Total Complaints
5 filings
BMW 540 · model year
2001 BMW 540
5 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001BMW540 carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 540 is air bags with 2 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (1) and engine and engine cooling:cooling system:radiator assembly (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2001 540. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recalls (1)
17V04700020/01/2017
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may hav
Recent Complaints
20170922AIR BAGS
DEALERSHIP IN CONCORD CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN TRYING TO DELAY REPAIRING MY VEHICLE AIRBAG EVEN AFTER APPOINTMENT. DID NOT EVEN START FIXING MY VEHICLE AFTER WAITING 5 PLUS HOURS.
20121202STEERING
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND I HEARD A "PANG" SOUND FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, A MOMENT LATER MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SAFE STOPPING PLACE TO BE TOWED BEFORE THE LOST BELT THAT FOLLOWED OVERHEATED ME. PUMP SNAPPED IN AT LEAST ONE PLACE MAKING THE PULLEY CROOKED, AND SHREDDING THE BELT. *TR
Mileage: 98,500
20060517AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A ROUND ROCK OF 4-5 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS DROVE OVER AND STRUCK THE FRONT AIR DAM RIGHT OF THE CENTER. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG AND THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD PROTECTION AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR A RETURN PHONE CALL.
Mileage: 87,000
20030826ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR FAILED AT 40K MILES IN MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC,OBSCURING VISION WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN MANY CARS AND THEN STRANDING CAR FAT DANGEROUS INTERCHANGE. *NLM
Mileage: 41,000
20020508VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STCKS WHEN FOOT PRESSURE IS RELEASED. RESPONSE OF ACCELERATOR IS VERY QUICK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK GAS PEDAL STUTTERING/ BINDING CONDITION IS WORSE WHEN VEHICLE IS OUT IN SUN FOR A FEW HOURS. DEALER REPLACED PEDAL THREE TIMES. *TT
Compare 2001BMW540 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2001 BMW 540 have?▼
The 2001 BMW 540 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 BMW 540?▼
Yes, the 2001 BMW 540 has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW 540?▼
The most-complained component for the 2001 BMW 540 is AIR BAGS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY.
Is the 2001 BMW 540 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.