By model year
The 2000 model year drew the most complaints, 31
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Model line
BMW 540I
Every BMW 540I model year on file, 1989 to 2025. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.
Owner complaints, all model years24924 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years241989 to 2025
Recall campaigns23Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins1,579Summed across model years
Components
Engine and cooling leads the BMW 540I complaint record
Owner complaints across all model years, by component.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years
The record for each BMW 540I model year
Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.
| Year | Body | Complaints | Severity index | Peer index | Recalls | Investigations | Bulletins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sedan | 1 | 0.0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | Sedan | 5 | 20.0 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Sedan | 5 | 40.0 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 37 |
| 2022 | Sedan | 6 | 16.7 | 86 | 1 | 2 | 53 |
| 2021 | Sedan | 9 | 11.1 | 106 | 6 | 1 | 167 |
| 2020 | Sedan | 3 | 0.0 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 235 |
| 2019 | Sedan | 11 | 18.2 | 82 | 1 | 0 | 239 |
| 2018 | Sedan | 31 | 9.7 | 258 | 2 | 0 | 286 |
| 2017 | Sedan | 20 | 0.0 | 118 | 1 | 1 | 443 |
| 2003 | Sedan | 7 | 0.0 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 2002 | Sedan | 12 | 8.3 | 46 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| 2001 | Sedan | 15 | 6.7 | 68 | 4 | 0 | 13 |
| 2000 | Sedan | 31 | 16.1 | 98 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| 1999 | Sedan | 22 | 4.5 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 1998 | Sedan | 26 | 3.8 | 108 | 1 | 0 | 20 |
| 1997 | Sedan | 27 | 11.1 | 142 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| 1996 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1995 | Sedan | 10 | 20.0 | 54 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1994 | Sedan | 8 | 0.0 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls
Recent campaigns covering the BMW 540I
- 26V-525 Aug 12, 2026
Connection between the driveshaft and the rear differential may become damaged, possibly resulting in a loss of power to the rear wheels or a…
Powertrain · 28k vehicles - 24V-697 Sep 18, 2024
Welds in the servomotor of the integrated brake control module may break, causing a loss of power brake assist and rear brake function
Stability and traction control · 309 vehicles - 21V-598 Aug 2, 2021
During engine start, the engine management software may cause loss of braking assist
Engine and cooling · 50k vehicles - 21V-554 Jul 21, 2021
Passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts
Seat belts · 22k vehicles - 21V-096 Feb 19, 2021
When shifting into Reverse, a small portion of the rearview image may be obscured, or the screen may not illuminate
Back-over prevention · 14k vehicles - 21V-046 Feb 3, 2021
Output shafts (left/right) which transfer power from the driveshaft to the rear wheels may break due to a heat treatment error during supplier…
Powertrain · 28 vehicles - 20V-761 Dec 9, 2020
Connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been assembled properly, which can cause increased electrical…
Electrical system · 812 vehicles - 20V-598 Sep 30, 2020
Small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured
Back-over prevention · 312 vehicles - 20V-243 Apr 29, 2020
Prior exposure to excessive levels of humidity within the driver and passenger head air bag inflators may affect the proper deployment of the head…
Airbags · 33 vehicles - 19V-684 Sep 27, 2019
Back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the…
Back-over prevention · 257k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.