RoadVitals

1998 BMW 540I Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 BMW 540I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine1661.5%
  • Interior & seats27.7%
  • Body & structure27.7%
  • Suspension13.8%
  • Transmission13.8%
  • Airbags13.8%
  • Visibility13.8%
  • Brakes13.8%
  • Steering13.8%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

16
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jan 27, 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 · filed Jan 6, 2005
All 16 reports naming engine →

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRUNK LATCH FAILED. TRUNK STAYS OPEN. DEALER REPLECED ACTUATOR.

NHTSA ID 10039554 · filed Sep 25, 2003

TRUNK LATCH FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID 608051 · filed Feb 1, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

HANDLES (2 INCIDENTS) BROKE OFF IN THE NORMAL ACTION OF OPENING THE DOOR. NOTHING EXTRAORDINARY ABOUT THE SITUATION. SEEMS A VERY CHEAP COMPONENT ON A VERY SAFETY CONSCIOUS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 716738 · filed Jan 2, 2000

INTERIOR DOOR LATCH/HANDLE BROKEN AND FELL OFF OF DOOR, MUST BE OPENED FROM THE EXTERIOR. MJS

NHTSA ID 605962 · filed Feb 1, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Sep 26, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE DRIVE STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS FOR OVER 40 YEARS, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH PROBLEM UNTIL A PURCHASED A '95 540I (KNOW FOR POORLY DESIGNED CLUTCHES, PARTICULARLY THE PRESSURE PLATE). I BOUGHT THIS NEW '98 WITH HOPES THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED, NO SUCH LUCK. IF I HAD THE FAILURE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY OR CROWDED ROAD I EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THE TIME FOR THE CLUTCH TO STOP WORKING ENTIRELY WAS VERY SHORT.

NHTSA ID 540295 · filed Aug 24, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed May 21, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

SUNROOF FAILED AND MOVING UP AND DOWN ON BUMPS. DEALER REPLACED SLIDING MECHANISM. STILL RATTLES AND DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. DEALER DECLINES TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY. DOOR SEALS SQUEEK. DEALER LUBRICATED THEM. SILL SQUEEK AFTER A FEW DAYS. ALL CUP HOLDERS BROKEN. DEALER REPLACED THEM.

NHTSA ID 10039553 · filed Sep 25, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

BOTH SUN VISORS CRACKED ALONG WELD SEAM. REPLACED BY DEALER. TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCHE COVERS BROKEN. REPLACED BY DEALER. NOTICED THE DESIGN OF NEW COVERS IS DIFFERENT AND ELIMINATES RISK OF FAILURE. PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T HOLD. DEALER ADMITS BAD DESIN AND TRIED DIFFERENT SHOES WITHOUT SUCCESS IN PAST. DELER COULDN'T FIX, RESULTING IN SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID 10039551 · filed Sep 25, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

STEERING WHEEL COLUMN ADJUSTMENT FAILS. MAKING ADJUSTMENT OF STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE SAFE TO OPERATE. STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT SEAT ADJUMENTS FAIL TO OPERATE FORCING OPERATOR TO DRIVE WITHOUT ABILITY TO ADJUST STEERING WHEEL OR SEAT. HAS FORCED ME TO ABANDON VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID 712943 · filed Oct 7, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .