The Used Car Index

2004 BMW E46 problems

NHTSA lists 4 complaints for the 2004 BMW E46, 0 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-07.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW E46.

At a glance

Complaints
4
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
0
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
Unavailable
Investigations
2
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
7

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
EXTERIOR LIGHTING250.0%
AIR BAGS125.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM125.0%
VISIBILITY/WIPER125.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

0 recalls.

Investigations

2 investigations; 0 open.

EA09019

Opened: 2009-12-18. Closed: 2011-09-28.

Rear Lamp Illumination

In a letter submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) dated August25, 2011, BMWindicated that it will conduct a voluntary recall campaign to remedy the subject vehicles.The issue involves the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel.Through normal vehicle use over time, the rear lamps ground wiring and associated 8-pin connector can experience an increase of the resistance at the electri

Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Linked campaign numbers: 11V438000.

PE09036

Opened: 2009-08-07. Closed: 2009-12-22.

REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION

ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT RUNS

Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Linked campaign numbers: 11V438000.

Manufacturer communications

7 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
EQUIPMENT3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1

10249027

Date: 2024-01-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle A A?A A A A discharged batteryA A?A A A A compl

10245363

Date: 2023-11-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

When using the Key Reader to retrieve information from the customerA A A A?A A A A A A A A s key, the data is not updated or current.

10200242

Date: 2021-06-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Moisture is visible on the inside of one or both headlights

10182619

Date: 2020-10-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY.

Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to

10037025

Date: 2010-08-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM

10033130

Date: 2009-12-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE REPAIR KIT IS

10032574

Date: 2009-10-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

BMW: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL 08E-A03; M3 S54-DME REPROGRAMMING FOR CATALYST CONVERSION DIAGNOSIS. THE DME PROGRAMMING, AS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED, MAY CAUSE THE OBD DIAGNOSTIC TO ERRONEOUSLY EVALUATE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. *PE

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
E464

Same model, other years

All model years | All BMW models

Other BMW models, 2004

Sources

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