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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 BMW 540 Recalls & Complaints

The 2001 BMW 540 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 5 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 BMW 540. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2001 BMW 540 owner complaints

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW 540, describing incidents dated February 1, 2002 to September 22, 2017.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 2 complaints
  • Engine 1 complaint
  • Steering 1 complaint
  • Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11025102 · Filed

    DEALERSHIP IN CONCORD CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN TRYING TO DELAY REPAIRING MY VEHICLE AIRBAG EVEN AFTER APPOINTMENT. DID NOT EVEN START FIXING MY VEHICLE AFTER WAITING 5 PLUS HOURS.

  • ODI #10486741 · Filed

    I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND I HEARD A "PANG" SOUND FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, A MOMENT LATER MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A SAFE STOPPING PLACE TO BE TOWED BEFORE THE LOST BELT THAT FOLLOWED OVERHEATED ME. PUMP SNAPPED IN AT LEAST ONE PLACE MAKING THE PULLEY CROOKED…

  • ODI #10157708 · Filed

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A ROUND ROCK OF 4-5 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS DROVE OVER AND STRUCK THE FRONT AIR DAM RIGHT OF THE CENTER. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG AND THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD PROTECTION AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR…

Read all 5 complaints

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator may Rupture

NHTSA #17V047000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 20, 2017 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 230,117 vehicles

Repair completion: 24.66% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified March 15, 2017 · Vehicles built September 1, 2000 – February 28, 2002 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

DO NOT DRIVE — this recall carries a "do not drive" advisory. Contact a BMW dealer immediately.

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other BMW 540 model years

Check your 2001 BMW 540 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 540 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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