Model line

BMW 540IA

Every BMW 540IA model year on file, 1989 to 2002. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years425 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years141989 to 2002
Recall campaigns8Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins73Summed across model years
By model year

The 1997 model year drew the most complaints, 12, 29% of the model's total

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

036912198919911993199519971219992002
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Engine and cooling leads the BMW 540IA complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Engine and cooling
26
Powertrain
6
Airbags
2
Electrical system
2
Seat belts
1
Lighting
1
Latches and locks
1
Brakes
1
Suspension
1
Equipment
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each BMW 540IA 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.

BMW 540IA by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2002Sedan2100.081012
2001Sedan70.0323012
2000Sedan812.5250013
1999Sedan1010.046208
1998Sedan30.013109
1997Sedan128.3630010
1996Not decoded0NoneNone002
1995Not decoded0NoneNone101
1994Not decoded0NoneNone101
1993Not decoded0NoneNone101
1992Not decoded0NoneNone101
1991Not decoded0NoneNone101
1990Not decoded0NoneNone101
1989Not decoded0NoneNone101
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the BMW 540IA

  • 03V-421 Oct 24, 2003
    On certain passenger vehicles, a microprocessor in the air bag control module, which activates the front air bags, the side air bags, the front…
    Airbags · 23k vehicles
  • 02V-138 May 16, 2002
    On certain passenger vehicles, the engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled
    Engine and cooling · 1,550 vehicles
  • 01V-352 Nov 26, 2001
    Vehicle description: during the tire mounting process on certain passenger vehicles built with standard (non-sport) suspension and equipped with…
    Tires · 1,318 vehicles
  • 01V-206 Jun 21, 2001
    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles
    Engine and cooling · 76k vehicles
  • 99V-005 Jan 4, 1999
    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a 5hp24 automatic transmission
    Powertrain · 249 vehicles
  • 99V-004 Jan 4, 1999
    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles
    Electrical system · 1,615 vehicles
  • 98V-178 Aug 4, 1998
    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles
    Engine and cooling · 340k vehicles
  • 98V-142 Jun 22, 1998
    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles
    Powertrain · 1,100 vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.