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Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2003 BMW 7 Series recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2003 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 4
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 97
Latest campaign: Oct 1, 2010

Recall summary by component4

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Engine and engine cooling	2	Aug 26, 2003	03V324000 03V240000
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	Oct 1, 2010	10V446000
Seats	1	Dec 6, 2004	04V575000

Safety recalls4

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Oct 1, 2010Latest campaign


Oct 1, 201010V446000	Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist vacuum POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. DetailsHide details for campaign 10V446000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Filed under 7 Series Campaign NHTSA 10V446000 · Oct 1, 2010
Dec 6, 200404V575000	Seats: front assembly seat heater/cooler 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. DetailsHide details for campaign 04V575000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Filed under 7 Series Campaign NHTSA 04V575000 · Dec 6, 2004
Aug 26, 200303V324000	Engine and engine cooling IF A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL LOSS OCCURS, ENGINE DAMAGE MAY RESULT. DetailsHide details for campaign 03V324000 What's wrong ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE OIL FILTER DRAIN PLUG MAY BE INSUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED. THIS COULD LEAD TO LOOSENING OF THE PLUG CAUSING AN INITIAL OIL SPRAY AND A SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK. Risk IF A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL LOSS OCCURS, ENGINE DAMAGE MAY RESULT. DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, A CRASH COULD OCCUR. Remedy DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF THE OIL FILTER DRAIN PLUG AND, IF NECESSARY, RETIGHTEN THE DRAIN PLUG WITH THE CORRECTLY SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117. Filed under 745i, 745li, 760li Campaign NHTSA 03V324000 · Aug 26, 2003
Jul 1, 200303V240000	Engine and engine cooling IN THOSE CASES, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. DetailsHide details for campaign 03V240000 What's wrong ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR, A DESYNCHRONIZATION OF THE VALVETRONIC MOTORS FOR ENGINE BANKS I AND II MAY OCCUR. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE COULD STALL. Risk IN THOSE CASES, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF ENGINE ROUGHNESS, OR STALLING, AS WELL AS TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE DRIVER'S REACTIONS, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. Remedy DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117. Filed under 745i, 745li Campaign NHTSA 03V240000 · Jul 1, 2003

Merged from NHTSA model names: 7 Series, 745i, 745li, 760li. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2003 BMW 7 Series? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component97

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

97Complaints filed

9Involving a crash

1Involving a fire

2Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Power train	17	18	4	0	0
Service brakes	16	16	3	0	0
Air bags	16	16	2	0	1
Electrical system	12	12	1	1	0
Hydraulic	8	8	3	0	0
Engine	8	8	0	1	0
Engine and engine cooling	8	8	0	0	0
Seat belts	7	7	0	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	6	6	0	0	0
Vehicle speed control	6	6	2	0	2
Equipment	6	6	0	0	0
Fuel system	5	5	0	0	0
Tires	5	5	0	0	0
Unknown or other	4	4	0	0	0
Gasoline	4	4	0	0	0

12 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Service brakes
“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.”
Filed 08/14/2023 · ODI 11538446
Service brakes
“The contact owns a 2003 BMW 745LI. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the brake fluid warning light illuminated.”
Filed 07/20/2022 · ODI 11474996
Air bags
“It showed up on my dash board and now its not going away”
Filed 10/24/2020 · ODI 11366227

Other BMW 7 Series model years

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2003 BMW 7 Series recall questions

How many recalls does the 2003 BMW 7 Series have?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns for the 2003 BMW 7 Series. The most recent, 10V446000 (reported October 1, 2010), concerns service brakes, hydraulic. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2003 BMW 7 Series recalls for?

The largest group is engine and engine cooling, with 2 campaigns. Others: service brakes, hydraulic (1), seats (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2003 BMW 7 Series?

Power train is the most-reported component, named in 17 complaints out of 97 filed with NHTSA (18%). Across all complaints, owners reported 9 crashs and 1 fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2003 BMW 7 Series?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised BMW dealer.

Check a specific BMW by VIN

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