RoadVitals

1998 BMW 540I

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.
26
Latest May 21, 2021
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.
1
Latest Jun 22, 1998
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.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 26 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 BMW 540I, most frequently naming the engine, interior & seats and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 20 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

  • Engine1661.5%
  • Interior & seats27.7%
  • Body & structure27.7%
  • Suspension13.8%
  • Transmission13.8%
  • Airbags13.8%
  • Visibility13.8%
  • Brakes13.8%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
98V142000

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

Jun 22, 1998
1,100 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DIFFERENTIAL PINION SHAFT WITHIN THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE ASSEMBLY WAS PRODUCED WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE SURFACE HARDENING. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE SHAFT EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WEAR.
The risk: THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE A NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND, ULTIMATELY, FAILURE OF THE SHAFT AND LOSS OF DRIVE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 26
Airbags
Filed May 21, 2021
1 injury reported

While stopped (engine still running) at a gas station, the driver side airbag and driver side side curtain airbag both went off. The battery disconnect feature was also triggered. Very lucky I wasn't driving when this occurred.

NHTSA ID
11418089
Incident
May 17, 2021
Engine
Filed Jan 27, 2005

WHITE STEAM WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ONTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE STEAM WAS FOGGING THE WINDSHIELD, AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER NECK CONNECTOR OF THE RADIATOR HOSE BROKE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10109039
Incident
Jan 24, 2005
Mileage
86,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 6, 2005

2ND CATASTROPHIC RADIATOR FAILURE. NOT A LEAK, THE NECK BREAKS OFF CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF COOLING. 1ST RADIATOR AT 45K, 2ND AT 92K. BASED ON OTHER'S EXPERIENCES, THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS MODEL (AND EVEN LONGER LIFE THAN MANY). CAUSES LOSS OF VISION DUE TO AMOUNT OF STEAM RELEASED. LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING VEHICLE TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD QUICKLY TO SHUT DOWN. NO WAY TO PREDICT THE FAILURE. SAME ISSUE WITH EXPANSION TANK. BOTH FAILURES ARE ON PLASTIC PARTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10105896
Incident
Feb 12, 2004
Mileage
92,801 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 2, 2004

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET ONE EVENING AND AS I CAME TO A LIGHT, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF MY HOOD. FORTUNATELY IT WAS IN THE EVENING AND TRAFFIC WAS LIGHTER THAN USUAL. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAVING KNOWN OTHERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, I FIRST CHECKED THE RADIATOR AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK DOWN THE SIDE OF THE HOUSING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND PURCHASED A NEW RADIATOR FROM BMW OF SEATTLE THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THE NEW RADIATOR WAS ABOUT $200, A FEW HOURS OF MY OWN LABOR AND A FEW MORE HOURS DETAILING THE ENGINE PAY AND HEADLIGHTS WHICH HAD RADIATOR FLUID ALL OVER THEM. ALSO FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS WHO OWN E39 BMW 540S, I FULLY EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE NEXT 50K MILES. I ALSO EXPECT THE EXPANSION TANK TO GO WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079183
Incident
May 2, 2004
Mileage
49,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 17, 2004

PLASTIC NECK OF RADIATOR ON MY '98 BMW 540IA BROKE COMPLETELY AND SUDDENLY ON HIGHWAY. WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT UNDER THE HOOD. SAW TEMP GAUGE CLIMB UP RAPIDLY. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. NO ONE WAS HURT LUCKILY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10062384
Incident
Oct 20, 2003
Mileage
61,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 10, 2003

MULTIPLE COOLANT DEFECTS ON THE 1998 540. THE CAR HAS NOW HAD 3 RADIATORS, 3 THERMASTATS, WATER TUBE SEALS REPLACED TWICE, AND A WATER PUMP. THE COSTS HAVE BEEN OVER $3,500. THESE LEAKS ARE NOT JUST EXPENSIVE, THEY POSE A REAL DANGER TO CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY AND DAMAGE. THE FAILURE RATE IS KNOWN TO BE VERY HIGH. HTTP://WWW.VOTATIONS.COM/ASP/SURVEYRESULTS.ASP?POLLID=66461 .*AK

NHTSA ID
10045871
Incident
Nov 3, 2003
Mileage
60,139 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 26, 2003

DRIVER-SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING MAKES NOISE WHEN WHEEL SPINS FREELY. THIS WAS REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER IN PAST. DEALER REPLACED PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT BEARING ! DRIVER-SIDE BERAING STILL NOISY. WAITING FOR COMPLETE FAILURE TO PROVE DEALER WRONG. FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE MARGINALLY DESIGNED FOR BMW 540I, THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON VARIOUS WEB SITES OF BMW OWNERS. BEARINGS LAST 75,000 MILES!

NHTSA ID
10039560
Incident
Jul 2, 2003
Mileage
51,488 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 26, 2003

ENGINE COOLING RADIATOR HOSE FITTING BROKE OFF. LOST ALL COOLANT ON HIGHWAY. DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR UNDER WARRANTY AND STATED IT IS COMMON FAILURE ON 540I BMW DUE TO PLASTIC PARTS NOT STONG ENOUGH TO RESIST TEMPERATURE. WELL DOCUMENTED ON PRIVATE WEB SITES.

NHTSA ID
10039559
Incident
Apr 26, 2003
Mileage
50,339 mi

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.

B013118

AIR BAGS

TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.

B013118

AIR BAGS

TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.

B011618

AIR BAGS; AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

TAKATA CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULES.

B650916

EQUIPMENT

Radio / Navigation / Head Unit Identification Guide

B011618

AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?) will provide a Customer Support Program as outlined in the Takata Settlement Customer Support Program Overview attachment. This ?component-specific? customer support program applies only if there is a defect in materials or workmanship of the Takata driver?s side airbag module in a listed vehicle.

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 540I by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025100—
2024510—
2023500—
2022301—
2021851—
2020350—
2019111052.2
2018292055.4
2017201144.8
2003720—
2002122044.3
2001154056.6
2000312051.3
1999221036.1
1998Viewing261038.8
1997270038.2
1996000—
1995102050.2
1994840—
1993010—
1992010—
1991010—
1990010—
1989010—

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.