https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia New NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for the BMW 540ia. en-us Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:50:34 GMT https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-1378272 Tue, 16 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 540IA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY OF 2017. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG INFLATOR WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN 2006 AND DID NOT REQUIRE ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. AFTER READING THE SUMMARY FOR THE RECALL THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-935905 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT I WENT OUT TO MY BMW 540I AND FOUND THE DRIVER'S POWER SEAT ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE HORIZONTAL POSITION. I DID NOT LEAVE IT THIS WAY, SO THIS WAS CONFUSING TO ME. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE IT BACK UPRIGHT INTO A COMFORTABLE DRIVING POSITION, IT DID NOT RESPOND- THE SEAT WAS DEAD. I COULD NOT MOVE IT MANUALLY, EITHER. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE CAR A SHORT DISTANCE TO DROP MY SON OFF AT AN ACTIVI https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-935906 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT I WENT OUT TO MY BMW 540I AND FOUND THE DRIVER'S POWER SEAT ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE HORIZONTAL POSITION. I DID NOT LEAVE IT THIS WAY, SO THIS WAS CONFUSING TO ME. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE IT BACK UPRIGHT INTO A COMFORTABLE DRIVING POSITION, IT DID NOT RESPOND- THE SEAT WAS DEAD. I COULD NOT MOVE IT MANUALLY, EITHER. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE CAR A SHORT DISTANCE TO DROP MY SON OFF AT AN ACTIVI https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-741921 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT TRANSMISSION FROM WORKING PERFECT ONE DAY. AND BOOM THE NEXT MORNING PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT ROLLS BACK AND REVS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-736337 Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT I HAVE A 1999 540I AND THE REVERSE HAS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE FORWARD GEARS WORK PERFECTLY BUT THE REVERSE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE READ MANY SIMILAR STORIES. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-724411 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT AFTER A COUPLE TIMES USING MY CUP HOLDERS IN MY 2000 BMW 540 I THEY BROKE. THEY ARE MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC AND ARE VERY POORLY DESIGNED. I HAVE CHECKED OUT OTHER MODELS UP TO THE 2007 YEAR AND BMW HAS FAILED TO COME OUT WITH A QUALITY CUP HOLDER. EVEN A BETTER REPLACEMENT WOULD BE HELPFUL! IT NOW COSTS ME $150.00 JUST IN PARTS TO REPLACE THEM EACH TIME THEY BREAK. I CONSIDER MY CAR TO HAVE NO CUP https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-700842 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT MY 1999 BMW 540I SPORT CAUGHT FIRE 12/19/08 WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME. I NOTICED FLAMES ABOUT 1:30 AM COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE HOOD. I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR TO DINNER THAT NIGHT AND IT WAS PARKED AND LOCKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICE THE FLAMES THROUGH THE WINDOW OF MY HOUSE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CAR WAS TOTALLY BURNED AND MELTED. ONLY THE REAR TRUN https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-700844 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT MY 1999 BMW 540I SPORT CAUGHT FIRE 12/19/08 WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME. I NOTICED FLAMES ABOUT 1:30 AM COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE HOOD. I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR TO DINNER THAT NIGHT AND IT WAS PARKED AND LOCKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICE THE FLAMES THROUGH THE WINDOW OF MY HOUSE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CAR WAS TOTALLY BURNED AND MELTED. ONLY THE REAR TRUN https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-693880 Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT REVERSE GEAR STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND WITH NO SYMPTOMS. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-679284 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT ON 7/19/2008, MY 2002 BMW 540I WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAUGHT FIRE WHILE MYSELF AND MY WIFE DRIVING TOWARD AN EVENING PARTY. AT FIRST I SMELL SOMETHING IS BURNING THEN SEE A TINY BIT OF SMOKE. I PARKED THE CAR IN A BANK OF AMERICA PARKING LOT AND MY WIFE WENT OUT TO CHECK THE CAR, AND SHE SAW FIRE STARTED TO BURST. WE CALL 911 AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES, THE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS IN FLAME. https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-650370 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT WHILE DRIVING IN MASSACHUSETTS ON 495N AT ABOUT 5:30PM I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. CHECKED MY GAUGES AND ALL SEEMED WELL, THOUGHT IT MAY BE A WOOD BURNING STOVE IN THE AREA I JUST KEPT DRIVING. I TURNED OFF RT495 AND ONTO RT 119. ABOUT A MILE DOWN RT119 I NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE BUILDING UP INSIDE THE CAR, I THEN REALIZED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND BEFORE I CAN PULL OFF THE ROAD THE INSIDE OF THE CAR https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-634347 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES ON MY BMW 540I, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER SAYS IT HAS INTERNAL SLIPPAGE/DAMAGE AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACUTED ONE. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW - SEE HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/BMW_TRANS.HTML FOR TESTIMONY OF LOTS OF OTHER BMW OWNERS WHO LOST REVERSE. IT SURPRISES ME THAT BMW DOE https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-620395 Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540IA WITH FAILURE MILEAGE OF 100,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH HE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS BEGAN TO FUNCTION IMPROPERLY, AND COULD NOT BE OPERATED IN 1ST THROUGH REVERSE GEARS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BMW DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WOULD https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-572206 Fri, 10 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT I HAVE A 1997 540 BMW WITH 180,000 MI. INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF A FLAT DRIVER SIDE RIGHT FRONT TIRE I DISCOVERED THE FRONT SPRING STRUT PLATE WAS CRACKED AND ALLOWED ITSELF AND THE COIL SPRING TO CONTACT AND CUT DOWN THE TIRE. FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 04V183000 DESCRIBING EXACT CONDITION. TOWED TO DEVON HILL BMW IN PA. THEY WILL NOT PAY TO REPLACE SPRING STRUT PLATE. THEY STATE BMW DOES NO https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-569278 Sun, 15 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT I HAD TROUBLES WITH MY ABS MODULE UNIT THAT IS ATTACHED TO MY BMW 1999 540IA. I HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT DISABLES THE ABS CONTROL OF MY CAR AND MANY OTHER SAME MODEL CARS AS MINE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE PART MYSELF DUE TO NO RECALL OR ACCEPTANCE FROM BMW THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH A SAFETY FEATURE ON MY AND MANY OTHER BMW'S SIMILAR TO MINE. THE FAILURE OCCUR https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-565374 Thu, 08 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT 1. BROUGHT MY CAR TO FIRESTONE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA AND HAD THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED - WORK COMPLETED BY FIRESTONE - 2-5 DAYS LATER WENT TO BEVERLY HILLS BMW TO HAVE COOLANT RESEVOIR REPLACED WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW THERMOSTAT (JUST REPLACED AT FIRESTONE) AND WATER PUMP AND THAT I HAD A MAJOR ENGINE LEAK (LATER WAS TOLD I HAD A MINOR ENGINE LEAK NOT WORTH REPAIR AT THAT POI https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-561881 Tue, 08 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT FAILURE: ENGINE COOLING FAN CLUTCH SEIZED AND THE FAN TURNED AT WATER PUMP RPM. THE FAN FLEW APART, FLINGING ALL BLADES OFF THE FAN HUB. THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME ON A 25 MPH STREET IN THE EVENING WITH OUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE: EXPLODING FAN CHOPPED THROUGH THE RADIATOR, COOLANT TANK, BOTH RADIATOR HOSES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-554937 Mon, 19 Sep 2005 00:00:00 GMT I HAVE A 2001 BMW 540IA [XXX] AND ALL THE EXTERNAL LIGHTS ARE GRADUALLY FAILING. IN ALL CASES THE LIGHTS BULBS ARE OK. FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT FAILED, THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHT, THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE REVERSING LIGHT, THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT, THEN DRIVERS SIDE HIGH BEAM, THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TURN LIGHT ETC. FAILURES WERE OVER APPROXIMA https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-543660 Tue, 12 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT RADIATOR CRACKED AT TOP HOSE INLET CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-520235 Sun, 06 Feb 2005 00:00:00 GMT RADIATOR CRACKED, DISABLING CAR ON HIGHWAY. ALSO CAUSED XENON LAMP FAILURE. REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT ON BMW E-39 SERIES CARS. *JB https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-515813 Thu, 06 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT 1) CHECK COOLANT LEVEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TWICE IN 1 WEEK. KUNI BMW CONDUCTED MY FACTORY INSPECTION II SERVICE ONLY 2 MONTHS BEFORE THIS OCCURED. ) RADIATOR CRACKED WHERE THE UPPER HOSE ENTERS THE RADIATOR, LEAKING FLUID INTO THE ENGINE BAY AND GROUND. 3) REPLACE THE RADIATOR. THIS IS A WELL KNOW DEFECT ON THIS VEHICLE - WHY DOESN'T BMW DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?*AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-513740 Sat, 25 Dec 2004 00:00:00 GMT THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES OF MY CAR (1998 BMW MODEL 540IA) ARE CONSTRUCTED OF LOW GRADE / FRAGILE PLASTIC MATERIAL WHICH BREAKS DURING NORMAL USAGE. WITHOUT A HANDLE IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SITUATION RESULTS WHEN THIS HANDLE HAS BROKEN BECAUSE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, A DRIVER, OR PASSENGER, WILL BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. TO ESCAPE, THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-510693 Thu, 09 Dec 2004 00:00:00 GMT RADIATOR FAILED ON MY 1999 BMW 540 AT 54,700 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS. THIS SAFETY PROBLEM: - DISABLES THE VEHICLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE FROM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHERE THE PANIC COULD ENDANGER OTHER DRIVERS, TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN THE DEAD OF WINTER BY YOURSELF. - STEAM FROM FAILED RADIATOR BLOCKS VISION OF THE ROAD, OR WHATEVER ELSE IS IN THE https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-510284 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 00:00:00 GMT WATER PUMP FAILURE. COOLANT LEAKING FROM SHAFT. RADIATOR FAILURE, DRIVERS SIDE TOP RADIATOR NIPPLE INLET CRACKED. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-510285 Tue, 07 Dec 2004 00:00:00 GMT WATER PUMP FAILURE. COOLANT LEAKING FROM SHAFT. RADIATOR FAILURE, DRIVERS SIDE TOP RADIATOR NIPPLE INLET CRACKED. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-508502 Sun, 28 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT 2001 BMW 540I AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES; RADIATOR CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; SIGNIFICANT STEAM RESULTING IN OBSCURRED VIEW OF THE ROADWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES; CAR TAKEN TO LOCAL REPAIR CENTER; AWAITING COST ESTIMATE AND FULL DAMAGE REPORT. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-508385 Fri, 26 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT CRACK IN RADIATOR - NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-494957 Wed, 08 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT VARIOUS PROBLEMS INVOLVING 1998 BMW 540IA WHICH WAS BROUGHT USED. *MR BMW HAD BEEN IMPORTING VEHICLES FOR SALE, FITTED WITH A RADIATOR THAT HAD PLASTIC ENDS AS WELL AS SUPPLY AND RETURN UNDER APPROXIMATELY 21 P.S.I. THESE RADIATORS SUDDENLY RUPTURED UNDER LOAD WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE DRIVERS TO SWERVE ON IMPULSE AT IMPACT OF THE RUPTURE. THE RADIATOR WAS LIKELY TO RUPTURE AT ABOUT 80K MIL https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-494832 Wed, 08 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT RADIATOR FAILURE IN 2000 BMW 540I AT 57,000 MILES.*AK https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia https://plaincars.com/make/bmw-540ia#complaint-465231 Sat, 10 Apr 2004 00:00:00 GMT HEADLAMP INTERNAL ADJUSTING RODS (BRITTLE PLASTIC MATERIAL) FAIL PREMATURELY CAUSING HEADLAMP BEAN TO DEFLECT AND LAMP BEAMS TO SHUDDER OR WIGGLE. THIS TENDS TO REDUCE THE FIELD OF VISION FOR DRIVERS AND TO BLIND ONCOMING MOTORISTS.