NHTSA vehicle safety data

2000 BMW 540I Recalls & Complaints

The 2000 BMW 540I has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 31 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 2000 BMW 540I. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2000 BMW 540I owner complaints

Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 BMW 540I, describing incidents dated October 10, 2000 to September 27, 2024.

Most-cited components

Engine 10 complaints
Air Bags 8 complaints
Electrical System 8 complaints
Exterior Lighting 3 complaints
Unknown or Other 2 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint

Of the 31 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 2 a fire; across all 31 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11618240 · Filed October 5, 2024
The audio suddenly stops and my turn signals also stop working. When this happens when I'm in traffic, this is very frightening because I cannot signal lane changes or turns. Turning off the ignition and restarting the car always fixes the turn signals but only sometimes fixes the audio. It usually…
ODI #11539678 · Filed August 20, 2023
Car had sat for about a week since I had driven it. I opened the driver door, inserted the key, and turned the key to the starting position. It failed to crank after the dash lights lit up and then the driver steering wheel airbag deployed in my face. The car was on flat ground and the temperature…
ODI #11530722 · Filed July 6, 2023
I needed to move the car after it was sitting for about 3 weeks. It would not start due to the battery was run down. As soon as I started charging the battery, the front passenger airbag exploded causing extensive damage to the dashboard and windshield. Thank god my wife was not sitting in the car…

Read all 31 complaints

Inflators In Sports Steering Wheels May Explode

NHTSA #19V015000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 14, 2019 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 157,549 vehicles

Repair completion: 23.18% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified March 14, 2019 · Vehicles built September 1, 2000 – July 4, 2003 (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 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 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. 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.

BMW/BRAKE LAMPS

NHTSA #00V048000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported February 17, 2000 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 17,700 vehicles

Owners notified May 15, 2000 · Vehicles built September 11, 1999 – October 28, 1999 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION.

Safety consequence

IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WITH AN IMPROVED SWITCH.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 15, 2000.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2000 BMW 540I. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

31 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2000 BMW 540I.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11618240

Incident: September 27, 2024 · Filed: October 5, 2024

The audio suddenly stops and my turn signals also stop working. When this happens when I'm in traffic, this is very frightening because I cannot signal lane changes or turns. Turning off the ignition and restarting the car always fixes the turn signals but only sometimes fixes the audio. It usually takes several restarts before the audio works. When in the failed condition with no audio and no turn signals and the engine running, disconnecting the Dynavin D9 "ibus box" from the vehicle instantly fixes the turn signals but not the audio. It has not been reproduced or confirmed nor has it been inspected. There is never any warning before the problem appears. I have been in continuous contact with the manufacturer in California. They sent a new ibus box, hoping that would fix the problem but it did not.

Air Bags

ODI #11539678

Incident: July 22, 2023 · Filed: August 20, 2023

Car had sat for about a week since I had driven it. I opened the driver door, inserted the key, and turned the key to the starting position. It failed to crank after the dash lights lit up and then the driver steering wheel airbag deployed in my face. The car was on flat ground and the temperature was not extremely hot or extremely cold. The previous several times I had driven the car there was no indication of an SRS light and the car started perfectly every time.

Air Bags

ODI #11530722

Incident: July 6, 2023 · Filed: July 6, 2023

I needed to move the car after it was sitting for about 3 weeks. It would not start due to the battery was run down. As soon as I started charging the battery, the front passenger airbag exploded causing extensive damage to the dashboard and windshield. Thank god my wife was not sitting in the car. I have not contacted anyone about this. It happened a few hours ago. It is about 93 degrees with very high humidity. I am sending this report because someone could have been killed.

Engine

ODI #10569285

Incident: December 11, 2013 · Filed: March 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS METAL SHARDS STARTED TO FALL FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE COOLANT WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH FAN HAD BECOME SEPARATED AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH FAN WAS FRACTURED AND CUTTING THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10552200

Fire

Incident: October 22, 2013 · Filed: November 14, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, CAUSING THEM TO OVERHEAT AND MELT THE CASING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V048000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,021.

Engine

ODI #10519549

Incident: June 10, 2013 · Filed: June 12, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HYDRO-LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. *TR

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting; Unknown or Other

ODI #10488935

Incident: November 15, 2012 · Filed: December 16, 2012

WIRING HARNESS IN LOOM AT CONNECTION BETWEEN BODY AND TRUNK LID IS SHOWING CRACKED WIRES WHICH CAN LEAD TO A VARIETY OF SYMPTOMS WHEN WIRES SHORT. TRUNK WILL ONLY OPEN MANUALLY WITH KEY. KEY FOB REMOTE AND INSIDE VEHICLE TRUNK RELEASE DO NOT WORK. TRUNK CANNOT BE OPENED WHEN DOORS ARE UNLOCKED USING TRUNK HANDLE. OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE MANY FALSE DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATORS RANGING FROM LOW COOLANT, TRUNK LID NOT CLOSED, ETC. WIRING SHORT COULD BE FIRE HAZARD. MANY EXAMPLE CASES CAN BE FOUND HERE HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=397245. *TR

Steering

ODI #10438144

Incident: November 30, 2011 · Filed: December 2, 2011

LUCKY I WAS STOPPED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. MY ENGINE MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE AND CUT OUT. I WENT TO RESTART MY ENGINE AND NOTICED THAT ALL MY INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON. I WENT TO DRIVE AND MY POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY SHOT. COME TO FIND OUT THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE WITH NO REAL WARNING. IF I HAD BEEN AT A HIGH SPEED THIS COULD HAVE LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10432977

Incident: October 27, 2011 · Filed: October 27, 2011

LIKE 80% OF OWNERS OF BMW 540I, 740I, 740IL, X5 OWNERS FROM YEARS 1999-2003 SUFFER FROM FACTORY DEFECT VARIABLE VALVE TIMING UNITS OR AS BMW CALLS IT VANOS. THE PARTS ON THE INSIDE CAUSE TERRIBLE DIESEL TYPE NOISES. I'VE TALKED TO MANY CERTIFIED MECHANICS WHO HAVE TOLD ME IF AFFECTS HOW THE ENGINE RUNS AND PERFORMS. *TT

Air Bags

ODI #10392144

Crash 1 injury

Incident: February 27, 2011 · Filed: March 18, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN ROAD DEBRIS CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED BUT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE IMPACT FROM THE DEBRIS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Other BMW 540I model years

Check your 2000 BMW 540I VIN

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

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