42 of the
340 complaints filed about the BMW 540I
are about the electrical system —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
Starter engine failure. Car failed to start multiple times. Major safety hazard that can cause a short circuit, melt wiring harnesses, and spark an engine bay fire posing an immediate threat to life. Problem was inspected and confirmed by a dealer. Multiple waring lamps and messages appeared. Dealer report stated: STARTER MOTOR FAULTY. ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONCERN: C/S: REPEAT START ATTEMPT INTERMITTEN WARNING LIGHTS. Please issue recall for the safety of all drivers.
NHTSA complaint #11749530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On and off system notification of "Passenger Restraint System Malfunction" with and without a passenger in the seat. Also, the Airbag off/disabled light on the instrument cluster illuminated. Can't seem to declare if it is an electrical shortage, seatbelt buckle related or passenger pressure sensor sensor in the seat. Find this to be a major safety concern should there be an accident, and unsure whether the airbags will deploy or not. BMW should investigate this concern.
NHTSA complaint #11729268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Infotainment System interplay through audio voices coming from place of employment this have been unusual to audio system in various of my vehicles this over the air bugs are safety concerns as well as frequent unexpected wiper blade activation without touching for auto movement complex to electrical issues uncommon to vehicle routing infotainment system leading to unexpected interruptions sending false signals to vehicle electrical system causing many interruptions. highlighting the growing complexity and potential risks associated with vehicle software.implications, and solutions for these complex symptoms.
NHTSA complaint #11670682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1) Passenger restraint system malfunction. According to information on the web and several BMW forums, this is a common problem on these vehicles and it is a serious and inherently unsafe issue that should necessitate a recall from the manufacturer. The root cause is typically a malfunction of the passenger seat pad that is utilized by the passenger restraint system. BMW service repair cost is $2,700-$3,000. This is really outrageous given that it's part of the safety restraint system and many BMW 5 series (and likely others) have this problem.
NHTSA complaint #11634477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BMW G30 chassis vehicles equipped with the optional Bowers & Wilkins stereo have multiple owners reporting on Bimmerpost owners forum that water incursion damages the front door midrange speakers on both sides of the vehicle due to poor water drainage design. Water is causing the speakers to short out and stop functioning. This is also happening to owners of the BMW F90 chassis with the Bowers & Wilkins optioned stereo speakers. Stock stereo and Harmon Kardon systems seem not to be impacted by this issue.
NHTSA complaint #11585538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. Airbag Light - Repaired on 9/18/23 ( cause : pass. front seat occupancy detection ) a. no explanation needed b. replaced by dealer c. warning chime and message on dash d. Labor and part cost $2380.93 2. Instrument Cluster - Repaired on 9/18/23 ( Blackout , loss of speedometer , fuel level , engine temp. directional indicator , etc. a. Cluster would blink ( on - off ) than total blackout. b. Labor and part cost $1905.28
NHTSA complaint #11547975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On Feb.3, 2023, my wife made a turn into a parking lot. She was driving our 2022 BMW 540. She paused and the engine began to rev up. It then shot forward nearly 50 feet and hurled her over a meridian into another car. She pressed as hard as she could on the brake and suffered a torn meniscus ligament. There were no warning lights and although the car hit front right, no airbags were executed. BMW has not sent an official detailed report from their engineer. BMW advertises brake override so pressing both the brake and accelerator would NOT result in this event.
NHTSA complaint #11513257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 540I. The contact stated that the dealer had previously performed an unknown air bag recall repair; however, the failure occurred a year after the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, an explosion was heard. The contact entered the vehicle and noticed that the passenger's side air bag had deployed, which shattered the front windshield. The air bag and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The driver's side air bag deployed a month later. The contact stated that there was no impact to the vehicle that could have caused the air bags to deploy. Additionally, the vehicle made an abnormal sound after it was turned off. The vehicle also needed to be jumpstarted daily due to the battery failing to retain a charge. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
NHTSA complaint #11513083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Daytime Running Lights on the driver's side are malfunctioning. Connection between headlight housing and the daytime running lights are melted. Dealer found faults stored for headlight malfunction. They recommended replacing headlighthousing and LED module. The dealer has reproduced and confirmed the issue.
NHTSA complaint #11508279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle was at a complete stop, when the gas pedal was tapped to move forward slightly the vehicle suddenly accelerated out of control. There was an attempt to apply the brakes, but the vehicle continued to accelerate and "Drive Train Malfunction" began to flash on the dashboard of the vehicle. The vehicle proceeded to accelerate as it jumped a curb, crashed into a ditch, before finally becoming lodged in a fence and coming to a complete stop when half of the vehicle was lifted off of the ground. The driver of the vehicle suffered a fractured back as a result of the incident. We have reported this incident to BMW and are awaiting a response from the manufacturer. The vehicle has been inspected by the driver's insurance and, while we do not have a report from them yet, the vehicle was totaled.
NHTSA complaint #11460740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The Instrument Cluster Display Shakes and goes completely black unable to know haw fast Your driving with all the system down You never know when its going to happen
NHTSA complaint #11457316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2021 BMW 540I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MULTIPLE DEFECTS DUE TO BATTERY MANAGEMENT ISSUE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MULITPLE OCCASIONS OF FAILURES WITH THE BREAKING SYSTEM. THE DRIVER HAD TO PRESS THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING, THE AUTOSTART ENGAGED INDEPENDTLY, AND LIGHTING/SPEAKER/SUNROOF MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #11449238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BACKUP CAMERA IS BLACKING OUT. VERY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2018-19 BMW'S BUT NOT FOR 2017 BMWS. FORUMS ALSO REPORT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS REVERSE CAMERA.
NHTSA complaint #11403652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR CHASSIS STABILIZATION AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP ALLEGES A RODENT GNAWED ON A ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. FROM WHAT I GATHER FROM THE DEALERSHIP THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED TO MAKE NECESSARY DESIGN CHANGES TO MAKE THESE WIRING HARNESSES INACCESSIBLE TO RODENTS. MY CASE IS NOT THE WORSE CASE SCENARIO BUT A FIRE COULD HAVE STARTED, MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE BECOME INOPERABLE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST FMVSS BE UPDATED TO ADDRESS THESE PRODUCT DESIGN DEFECTS. A WIRING HARNESS THAT CAN POTENTIAL DISABLE REGULAR FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN DEATH SHOULD NOT BE EASILY DISABLED BY A RODENT.
NHTSA complaint #11324466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V004000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,076.
NHTSA complaint #10732740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR MOVE. I HAD THE TRANS REBUILD AND 2 YEARS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TRANS HAS LOST GEARS 1-3 AND REVERSE, MULTISTATE REPAIRED THE TRANS AGAIN 2013, IFOR THE SECOND TIME, IT NEVER WORKED AFTER REPAIRS. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, BMW SAYS I NEED NEW TRANS AND ENGINE. WHEN I LOOKED UP RECALLS FOR 540I, IT STATES THE SAME TRANS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. WHEN I LOOK UP ENGINE THERE ARE KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH 540I, NOT MY VIN. I ALSO HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES, WHICH HAVE A RECALL ON 540I, BUT NOT MY VIN. ALSO ISSUES WITH COOLANT, WHICH IS ANOTHER KNOWN ISSUE, BUT NOT MY VIN. I HAVE TRIED TO GET BMW TO DIAGNOSE, BUT THEY ONLY RECOMMEND REPLACING ALL PARTS AT MY EXPENSE, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A HISTORY OF THESE TYPE OF ISSUES WITH THE 540I, 1999 CARS. I WANT BMW TO REPLACE ALL KNOW ISSUE PARTS AT THEIR EXPENSE AND THEY HAVE REFUSED DUE TO MY VIN, NOT WILLING TO ADD VIN TO THE ISSUE. ALL ISSUES WITH MY CAR ARE KNOWN ISSUES FOR 540I 1999 CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10588144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10556285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.