RoadVitals

1995 BMW 540

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Dec 13, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 BMW 540, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and heating & air conditioning categories. 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine337.5%
  • Brakes112.5%
  • Heating & air conditioning112.5%
  • Electrical112.5%
  • Interior & seats112.5%
  • Visibility112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalVisibility
Filed Dec 13, 2011
Fire reported

DRIVING THROUGH THE BROOKLYN BATTERY TUNNEL HEADING INTO MANHATTAN THE BLOWER MOTOR IN MY CAR FAILED. I WAS DRIVING IN THE TUNNEL WHEN I TURNED ON THE HEAT IN MY CAR, THEN SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS. I TURNED OFF THE HEAT IMMEDIATELY. THE SMOKE BEGAN FILLING THE CABIN, SO I OPENED ALL OF THE WINDOWS IN THE CAR AND OPENED THE MOONROOF. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE OUT OF THE TUNNEL AND STOPPED AT THE EXIT OF THE TUNNEL IN MANHATTAN. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. ONE OF THE BROOKLYN BATTERY TUNNEL OFFICERS SAW ME GET OUT OF THE CAR AND SEES THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE CAR. AT THIS POINT THERE WAS MELTING PLASTIC THAT WAS SURROUNDED IN FLAMES FALLING FROM WHERE THE BLOWER MOTOR IS LOCATED ONTO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE CARPET SURROUNDING THE THESE PEDALS. THE OFFICERS PUT OUT THE MELTING PLASTIC THAT WAS ON FIRE WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. THEY ALSO SPRAYED FIRE EXTINGUISHER MATERIAL IN THE AREA THE MELTING PLASTIC THAT WAS ON FIRE WAS FALLING FROM. THE OFFICERS THEN SEEING THE SMOKE RISING OUT THE AIR VENTS SPRAYED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER MATERIAL INTO AIR VENTS. THE FDNY SHORTLY SHOWED UP AT THE SCENE AND SPRAYED THE ENGINE BAY WITH THE WATER HOSE FROM THE FIRE TRUCK, AND SPRAYED MORE FIRE EXTINGUISHER MATERIAL INTO THE AIR VENTS, AND THEN DISCONNECTED THE CAR BATTERY. THE BLOWER MOTOR BECAME SO HOT IT IGNITED THE CABIN FILTER AND THE LEAVES AND PINE NEEDLES THAT THE CABIN FILTER WAS FILTERING FROM THE FRESH AIR INLET. THE FUSE FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR DID NOT BREAK UNTIL THE AREA THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS IN BECAME SO HOT, THAT IT MELTED THE INSULATION OF THE WIRES LOCATED AROUND THE BLOWER MOTOR. BECAUSE THE INSULATION OF THE WIRES MELTED NOT ONLY DID THE FUSE FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR BREAK, BUT FIVE OTHER FUSES BROKE AS WELL. THERE IS AN INCIDENT REPORT ON FILE WITH THE TRIBOROUGH BRIDGE AND TUNNEL AUTHORITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10439751
Incident
Nov 19, 2011
Mileage
76,500 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 16, 2002

ENGINE CYLINDER WALL CORROSION, KNOWN AS NICKEL CELL CORROSION, CAUSED BY FUEL CONTACTING CYLINDER WALL. EVENTUALLY THE CORROSION CREATES A HOLE IN THE CYLINDER WALL, LEAKS AND LOSS OF COMPRESSION. CONTINUES TO GET WORSE OVER TIME. MECHANIC SAYS ITS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT, BMW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS AND 100000 MILES BECAUSE OF IT. IS THE MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS DEFECT? HOW MANY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED? WHEN DID BMW EXTEND THE WARRANTY? WHY WEREN'T EXISTING OWNERS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM? ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TS *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS****760777

NHTSA ID
10008795
Incident
Apr 16, 2002
Mileage
111,047 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Apr 16, 2002

THERE'S A HOLE IN CYLINDER, WHICH MAKES VEHICLE HARD TO DRIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
8007777
Incident
Apr 15, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 9, 2000

DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH ON ITS RAILS AND FEELS LOOSE. SEAT BELT IS ANCHORED TO SEAT. SEEMS LIKE SEAT ASSEMBLY MIGHT COME OFF IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO VERY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID
718498
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Aug 29, 1995

ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE FAILED. *DH

NHTSA ID
601460
Incident
Feb 4, 1995
Engine
Filed Aug 29, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. *DSH

NHTSA ID
488440
Incident
Aug 10, 1995

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

61 20 96

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

FAULTY IGNITION/STARTER SWITCH. *TW

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 540 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002010—
2001510—
1999300—
1997700—
1996000—
1995Viewing600—
1994200—
1993000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.