Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 1994 BMW 540I with NHTSA between 2000 and 2006.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 13 of 13 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 25
Against the median year of the BMW 540I. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1994 BMW 540I
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Transmission & Drivetrain
433.3%
Median failure at 86,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
433.3%
Median failure at 84,500 miles
Seats
216.7%
Median failure at 82,000 miles
Lights
18.3%
Median failure at 82,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
18.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2000peak 4Apr 2006
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 82,000 milesSacramento, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A HESITATION BEFORE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IN. HESITATION TIME IS INCREASING. ALSO, WHEN STEPPING ON PEDAL FOR AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION OR PASSING, VEHICLE HESITATES, THEN "CLUNKS" VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR. MECHANICS HAVE STATED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY SEE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION. SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE WITH A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION(PARTS COST $5000.00).NOTHING DONE YET TO REMEDY PROBLEM DUE TO INCREDIBLE COST. ALSO, SHIFT LEVER SAFETY BUTTON NO LONGER WORKS, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO BE ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVING GEAR INTO OTHER GEARS. MECHANIC STATED THAT INTERNAL PIN BROKE AND THE WHOLE SHIFT LEVER HAS TO BE REPLACED WITH A PARTS COST OF $300.00. OTHER PROBLEMS: ; POWER SEAT CONTROLS FAIL CONTINUOUSLY, DASH DISPLAY LIGHTS NOT WORKING, ...
NHTSA complaint #10155238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesSacramento, CA
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A HESITATION BEFORE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IN. HESITATION TIME IS INCREASING. ALSO, WHEN STEPPING ON PEDAL FOR AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION OR PASSING, VEHICLE HESITATES, THEN "CLUNKS" VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR. MECHANICS HAVE STATED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY SEE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION. SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE WITH A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION(PARTS COST $5000.00).NOTHING DONE YET TO REMEDY PROBLEM DUE TO INCREDIBLE COST. ALSO, SHIFT LEVER SAFETY BUTTON NO LONGER WORKS, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO BE ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVING GEAR INTO OTHER GEARS. MECHANIC STATED THAT INTERNAL PIN BROKE AND THE WHOLE SHIFT LEVER HAS TO BE REPLACED WITH A PARTS COST OF $300.00. OTHER PROBLEMS: ; POWER SEAT CONTROLS FAIL CONTINUOUSLY, DASH DISPLAY LIGHTS NOT WORKING, ...
NHTSA complaint #10155238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesSacramento, CA
INTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A HESITATION BEFORE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IN. HESITATION TIME IS INCREASING. ALSO, WHEN STEPPING ON PEDAL FOR AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION OR PASSING, VEHICLE HESITATES, THEN "CLUNKS" VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR. MECHANICS HAVE STATED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY SEE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION. SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE WITH A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION(PARTS COST $5000.00).NOTHING DONE YET TO REMEDY PROBLEM DUE TO INCREDIBLE COST. ALSO, SHIFT LEVER SAFETY BUTTON NO LONGER WORKS, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO BE ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVING GEAR INTO OTHER GEARS. MECHANIC STATED THAT INTERNAL PIN BROKE AND THE WHOLE SHIFT LEVER HAS TO BE REPLACED WITH A PARTS COST OF $300.00. OTHER PROBLEMS: ; POWER SEAT CONTROLS FAIL CONTINUOUSLY, DASH DISPLAY LIGHTS NOT WORKING, ...
NHTSA complaint #10155238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesSacramento, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A HESITATION BEFORE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IN. HESITATION TIME IS INCREASING. ALSO, WHEN STEPPING ON PEDAL FOR AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION OR PASSING, VEHICLE HESITATES, THEN "CLUNKS" VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR. MECHANICS HAVE STATED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY SEE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION. SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE WITH A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION(PARTS COST $5000.00).NOTHING DONE YET TO REMEDY PROBLEM DUE TO INCREDIBLE COST. ALSO, SHIFT LEVER SAFETY BUTTON NO LONGER WORKS, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO BE ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVING GEAR INTO OTHER GEARS. MECHANIC STATED THAT INTERNAL PIN BROKE AND THE WHOLE SHIFT LEVER HAS TO BE REPLACED WITH A PARTS COST OF $300.00. OTHER PROBLEMS: ; POWER SEAT CONTROLS FAIL CONTINUOUSLY, DASH DISPLAY LIGHTS NOT WORKING, ...
NHTSA complaint #10155238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesPasadena, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A BMW 540I IN 1996 USED AT 45,000 MILES FROM A DEALERSHIP. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE DELAYED TEMPORARILY BEFORE ENGAGING. NOW I WAS NOT INFORM THE OF THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN AND DUE TO POOR TRANSMISSION FLUID, NOW AT 90,000 MILES THIS CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE , SHIFTER WOULD SLIDE, AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. NOW THERE IS A IDENTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH AN OTHER CONSUMER CASE# 889281 WITH THE NHTSA. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR OTHER RECALLS NOW I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY FAILED TO DO THERE PART AND IN MAKING SURE THAT THE TRANSMISSON PROBLEM FLUID OR OTHER TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WAS TO BE TAKEN CAR OF BY THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE IT BECAME AN ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10037497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 87,000 milesSAN Diego, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TO WHOM IT MIGHT CONCERN. MY BMW 540I WAS DIAGNOSED FOR COMPRESSION LOSS BY THE LOCAL BMW AUTHORIZED DEALER. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE CAUSE IS EXTENDED SULFUR CONTENT USED IN THE US GASOLINE. THE SULFUR CAUSES A CHEMICAL REACTION WITH THE USED ENGINE BLOCK ALLOY (NIKASIL) AND ERODES PREMATURELY. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 99'000 MILES. THIS IS FAR BELOW ANY SERVICE LIFE EXPECTANCY STANDARD FOR A QUALITY MAKE/BRAND CAR (ENGINE). BMW WANTS TO HOLD THEIR CUSTOMERS RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY A DESIGN FLAW. BMW MISSED TO PROPERLY TEST AND EVALUATE THIS CAR PRIOR TO EXPORTING IT INTO THE US MARKET. BMW CONFESSES TO THE PROBLEM BY EXTENDING THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY FROM 4 TO 6 YEARS. I FEEL THAT BMW SHOULD HAVE DONE A TOTAL RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND NOT JUST A WARRANTY EXTENSION SINCE THE DEFECT IT IS ENTIRELY CAUSED BY BMW'S FAULTY DESIGN. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THIS ISSUE? HAS THERE BEEN LEGAL ACTION AGAINST BMW IN THE PAST? ARE THERE SIMILAR ISSUES WITH OTHER CAR BRANDS/MAKES? ANY ADVICE IN DEALING WITH THIS? SINCERELY,
NHTSA complaint #10000531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Decatur, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS IS THE SECOND ENGINE FOR THIS CAR, THE FIRST WAS REPLACED AT 38,228MI ... THIS ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE ENGINE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY IN THE CAR, NOT THE NEWER BLOCKS ... THIS WILL BE THE THIRD ENGINE IN 142,00MI AND I AM GETTING NO HELP HERE ... VERY DISAPPOINTING ... I WANT SATISFACTION ... I SHOULD NOT BE ON A THIRD ENGINE, PERIOD!!!
NHTSA complaint #764778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chesapeake, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BMW WITH M60B30 AND M60B40 V'8 FROM 93-95 ENGINES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO SUFFER DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER BORES FROM EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF SULPHER IN US FUELS. THE BLOCKS WERE MADE OF NIKASIL. THE PROBLEM REPRESENTS ITSELF AS AN EXCESSIVELY HIGH IDLE WHICH MY CAR HAS. BMW INITIATED AN ENGINE WARRANTY, COVERING ALL INTERNAL LUBRICATED PARTS, WHICH INCLUDES THE SHORT BLOCK FOR 100,000, OR 6 YEARS. I TOOK MY CAR TO BE CHECKED AND THIS IS WHEN I DISCOVERED( BASED ON A COMPRESSION TEST) IT HAS THE PROBLEM BMW KNEW ABOUT. THE PROBLEM IS MY CAR IS MORE THAN 6 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 100,000.00 MILES BMW WILLNOT REPAIR MY PROBLEM ALLTHOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT EXISTS. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE CAR THROUGH PREFERRED WARRANTIES 1 800 334 4841 WHO WILL PAY ONLY $60.00 P/H LABOR, THE BMW DEALERSHIP CHARGES $80.00 AN HOUR. IT( PREFERRED) WILL ALSO ONLY PAY FOR A USED ENGINE WHICH THE BMW DEALERSHIP WILL NOT GUARANTEE. SO IS THIS AN EXPENSIVE LESSON I HAVE TO LEARN OR WILL BMW STAND BEHOND IT'S VECHICLE THAT HAS A DEFECT IT KNEW ABOUT? I HAVE CONTACTE PRESTIGE AUTO ALSO. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT IF ANYTHING I CAN DO. HAS THIS PROBLEM BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE PAST?
NHTSA complaint #746883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lumberton, TX
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 85,000 MILES WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE DELAYED TEMPORARILY BEFORE ENGAGING. DEALER NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED BECAUSE MANUFACTURERE DID NOT INFORM HIM OF THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN AND DUE TO POOR TRANSMISSION FLUID, FINALLY AT 92642 VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO IN TO REVERSE, SHIFTER WOULD SLIDE, BUT CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #889281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Daly City, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SPEED SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, CANNOT CHANGE GEARS.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #860979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Daly City, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEED SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, CANNOT CHANGE GEARS.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #860979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ludlow, MA
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVERS SEAT "ROCKS". IF IN AN ACCIDENT I FEAR THE SEAT WILL DETATCH AND DRIVER WILL DIE. NEW SEAT RAILS WILL FIX BUT BMW WILL NOT PAY.
NHTSA complaint #718487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.