2002 BMW 540I

12 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

1. Filed Jan 23, 2018Failure Dec 17, 201740,000 milesGlendale Heights, ILAir bagsCrash

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 BMW 540I. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN, IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. *BF *TR

   NHTSA complaint 11064447
2. Filed Dec 9, 2016Failure Dec 9, 2016166,000 milesColumbia, SCElectrical system

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK TEN ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST THIRTY TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10934048
3. Filed Jul 22, 2016Failure May 28, 2015Cary, NCAir bags

   TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ...UPDATED 09/14/16 *BF UPDATED 10/18/16.*JB

   NHTSA complaint 10887705
4. Filed Jun 24, 2015Failure Jun 1, 2010100,000 milesAuburn, CAExterior lighting

   THE PLASTIC COVERS ON THE HEADLIGHTS OF MY BMW BECAME CRAZED/FROSTED. EVERY BMW OF THIS VINTAGE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I SHOWED THIS TO OCCUR IN 2010 AT 100,000 MILES, BUT IN FACT IT WAS A STEADY DEGRADATION OVER SEVERAL YEARS. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. CAUSING RISK AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE CRAZING/FROSTING RESULTS IN ADDITIONAL GLARE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I ASKED ABOUT RECALLS/REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS DEFECT AT MY LOCAL BMW DEALER; THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DISMISSED IT AS A NORMAL AGING ISSUE. I STRONGLY DISAGREE. A CAR OF THIS PRICE, OR ANY PRICE, SHOULD HAVE HEADLIGHTS THAT LAST LONGER THAN A FEW YEARS. I REPLACE THE HEADLAMP COVERS IF THEY WERE AVAILABLE, BUT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $1238 FOR EACH SIDE. YES, $1238. THIS WAS A QUITE EXPENSIVE AUTO, BUT REGARDLESS OF COST, THIS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL....UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS A NORMAL AGING ISSUE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHT OUTPUT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. UPDATED 09/01/15. *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10730119
5. Filed May 12, 2015Failure Apr 23, 201586,000 milesConcord, CASteering

   POWER STEERING PUMP MOUNTING BRACKETS BROKE OFF ( ON A POWER STEERING PUMP ITSELF), CAR THUS LOST POWER STEERING, BELT GOT OFF, IN A TURN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER , SOMEHOW I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT CLEAR IN A TURN. I GUESS I WAS LUCKY.

   NHTSA complaint 10715825
6. Filed Apr 9, 2015Failure Apr 4, 201596,000 milesDenver, COSteering

   I WAS DRIVING AND MY SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF. AFTER INSPECTION THE BRACKET FOR MY POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE AND CAUSED THE BELT TO FALL OFF. LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10704846
7. Filed Dec 16, 2013Failure Dec 10, 2013151,345 milesFayetteville, NCElectrical system, Engine, Steering

   AFTER STARTING UP MY CAR, THERE WAS A SLIGHT WHINE UNDER THE HOOD. I GAVE THE CAR A LITTLE BIT OF THROTTLE TO SEE IF THE WHINE WENT AWAY AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT MY BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON. I NEEDED TO GET HOME, AND I THOUGHT THAT MY CAR MAY NOT START AGAIN IF I TURNED IT OFF SO I DROVE HOME. IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER STEERING. AS I DROVE MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE GOT HIGHER AND I BARELY MADE IT HOME WITHOUT OVERHEATING. A FEW DAYS LATER I LOOKED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SAW THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BROKEN FREE OF THE ENGINE - THE BRACKET HAD SHEARED OFF. THAT IN TURN CAUSED THE BELT TO FALL OFF WHICH WAS TURNING THE WATER PUMP AND ALTERNATOR. I GOT ON THE COMPUTER AND LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM AND FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, SOME DRIVING DURING THE INCIDENT. THIS IS A REAL DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND CAUSES ME TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY. I HOPE NOTHING TRAGIC HAS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE FOR THIS TO BE CONSIDERED A RECALL. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10556285
8. Filed Oct 2, 2012Failure Sep 30, 201276,854 milesKapolei, HIElectrical system, Engine, Steering

   I WAS DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING FELT A LITTLE STIFFER THAN USUAL. AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES AND BETTER FLOWING TRAFFIC I PULLED INTO A RESTAURANT FOR DINNER WHEN MY UPPER RADIATOR HOSE EXPLODED. I PULLED INTO A STALL AND OPENED THE HOOD TO INSPECT WHAT HAPPENED. THE HOSE WAS VERY APPARENT AND AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THE POWER STEERING PUMPS PULLEY AT A VERY SHARP ANGLE COMPARED TO LINEAR WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT FROM THE BRACKET ON THE PUMP BREAKING, IT CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION OF EVENTS. FIRST THE BRACKET BROCKET PUTTING THE PUMP AT A STEEP ANGLE N FORCING THE BELT TO GO OFF TRACK WHICH THEN CAUSED ALL THE OTHER ACCESSORIES TO BE DISABLED INCLUDING THE WATER PUMP WHICH OVERHEATED THE CAR. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10478241
9. Filed Mar 27, 2012Failure Jun 1, 2011105,000 milesSAN Diego, CAElectrical system

   MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF NO START. EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BMW SPECIALIST WHO OVER AND OVER AGAIN DIAGNOSED COMPLETELY DRAINED BATTERY, BUT CHARGING SYSTEM WAS OK. I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT BMW HAS BEEN RECALLING 2003-2010 MODELS WITH THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10453183
10. Filed Aug 14, 2010Failure Aug 5, 2010130,000 milesLOS Gatos, CASteering

    1. EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: I DROVE THE CAR 5MIN AND PARKED FOR 30 MINUTE LUNCH. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING FAILED IMMEDIATELY AND I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. 2. THE FAILURE, FREQUENCY, CONSEQUENCES: POWER STEERING PUMP MOUNTING BRACKETS FRACTURED NEAR THE BOLTS THAT RETAIN THE PART TO THE CHASSIS. THE PUMP SWUNG LOOSE, ALLOWING THE BELT TO JUMP. THE TENSIONER PULLEYS WERE DAMAGED. MY MECHANIC IS UNAWARE OF OTHER INCIDENCES, THOUGH I FOUND DOCUMENTED REPORTS OF THE SAME FAILURE WITH PHOTOS AT THIS SITE: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=323318 FORTUNATELY, THIS STEERING FAILURE HAPPENED AT NO SPEED. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING, THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING, WHICH WOULD BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS BEFORE A TURN ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD. I COMMUTE IN THE MOUNTAINS DAILY. 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE LABOR SERVICE - ORIGINAL CHECKOUT 73.00 BELTS CAME OFF PULLEYS: BELTS CAME OFF PULLEYS: THE POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTING TABS. THE POWER STEERING SUPPLY AND RETURN HOSES ARE LEAKING, THE FAN BELTS ARE DAMAGED ,AND THE FAN BELT TENSIONER PULLEYS ARE NOISY. RECOMMEND TO REPLACE THESE ITEMS. SEE QUOTE BELOW. LABOR SERVICE - POWER STEERING PUMP 1,093.00 LABOR SERVICE - POWER STEERING SUPPLY AND RETURN HOSES AND FLUID FLUSH 534.00 LABOR SERVICE - FAN BELTS 280.00 LABOR SERVICE - TENSIONER PULLEYS 618.00. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10349331
11. Filed Mar 11, 2010Failure Oct 17, 200941,000 milesHarrisonburg, VAElectrical system

    APPARENT COMPUTER MALFUNCTION CAUSED WINDOWS TO FOG UP, CLOCK TO FAIL, DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS TO FAIL AND THE ENGINE TO REFUSE TO RESTART. ALSO, THE DASH DISPLAY AND BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ON EVEN WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED. DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, WAITING ABOUT ONE HOUR, RECONNECTING THE BATTERY RESTORED NORMAL OPERATION. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10318997
12. Filed Feb 12, 2002Santa Manica, CAFuel system, Tank assembly, Unknown or other

    THERE IS A CONSTANT FUEL LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE CAUSING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 8003946