RoadVitals

1999 BMW 540IA

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.
10
Latest Sep 20, 2009
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.
2
Latest Jan 4, 1999
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 BMW 540IA, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and exterior lighting categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 8 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

  • Engine654.5%
  • Brakes19.1%
  • Exterior lighting19.1%
  • Other / unspecified19.1%
  • Powertrain (other)19.1%
  • Transmission19.1%

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

2 campaigns 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
99V004000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Jan 4, 1999
1,615 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THICKNESS OF THE MAIN POSITIVE ELECTRICAL CABLE (GENERATOR TO STARTER) INSULATION IS LESS THAN SPECIFIED, MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING ABRADED OR CUT BY THE CLIP THAT SECURES THE CABLE TO THE GENERATOR.
The risk: THE CABLE INSULATION CAN BE WORN AWAY, EXPOSING THE WIRE. THE WIRE COULD CONTACT THE CLIP OR A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL APPLY A THICKNESS OF INSULATING TAPE TO THE CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE CLIP, AND INSTALL A REVISED CLIP.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov
99V005000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Jan 4, 1999
249 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5HP24 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. PREMATURE WEAR OF THE RING GEAR CAN OCCUR, LEADING TO THE LOSS OF 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND REVERSE GEARS.
The risk: IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS, THE CAR MAY NO LONGER OPERATE IN REVERSE, 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEARS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 10
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 20, 2009

I HAVE A 1999 540I AND THE REVERSE HAS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE FORWARD GEARS WORK PERFECTLY BUT THE REVERSE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE READ MANY SIMILAR STORIES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10284644
Incident
Mar 14, 2009
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 21, 2008
Fire reported

MY 1999 BMW 540I SPORT CAUGHT FIRE 12/19/08 WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME. I NOTICED FLAMES ABOUT 1:30 AM COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE HOOD. I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR TO DINNER THAT NIGHT AND IT WAS PARKED AND LOCKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICE THE FLAMES THROUGH THE WINDOW OF MY HOUSE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CAR WAS TOTALLY BURNED AND MELTED. ONLY THE REAR TRUNK AREA WAS LEFT. I COULD FIND NO MENTION OF THIS TYPE OF FIRE OCCURRING ON THE WEBSITES OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. NO RECALLS THAT I COULD FIND. MY CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED WHILE I HAD IT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD GOOD RECORDS ALSO. I HAD ONLY OWNED IT ABOUT 6 MONTHS. IT WAS BOUGHT FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10252453
Incident
Dec 19, 2008
Mileage
51,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 13, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540IA WITH FAILURE MILEAGE OF 100,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH HE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS BEGAN TO FUNCTION IMPROPERLY, AND COULD NOT BE OPERATED IN 1ST THROUGH REVERSE GEARS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BMW DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WOULD DO TO FIX THE RECALL. THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHOUT COST BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED BY NHTSA AND NOT BY THEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS OF 4-13-07 THE DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH, AND WANTED TO CHARGE HIM $5,000, EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.*AK

NHTSA ID
10187806
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 15, 2006

I HAD TROUBLES WITH MY ABS MODULE UNIT THAT IS ATTACHED TO MY BMW 1999 540IA. I HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT DISABLES THE ABS CONTROL OF MY CAR AND MANY OTHER SAME MODEL CARS AS MINE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE PART MYSELF DUE TO NO RECALL OR ACCEPTANCE FROM BMW THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH A SAFETY FEATURE ON MY AND MANY OTHER BMW'S SIMILAR TO MINE. THE FAILURE OCCURED OUT OF THE NOWHERE AND THE RESULTING PROBLEM IS THAT THE UNIT WOULD GO OFF AFTER CAR WOULD WARM UP THEN EVENTUALLY OVER TIME THE UNIT COMPLETELY FAILS AND DISABLES THE CARS ANTI BRAKING SYSTEM. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED BY ME AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET BMWNA OR ANYONE FROM BMW TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH MY UNIT. THE NEW PART COST ME ABOUT $700 AND THE LABOR WAS ABOUT $60 TO GET IT INSTALLED AND PROGRAMMED FROM TEH BMW DEALER AROUND HERE. I HAVE MY OLD PART IF THAT HELPS BUT IT IS OF NO USE. THX MICHAEL D. KARR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10147799
Incident
Mar 10, 2005
Mileage
106,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 12, 2005

RADIATOR CRACKED AT TOP HOSE INLET CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT

NHTSA ID
10128419
Incident
Jul 10, 2005
Mileage
35,499 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 6, 2005

1) CHECK COOLANT LEVEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TWICE IN 1 WEEK. KUNI BMW CONDUCTED MY FACTORY INSPECTION II SERVICE ONLY 2 MONTHS BEFORE THIS OCCURED. ) RADIATOR CRACKED WHERE THE UPPER HOSE ENTERS THE RADIATOR, LEAKING FLUID INTO THE ENGINE BAY AND GROUND. 3) REPLACE THE RADIATOR. THIS IS A WELL KNOW DEFECT ON THIS VEHICLE - WHY DOESN'T BMW DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?*AK

NHTSA ID
10105902
Incident
Jan 3, 2005
Mileage
54,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 9, 2004

RADIATOR FAILED ON MY 1999 BMW 540 AT 54,700 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS. THIS SAFETY PROBLEM: - DISABLES THE VEHICLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE FROM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHERE THE PANIC COULD ENDANGER OTHER DRIVERS, TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN THE DEAD OF WINTER BY YOURSELF. - STEAM FROM FAILED RADIATOR BLOCKS VISION OF THE ROAD, OR WHATEVER ELSE IS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. - FAILURE CAN NOT BE PREDICTED BY VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE RADIATOR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10102410
Incident
Dec 8, 2004
Mileage
54,750 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 2004

CRACK IN RADIATOR - NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10100578
Incident
Nov 24, 2004
Mileage
41,250 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 540IA by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002210—
2001730—
2000800—
1999Viewing102047.6
1998310—
1997120038.7
1996000—
1995010—
1994010—
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.