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BMW 540iaYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 42 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on record for the BMW 540ia.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints42Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls81989–2002 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

BMW 540ia years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 540ia median. Tap a year for its full report.

'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'97'98'99'00'01'02
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2002Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall2001Not rated–/1007 complaints · 3 recalls2000Not rated–/1008 complaints · 0 recalls1999Not rated–/10010 complaints · 2 recalls1998Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall1997Not rated–/10012 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1994Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1993Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1992Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1991Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1990Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1989Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common BMW 540ia problems

All model years combined: 42 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling263
Power train61
Air bags20
Electrical system21
Exterior lighting10
Latches/locks/linkages10
Equipment11
Seat belts10
Seats11
3 other systems30
8 recalls

BMW 540ia recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive03V-421 · 2001 · Oct 24, 2003 · 23,000 vehicles–Cooling system: fan02V-138 · 2001 · May 16, 2002 · 1,550 vehicles–Tires: sidewall01V-352 · 2002 · Nov 26, 2001 · 1,318 vehicles–Cooling system: fan01V-206 · 2001 · Jun 21, 2001 · 76,469 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission99V-005 · 1999 · Jan 4, 1999 · 249 vehicles–12v/24v/48v battery: cables99V-004 · 1999 · Jan 4, 1999 · 1,615 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling: cooling system98V-178 · 1989–1995 · Aug 4, 1998 · 340,000 vehicles–Driveline: differential unit98V-142 · 1998 · Jun 22, 1998 · 1,100 vehicles