2004 BMW 7 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 28 of 91 complaints (31%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 97 in 2003 to 91 in 2004.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | vs. 2004 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,100 | 4,100–4,850 | 4,100–4,850 | 4,100–4,850 | 4,300–4,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 19 | 16–19 | 16–19 | 16–19 | 16–18 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16 / 24 | 13–16 / 21–24 | 13–16 / 21–24 | 13–16 / 21–24 | 13–15 / 21–23 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 468 | 468–555 | 468–555 | 468–555 | 494–555 | |
| Complaints filed | 94 | 97 | 91 | 49 | 317 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 6 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 8 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2004 BMW 7 Series have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2004 BMW 7 Series?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 28 of 91 NHTSA complaints (31%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2004 BMW 7 Series get?
EPA rates it 16–19 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2004 BMW 7 Series?
EPA estimates $4,100–$4,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 16 mpg (high) | 24 mpg (high) | 19 mpg (high) | $4,100 (low) | 468 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 16 mpg (high) | 24 mpg (high) | 19 mpg (high) | $4,100 (low) | 468 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 12 | 6.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 13 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 555 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 12 | 6.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 13 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 555 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 28 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 14 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · Campaign 10V446000 · Oct 1, 2010
Defect: 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. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Consequence: POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER · Campaign 04V575000 · Dec 9, 2004
Defect: 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 DAMAGE THE HEATING MAT LOCATED IN THIS AREA. IF SUCH DAMAGE WERE TO OCCUR, WITH THE SYSTEM TURNED ON, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY FEEL EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THIS AREA.
Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HEATING MAT IN THE BACKREST'S SIDE BOLSTER COULD OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE, OR MELT A SMALL HOLE IN, THIS AREA OF THE SEAT COVER. IF THIS HAPPENED, IT COULD LEAD TO AN OCCUPANT BEING BURNED.
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.
SEATS · Campaign 04V379000 · Aug 11, 2004
Defect: 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.
Consequence: IN CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG, HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONER, AND KNEE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT.
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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) · Campaign 04V344000 · Jul 14, 2004
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8 AND 12 CYLINDER ENGINES, THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL (EMC) UNITS WERE NOT PRODUCED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence: AS A RESULT, ENGINE STALLING WILL OCCUR AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF OPERATION. THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART. ALSO, A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND, AFTER REPEATED ACTUATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ASSIST WILL OCCUR. THESE CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.