repaired · 2021 Q1
Sensing system: camera
Risk. The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
2018 BMW 540iProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 31 owner complaints about the 2018 BMW 540i, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-684 the manufacturer reports only 96% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 8, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 BMW 540i has problems
31 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
14Air bags
11Seat belts1 crash/fire/injury
10Seats1 crash/fire/injury
4Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
3Engine
2Power train
1Tires
1Visibility/wiper
1Lane departure
44 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 14 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 11 | 1 |
| Seats | 10 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 1 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 |
| Power train | 2 | 1 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 |
| 4 other systems | 4 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2018 BMW 540i recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other 540i year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 540i median. How we score
'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What 540i owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
On and off system notification of "Passenger Restraint System Malfunction" with and without a passenger in the seat. Also, the Airbag off/disabled light on the instrument cluster illuminated. Can't seem to declare if it is an electrical shortage, seatbelt buckle related or passenger pressure sensor…
"Passenger Restraint System (Malfunction)" warning appears on the main screen and instrument panel blocking other information and cannot be removed from instrument panel WHILE THE SEATBELT HAS WORKED NORMAL. I researched the problem and found several threads about this problem on the BMW owners…
i was just driving my bmw and a airbag light and a malfunction error popped up on my dashboard, that read that the Passenger restraint system has malfunctioned. and i was doing some research on what was wrong with my car, and all the forums are indicating that this is a very common issue on these…
Own a 2018 540i?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.