There are 16 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2003 BMW 7 Seriesin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2003 BMW 745i. The contact stated while pulling into the garage and depressing the brake pedal, the engine revved up loudly. The contact stated that upon releasing the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly, crashed into a refrigerator and pushed the refrigerator into the wall. The air bags did not deploy. There was no injury sustained. There was no police report filed. The contact parked and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred the following day. The contact stated that the ABS warning light and the brake warning light had illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V446000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), and the contact was referred to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall because the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
The contact owns a 2003 BMW 745LI. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the brake fluid warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with rotors, brake wear sensors, and brake failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 174,500.
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND ALMOST REAR ENDED A STOPPED VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WHERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AFTER THAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE I WAS TOLD VACUUM BRAKE PUMP, THE LOCK RING SEAL, AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL BMW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED FOR MY VEHICLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE TO REPAIR.THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. *TR
IN 2011 ROSEVILLE BMW BEGAN WORK ON A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE (RECALL CAMPAIGN 10V- 446.) THE FIRST STEP OF THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED BUT DUE TO A ?VISUAL INSPECTION? IT WAS DEEMED THAT THE REMAINING STEPS WERE NOT NECESSARY. ACCORDING THE RECALL NOTICES THEY DID NOT PROPERLY PERFORM THE RECALL AND WITHIN 18 MONTHS THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND PUMP BEGAN TO FAIL, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER ASSIST BRAKING TO BE INOPERABLE. AFTER BRINGING IT TO 2 BMW TECHNICIANS AND THE ROSEVILLE BMW DEALERSHIP IT HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY DEEMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE EXACT SAME RESULT OF THE RECALL WITH THE SAME CAUSE. IN FACT, NO ONE HAS DENIED THAT THE PROBLEM I AM NOW EXPERIENCING IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE RECALL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP AND BMW HAVE BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO GET APPROVAL TO FINISH THE RECALL CLAIM SINCE THE WORK WAS ALREADY STARTED. I HAVE NOT BEEN FURNISHED WITH ANY OF THE DETAILS FOR DENIALS AND THUS FAR NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR BMW ARE WILLING TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE DENIAL DETAILS, OR INITIAL RECALL WORK THAT WAS CONDUCTED (I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS WORK AT THE TIME AND THOUGHT THEY JUST REPLACED MY BATTERY, WHICH WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE SERVICE.) IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP? LEGAL ACTION? *TR
THE CAR DISPLAYED AN ERROR MESSAGE STATING "PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION". WHEN I APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE IT DID NOT WORK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. I PAID A TOTAL OF 1300 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE REPLACED. I LATER RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON LINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH MANY MODELS OF BMW'S. *TR
THE 2003 BMW 745LI HAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.10V-446: BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. TOOK CAR IN TO LOCAL DEALER AND DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM RECALL DUE TO VACUUM PUMP LEAKING OIL, AND MUST BE REPLACED FIRST FULL OF CHARGE AT $1300.00USD. WHEN IN RECALL LETTER IT STATES THE PROBLEM TO BE "SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL COULD LEAK FROM THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP INTO THE VACUUM HOSE, DEALER CLAIMS THERE ARE TO ONLY REPLACE VACUUM LINE HOSE. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PERFORM THE SERVICE AND THE MOMENT SO NOW I MUST DRIVE VEHICLE WITH FAULTY BRAKES! THANKS BMW USA! *TR
BRAKE AND DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.. PARKING BRAKE WITHOUT EMERGENCY BRAKING FUNCTION. AVOID HARD BRAKING. *JS
WAS DRIVING CAR AT NORMAL SPEED MAYBE 35 OR 45 MPH TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND CAR SEEMED TO KEEP GOING DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN CAR SLOWED FINALLY AND STOPPED WAS CONCERNED SO CALLED THE BMW SERVICER ( AUTHORIZED REPAIRER) NOT DEALERSHIP THEY CHECKED AND INFORMED ME OF RECALL ON BRAKE SYSTEM AND FELT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM CAUSE THEY HAD ENCOUNTERED IT BEFORE SAYING IT WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER OR VACUUM. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE SO WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL WENT TO PICK UP VEHICLE THEY SAID CAR WAS FINE THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR ASKED IF THEY HAD CHECKED THURALLY THEY SAID YES AND FOUND NO LEAKS OR PROBLEMS ASKED IF THEY TEST DROVE IT THEY SAID NO ASKED WHAT DID THEY CHECK THEY SAID BRAKE LINES AND LOOKED FOR LEAKS AROUND BOOSTER LINES AND VACUUM PUMP BUT ONLY A VISUAL INSPECTION AND WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE CAR HOME THE CAR WAS HAVING SAME PROBLEM WHEN I CALLED BACK THEY SAID I HAD TO PAY FOR A BRAKE SERVICE CHECK TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AND I ASKED DIDN'T YALL DO THAT WHEN YALL HAD IT BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS A DANGER TO ME AND EVERYONE ON HIGHWAY ME DRIVING A CAR WITH NO BRAKES BUT THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL TO TEST VEHICLE JUST CHECK FOR LEAKS, AND THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE PARTS IF THEY SAW LEAKS AND REFUSED TO REPLACE ANYTHING (SO WHY WASTE TIME TO BRING VEHICLE IN IF THEY NOT GONNA FIX ANYTHING MAKES NO SINCE )SEEMED LIKE THEY DIDN'T CARE AND SAID WHAT EVER THE PROBLEM IS ISN'T UNDER THE RECALL BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WAS EITHER BOOSTER OR VACUUM PUMP AND I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT FIXED IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE JUST SEEMS LIKE THEY DON'T WANNA FIX THE VEHICLES JUST PULL U IN SO THEY CAN CHARGE U FOR RECALL PARTS LIKE A SCAM....... *TR
PARKING BRAKE FAULT LIGHT ON. STATES NO PARKING BRAKE AVAILABLE USING BUTTON WHEN STATIONARY. *JS
CAR WAS RECALLED FOR BRAKE ISSUES. A HOSE WAS REPLACED. BRAKES BEGIN TO FAIL SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND GOT A POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD BARELY STOP. DEALER AND BMW SAY ITS MY PROBLEM AND INSIST I PAY ABOUT $2500 FOR A REPAIR THAT IS UNDER THIS RECALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE NECK WAS SEPARATING FROM THE VACUUM PUMP WHICH CAUSED A LEAK. THE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS. THE REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL WERE MADE BUT NONE OF THE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, NOT LISTED ON THE NHTSA SITE, IN REFERENCE TO THE PIPING AND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RECALL NOTICE STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS TO REPLACE THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP BUT THEY DID NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND ALL OTHER COMPONENTS EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,800.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 7 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSISTS: VACUUM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP WAS LEAKING BUT WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT ONLY THE VACUUM LINE HOSE WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND NOT THE PUMP. THE VACUUM PUMP WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID OFFER ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,300. UPDATED 01/28/11 *BF UPDATED 02/03/11*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 745LI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO SENT HIM A RECALL NOTICE FOR RECALL 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: VACUUM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR BUT A PUMP ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
FACSIMILE FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, REGARDING BRAKE FAILURE OF HIS 2003 BMW 745I. CONSTITUENT IS ASKING FOR REVIEW/INVESTIGATION OF BMW OF SAN FRANCISCO AND THE BMW 7 SERIES AUTOMOBILES. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED A MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD WHICH SAID WARNING-BRAKE-FLUID- PLEASE STOP SAFELY. SHORTLY AFTER THAT READING, ANOTHER MESSAGE FLASHED BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PREVIOUS DEALER NEGLECTED TO TIGHTEN THE CALIPER BLEEDER SCREW. THIS ALLOWED ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. THE CONSUMER STRUCK A STATIONARY OBJECT AS A RESULT OF THE DEALERS NEGLIGENCE. *JB
2003 BMW 745I WITH BRAKE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT TWO WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED AND THEY WERE "WARNING-BRAKE FLUID-PLEASE", AND "BRAKE FAILURE". HE STATES THAT THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE CALIPER BLEEDER SCREW. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE PREVIOUS DEALER WHO WORKED ON HIS VEHICLE NEGLECTED TO TIGHTEN THE CALIPER BLEEDER SCREW FOR THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS BRAKE FLUID. THE CONSUMER HIT A CURB IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.*JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026