER WHO HAS HEARD OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS SUPPLIED MANY REPAIR FACILITIES WITH THIS COMPONENT. THE COST OF THE COMPUTER IS $1,200.00. *TR

Engine
Filed Jul 7, 201498,345 milesMD

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY BMW 645 FAULT MESSAGE DISPLAYED (TRANSMISSION RELATED MALFUNCTION,DRIVE MODERATELY). AFTER THAT,THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON,ALONG WITH A NEW FAULT MESSAGE THAT DISPLAYED (INCREASED EMISSION). AFTER THAT, THE CAR SPEED ABRUPTLY WENT FROM 60, TO (WHAT FELT LIKE FIRST GEAR),THEN JUST CUT OFF!! THERE WERE CARS AND TRUCKS ALL AROUND ME,DOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 60 OR HIGHER,JUST MISSING ME,WHILE I'M SITTING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY!! I PROCEEDED TO RESTART THE CAR,AND IT STARTED, WITH NO FAULT MESSAGES;NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT; AND DROVE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS,AND THEN DID THE SAME THING AGAIN!! I TOOK THE CAR TO A BMW REPAIR SHOPPED TO HAVE THE FAULT CODES READ, WHICH END UP BEING A LONG LIST OF CODES, THAT THE MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND THE REAL CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. SO,I HAD THE SHOP REPLACE MY SPARK PLUGS; IGNITION COIL; AND RESET THE COMPUTER CODES. THE CAR DROVE OKAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH,AND THEN DID THE SAME THING AGAIN!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE ME TO END UP IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT,I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR!! AS OF 07/06/2014, MY BMW 645 IS OFTEN SHOWING FALSE; LOW OIL MESSAGE; INCREASE EMISSION; TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION; AND CLEAR AFTER TURNING CAR OFF, AND RESTARTING THE CAR!! I AM SO CONFUSED ABOUT THIS BMW 645!! *JS

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 7, 201489,290 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 645CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH UP A HILL, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE BRAKE BOOSTER , THE VACUUM PUMP, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, THE VACUUM LINE, THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP, AND THE BRAKE VACUUM GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,290.

Engine
Filed Jun 17, 2014950,000 milesTX

WATER STARTED LEAKING FROM THE CAR AND ONCE CHECKED FOUND THAT THE ALUMINUM PIPE UNDER THE INTAKE HAD A CRACKED IN IT AND HAD TO REPLACE THE PIPE WITH A NEW METAL PIPE, WHICH COST ME 1500.00 AND THE BMW MECHANIC STATES MOST OF ALL THESE CARS EXPERIENCE THIS SAME PROBLEM, WHICH CAN LOCK UP YOUR MOTOR OR CRACKED THE HEADS ON IT. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed May 1, 201488,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 645 CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S DOOR ERRONEOUSLY OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 20, 2014NJ

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE - BEEN DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS LIKE BUNCH OF PPL GET THIS ERROR. I DON'T THINK IS NORMAL BECAUSE MY PASSENGER SEAT IS RARELY USED AND YET I'M GETTING THAT ERROR. MY CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION, NEVER ABUSED AND ALWAYS TAKEN CARED OF. LAST TIME I WAS AT THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ALTERNATOR MAKES THE COMPUTER GIVE OUT THAT ERROR SO I CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE ERROR IS STILL THERE. I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE 6SERIES MODELS CONSIDERING THAT BMW HAD SIMILAR RECALLS FOR THEIR 3, 5 AND X SERIES MODELS. *TR

Wheels
Filed Apr 30, 2013NY

2005 BMW 645CI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SETTLEMENT REIMBURSEMENT FOR TWO WHEEL REPLACEMENTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, TWO OF THE WHEELS CONTAINED SEVERAL CRACKS ON THE INNER LIP OF THE WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOOSE DANGEROUS AMOUNTS OF TIRE PRESSURE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.

Seats
Filed Feb 21, 201372,230 milesVA

AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 BMW 645 CI YESTERDAY, I NOTICED A STRONG BURN SMELL IN MY CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS OUTSIDE UNTIL I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ODOR TODAY WHEN I TURNED ON MY SEAT WARMER. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION, I'VE DISCOVERED THERE IS SMALL HOLE ON MY LEATHER SEAT. APPARENTLY, THE SEAT WARMER BURNT THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT CAUSING THE SMELL. THIS HAVE GOT TO BE A DEFECT, HOW CAN BMW ENGINEER A PRODUCT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CATCH ON FIRE. 02/20/2013 *TR.... UPDATED 03/08/13 *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE COMPLAINT DELETED FROM OUR DATABASE. UPDATED 03/11/13 UPDATED 3/13/13

20 of 33 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20061000Routine
2005 — this page33040Routine
200411000Routine

Compare every 645Ci year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.