no report yet
Driveline: driveshaft
NewRisk. An unexpected loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
2021 BMW 540iProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 10 owner complaints about the 2021 BMW 540i, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-096 the manufacturer reports only 96% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 4, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 BMW 540i has problems
10 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
3Service brakes1 crash/fire/injury
3Power train
3Electrical system
1Seat belts
1Steering
1Wheels
1Engine
1Forward collision avoidance1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 3 | 1 |
| Power train | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2021 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 · 2023 Q2
Seat belts
Risk. During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Sensing system: camera
Risk. If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
repaired · 2022 Q4
Driveline: driveshaft
Risk. A broken output shaft can lead to a loss of drive power or a rollaway condition in a parked vehicle (if the parking brake is not engaged), increasing the risk…
Show 2 more recalls
repaired · 2022 Q4
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery
Risk. Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Sensing system: camera
Risk. If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
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
2021 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
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2021 BMW 540i, and the recalls they led to.
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
- Driveshaft to rear differential connection failureNo recall
In owners' words
What 540i owners report
Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
In November 2025 my breaks quit working. I had AAA haul my car to a repair shop. They ran the codes on the car and found that it was related to a recall on 2021 BMW 540i's for the oil vacuum pump assembly, pan and gasket. I then had it towed to BMW and found out that my vin was not in the recall.…
We notice the lose of braking power right after we started the car on 4/30 morning. The car was totally fine before that. took it to the BMW dealer they said the problem is "Vacuum/oil pump failing internally. fault for brake booster pressure switch, no brake boost" I find that there is a recall…
Unintended car acceleration, with complete brake failure. No software warning icons in dash, no collision avoidance or ABS triggered even though car so equipped. Crashed into rear end of stationery vehicle,. [XXX], MN police were called. Incident report # attached. (1st image) Western National…
Own a 2021 540i?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.