RoadVitals

1997 BMW 540 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
7
Latest Apr 15, 2011
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.
0
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Apr 17, 1997

What this page shows

Our database holds 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 BMW 540. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–7 of 7

Transmission
Filed Apr 15, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 540. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION RING GEAR FAILED AND CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP INTO SAFE MODE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

NHTSA ID
10396026
Incident
Mar 12, 2011
Mileage
141,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 15, 2003

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WEIGHT SYSTEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10019947
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 10, 1999

BURNED OUT ODOMETER/TRIP LEDS. SHOWS PARTIAL NUMBERS AND CHARACTERS ONLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
714581
Incident
Apr 1, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Feb 1, 1999

GLOVE COMPARTMENT LOCK CONTINUALLY FAILING/STICKING, REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES AND CONTINUES TO STICK. YH

NHTSA ID
609962
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 1, 1999

SIDEWALL FAILURE CAUSED HIGH SPEED BLOW OUT. CONTENENTAL SIZE - 225/55R16, DOT033208.

NHTSA ID
607607
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
Airbags
Filed Jul 1, 1997

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AFTER TURNING ON THE IGNITION. *AK

NHTSA ID
812806
Incident
May 26, 1997
Airbags
Filed Apr 17, 1997

DRIVER FEELS AIRBAGS ARE A PROBLEM FOR SHORT PEOPLE.

NHTSA ID
603110

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .