NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 BMW 540IAT Recalls & Complaints

The 1999 BMW 540IAT has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 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 1999 BMW 540IAT. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1999 BMW 540IAT owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 BMW 540IAT, describing incidents dated October 30, 2003 to March 10, 2004.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10062397 · Filed March 17, 2004
COMPLETE ABS FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONTROLLED EACH WHEEL DIFFERENTLY AT DIFFERENT TIMES, CAUSING THE CAR TO BUCK WILDLY AT HIGHWAY SAFE SPEEDS. WHILE BRAKING, THE CONTROLLER WENT BAD (WAS REPORTED TO DEALER PREVIOUSLY AND TOLD IT WAS THE BRAKE PADS - CHANGED AND…
ODI #10045859 · Filed November 10, 2003
RADIATOR FAILURE ON 1999 540 TOURING - DISABLES THE VEHICLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE FROM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHERE THE PANIC COULD ENDANGER OTHER DRIVERS, TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN THE DEAD OF WINTER BY YOURSELF. *AK - STEAM FROM FAILED RADIATOR BLOCKS VISION OF THE ROAD, OR WHATEVER ELSE IS IN THE…
ODI #740877 · Filed February 14, 2001
I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN OCCASIONAL HARD DOWNSHIFT OR CLUNK WHEN SLOWING MY VEHICLE AND THEN BRISKLY ACCELERATING. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM REPORTED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 240300.*AK

Read all 3 complaints

BMW/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NHTSA #99V005000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported January 4, 1999 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 249 vehicles

Owners notified February 25, 1999 · Vehicles built September 15, 1998 – October 27, 1998 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5HP24 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. PREMATURE WEAR OF THE RING GEAR CAN OCCUR, LEADING TO THE LOSS OF 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND REVERSE GEARS.

Safety consequence

IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS, THE CAR MAY NO LONGER OPERATE IN REVERSE, 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEARS.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 26, 1999.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 1-800-831-0117. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

BMW/GENERATOR CABLE ATTACHMENT

NHTSA #99V004000 · Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery — Cables · NHTSA notice

Reported January 4, 1999 · BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Potentially affected: 1,615 vehicles

Owners notified February 26, 1999 · Vehicles built August 28, 1998 – September 22, 1998 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THICKNESS OF THE MAIN POSITIVE ELECTRICAL CABLE (GENERATOR TO STARTER) INSULATION IS LESS THAN SPECIFIED, MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING ABRADED OR CUT BY THE CLIP THAT SECURES THE CABLE TO THE GENERATOR.

Safety consequence

THE CABLE INSULATION CAN BE WORN AWAY, EXPOSING THE WIRE. THE WIRE COULD CONTACT THE CLIP OR A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL APPLY A THICKNESS OF INSULATING TAPE TO THE CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE CLIP, AND INSTALL A REVISED CLIP.

Notes

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1999 BMW 540IAT. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 BMW 540IAT.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10062397

Incident: March 10, 2004 · Filed: March 17, 2004

COMPLETE ABS FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONTROLLED EACH WHEEL DIFFERENTLY AT DIFFERENT TIMES, CAUSING THE CAR TO BUCK WILDLY AT HIGHWAY SAFE SPEEDS. WHILE BRAKING, THE CONTROLLER WENT BAD (WAS REPORTED TO DEALER PREVIOUSLY AND TOLD IT WAS THE BRAKE PADS - CHANGED AND STILL HAD ISSUE) , LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEELS, CAUSED SLIDING CONDITION IN TRAFFIC, NEARLY COLLIDING WITH OTHER CARS AND UNDERPASS BARRICADE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIME AND HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER (NONE AT SPEEDS - 10 MPH OR UNDER - CONTROLLABLE AT THOSE SPEEDS). *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10045859

Incident: October 30, 2003 · Filed: November 10, 2003

RADIATOR FAILURE ON 1999 540 TOURING - DISABLES THE VEHICLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE FROM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHERE THE PANIC COULD ENDANGER OTHER DRIVERS, TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN THE DEAD OF WINTER BY YOURSELF. *AK - STEAM FROM FAILED RADIATOR BLOCKS VISION OF THE ROAD, OR WHATEVER ELSE IS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. - FAILURE CAN NOT BE PREDICTED BY VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE RADIATOR.

Power Train

ODI #740877

Filed: February 14, 2001

I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN OCCASIONAL HARD DOWNSHIFT OR CLUNK WHEN SLOWING MY VEHICLE AND THEN BRISKLY ACCELERATING. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM REPORTED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 240300.*AK

Other BMW 540IAT model years

Check your 1999 BMW 540IAT VIN

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

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