BMW 540i recalls and problems
17 recalls and 160 owner complaints for 12 model years. Pick your year for full details.
Recalls
17
Complaints
160
Crashes reported
13
Fires reported
2
Choose a model year
BMW 540i by year
Most reported BMW 540i problems
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 45 | |
| Electrical System | 35 | |
| Power Train | 18 | |
| Engine | 16 | |
| Seat Belts | 16 | |
| Seats | 14 | |
| Steering | 12 | |
| Unknown or Other | 12 | |
| Service Brakes | 9 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 |
All BMW 540i recalls
| Recall | Date | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V-525 | Aug 12, 2026 | 2021–2023 | Power Train | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2026 840i, 840i xDrive, 2021-2023 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, and 2024-2026 750e xDrive vehicles. |
| 24V-697 | Sep 18, 2024 | 2024 | Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes, Hydraulic | BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 X1, 2024-2025 X5, 2025 X6, 2023-2025 X7, 740i, 760i, 2024 XM, 530i, 540i, i7, 750e, X2, 2024-2025 i5, 2024 Rolls Royce Spectre, 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4, JCW… |
| 21V-598 | Aug 2, 2021 | 2020 | Engine | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 M340i, M340i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, X3 M40i, 2020-2021 X4 M40i, 745Le xDrive, 2019-2021 Z4 M40i, and 2020-2021 Toyota Supra vehicles. |
| 21V-554 | Jul 21, 2021 | 2021 | Seat Belts | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4… |
| 21V-096 | Feb 19, 2021 | 2020–2021 | Back Over Prevention | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7… |
| 21V-046 | Feb 3, 2021 | 2020–2021 | Power Train | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530i xDrive, 540i xDrive and 2021 740Li xDrive vehicles. |
| 20V-761 | Dec 9, 2020 | 2021 | Electrical System | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i… |
| 20V-598 | Sep 30, 2020 | 2020–2021 | Back Over Prevention | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e… |
| 20V-243 | Apr 29, 2020 | 2017 | Air Bags | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i and 540i xDrive and 2017-2018 530e xDrive vehicles. |
| 19V-684 | Sep 27, 2019 | 2018–2020 | Back Over Prevention | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i… |
| 19V-015 | Jan 14, 2019 | 2000–2003 | Do not driveAir Bags | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV… |
| 18V-465 | Jul 11, 2018 | 2018 | Engine and Engine Cooling | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. |
| 15V-318 | May 28, 2015 | 2002–2003 | Do not driveAir Bags | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes… |
| 03V-421 | Oct 24, 2003 | 2001 | Air Bags | On certain passenger vehicles, a microprocessor in the air bag control module, which activates the front air bags, the side air bags, the front seat safety belt pretensioners, and the battery safety terminal, may have a… |
| 02V-138 | May 16, 2002 | 2001 | Engine and Engine Cooling | On certain passenger vehicles, the engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. |
| 01V-206 | Jun 21, 2001 | 2001 | Engine and Engine Cooling | Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. |
| 00V-048 | Feb 17, 2000 | 2000 | Exterior Lighting | Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the worst year for the BMW 540i?
By owner complaints to NHTSA, the 2018 BMW 540i has the most reports (31). Check the 2018 page for the problems owners describe.
How many recalls does the BMW 540i have?
NHTSA lists 17 safety recalls covering BMW 540i model years 2000–2003, 2017–2024.
What are the most common BMW 540i problems?
Owners report air bags, electrical system, power train problems most often.