FaultScore
See all results →
All makes Worst years, ranked Problems by part Problems by model year Recalls in Canada Compare two cars How we grade

BMW 540IA problems

Owners have filed 48 complaints about the BMW 540IA with NHTSA across model years 1997 to 2002. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Every BMW 540IA year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2002 — 3 0 3 — Transmission & Drivetrain
2001 — 8 0 0 64,500 Engine & Cooling
2000 — 8 0 1 68,444 Engine & Cooling
1999 — 11 0 2 54,000 Engine & Cooling
1998 — 3 0 0 — Engine & Cooling
1997 — 15 3 3 65,000 Engine & Cooling

What breaks on a BMW 540IA

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 30 62.5%

Worst in 1997

Transmission & Drivetrain 6 12.5%

Worst in 1999

Electrical System 2 4.2%

Worst in 2001

Airbags 2 4.2%

Worst in 2001

Brakes 1 2.1%

Worst in 1999

Body & Structure 1 2.1%

Worst in 2000

Suspension 1 2.1%

Worst in 1997

Lights 1 2.1%

Worst in 1999

Seat Belts 1 2.1%

Worst in 2001

Seats 1 2.1%

Worst in 2002

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 2.1%

Worst in 1998

Equipment & Accessories 1 2.1%

Worst in 1999

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every BMW 540IA, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Apr 2001 peak 4 May 2017

Compare the BMW 540IA

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.

BMW 540IA vs Lucid AIR BMW 540IA vs Maserati Ghibli BMW 540IA vs Mini Cooper S Clubman BMW 540IA vs Lexus SC430 BMW 540IA vs Hyundai XG300 BMW 540IA vs Chevrolet Z71