1997 BMW 540IA
0 recalls, 15 complaints - 13 TSBs
No recalls found for this vehicle.
Complaint Statistics
15 total complaints
3 crashes 3 fires
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 1 |
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
Feb 10, 2006
Incident date: Feb 2, 2006
I HAVE A 1997 540 BMW WITH 180,000 MI. INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF A FLAT DRIVER SIDE RIGHT FRONT TIRE I DISCOVERED THE FRONT SPRING STRUT PLATE WAS CRACKED AND ALLOWED ITSELF AND THE COIL SPRING TO CONTACT AND CUT DOWN THE TIRE. FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 04V183000 DESCRIBING EXACT CONDITION. TOWE... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
Dec 8, 2005
Incident date: Dec 6, 2005
1. BROUGHT MY CAR TO FIRESTONE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA AND HAD THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED - WORK COMPLETED BY FIRESTONE - 2-5 DAYS LATER WENT TO BEVERLY HILLS BMW TO HAVE COOLANT RESEVOIR REPLACED WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW THERMOSTAT (JUST REPLACED AT FIRESTONE) AND WATER PUMP AND T... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
Mar 17, 2004
Incident date: Apr 1, 2003
A FAULTY RADIATOR DESIGN (PLASTIC NECK?) CAUSED MY 97 BMW 540IA TO BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. *NM
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
Oct 29, 2003
Incident date: Jan 15, 2003
RADIATOR/OVERFLOW TANK ON MY 1997 BMWS 540IA CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 85,000 MILES. THE RADIATORS IN BMWS ARE KNOWN AS A WEAKNESS AND CONTINUALLY FAIL ON OWNERS. THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE REMEDIED!*AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
Sep 16, 2003
Incident date: May 1, 2003
THE RADIATOR HOSE CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR FAILED COMPLETELY. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND SPLIT UNDER COOL WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE RADIATOR, AND REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR OVERFLOW CONTAINER. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE USE OF PLASTIC IN THIS APPLICATION R... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
Aug 27, 2003
Incident date: Aug 23, 2003
RADIATOR DEFECT -- PLASTIC NECK OF RADIATOR CONNECTING TO UPPER HOSE BROKE AT POINT OF CONNECTION WHILE AT MODERATE SPEED, SPRAYING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE AND WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING RISKS OF FIRE AND HAZARDOUS IMPAIRMENT OF VISABILITY. THIS DEFECT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND A RECALL SHOULD ... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Aug 27, 2003
Incident date: Aug 23, 2003
RADIATOR DEFECT -- PLASTIC NECK OF RADIATOR CONNECTING TO UPPER HOSE BROKE AT POINT OF CONNECTION WHILE AT MODERATE SPEED, SPRAYING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE AND WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING RISKS OF FIRE AND HAZARDOUS IMPAIRMENT OF VISABILITY. THIS DEFECT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND A RECALL SHOULD ... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
Jul 29, 2003
Incident date: Jul 13, 2003
1997 BMW 540IA RADIATOR FAILURE. UPPER HOSE CONNECTION CRACKED OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DUMP OF ENGINE COOLANT. VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY DISABLED.*AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
May 19, 2003
Incident date: May 10, 2003
AT THE PRECISE MOMENT I FULLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO PASS A SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE, CAUSING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DOWN SHIFT, THE RADIATOR UPPER NECK BROKE OFF, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT. SIGNIFICANT STEAM WAS GENERATED FROM THE LEAK AND CAUSED A CLOUD BEHIND MY CAR THAT COULD HAV... Read more
AIR BAGS
May 15, 2003
Incident date: May 1, 2003
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS DUE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WEIGHT SYSTEM. *NLM *SCC *JB
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Jan 24, 2003
Incident date: Nov 26, 1998
RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1997 BMW 540I. CAR QUICKLY OVERHEATED SEVERELY AND SHUT DOWN ON INTERSTATE 5 IN STOCKTON, CA WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD IN THE CAR. THE SYSTEM FAILED A SECOND TIME IN MARCH 2002. SAME OCCURANCE, RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON HIGHWAY 580 IN TRACY, C... Read more
Crash
Fire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
Jan 24, 2003
Incident date: Nov 26, 1998
RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1997 BMW 540I. CAR QUICKLY OVERHEATED SEVERELY AND SHUT DOWN ON INTERSTATE 5 IN STOCKTON, CA WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD IN THE CAR. THE SYSTEM FAILED A SECOND TIME IN MARCH 2002. SAME OCCURANCE, RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON HIGHWAY 580 IN TRACY, C... Read more
Crash
Fire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Jan 24, 2003
Incident date: Nov 26, 1998
RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1997 BMW 540I. CAR QUICKLY OVERHEATED SEVERELY AND SHUT DOWN ON INTERSTATE 5 IN STOCKTON, CA WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD IN THE CAR. THE SYSTEM FAILED A SECOND TIME IN MARCH 2002. SAME OCCURANCE, RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON HIGHWAY 580 IN TRACY, C... Read more
Crash
Fire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
Dec 19, 2002
Incident date: Nov 12, 2001
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, STEAM STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE, OBSTRUCTING CONSUMERS VISION. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND CHECK UNDER THE HOOD, AND OBSERVED THAT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE RADIATOR HAD BROKE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED RADIATOR, AND INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PRO... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Dec 5, 2002
Incident date: Apr 14, 2001
UPPER RADIATOR NECK BROKE OFF FROM RADIATOR DURING NORMAL DRIVING. RADIATOR WAS REPLACED BY DEALER WITH IDENTICAL COMPONENT. I EXPECT THE RADIATOR WILL FAIL AGAIN WITHIN 80,000 MILES FROM TIME OF INCIDENT. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DUE TO OBSCURED VISION FROM ... Read more
Technical Service Bulletins, 1997 BMW 540IA
13 manufacturer communications from 8 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.
Most Affected Components
| Component | Bulletins |
|---|---|
| 140000 AIR BAGS | 5 |
| 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| 160000 STRUCTURE | 1 |
| 353400 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 1 |
| 071100 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| 350000 EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| 140100 AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE | 1 |
| 133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
B510819
Jan 16, 2024
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
B510819
Jan 16, 2024
133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
B013118
Apr 1, 2019
140000 AIR BAGS
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.
B013118
Apr 1, 2019
140000 AIR BAGS
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.
B011618
Jan 1, 2019
140000 AIR BAGS
TAKATA CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULES.
B011618
Jan 1, 2019
140100 AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
TAKATA CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULES.
B650916
Nov 1, 2018
350000 EQUIPMENT
Radio / Navigation / Head Unit Identification Guide
B011618
Oct 1, 2018
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?) will provide a Customer Support Program as outlined in the Takata Settlement Customer Support Program Overview attachment. This ?comp
B011618
Oct 1, 2018
140000 AIR BAGS
For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?) will provide a Customer Support Program as outlined in the Takata Settlement Customer Support Program Overview attachment. This ?comp
B080119
Feb 1, 2018
140000 AIR BAGS
In an effort to improve the completion rate on Takata air bag recall affected vehicles; BMW NA has expanded the BMW Ultimate Rewards platform to include a new Recall Support page. This page will allow IRFs to check their customers VINs for
84 01 97
Dec 1, 1997
353400 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
BMW NAVIGATION SYSTEM CD V 05 OPERATING SOFTWARE FOR MARK I SYSTEM.
16 06 97
Nov 1, 1997
071100 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL LEVEL SENSOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING PRODUCTION WHICH WILL CAUSE FUEL GAUGE TO READ APPROXIMATELY 3/4 FULL EVEN IF TANK IS COMOPLETELY FULL. *AK
11 05 97
Jul 1, 1997
160000 STRUCTURE
LEFT SIDE ENGINE SUPPORT MAY CONTACT THE FRONT SUBFRAME, CAUSING A DRONE NOISE. *AK
BMW 540IA - All Years Overview
Complete safety history for the BMW 540IA across all model years (1989, 2002).
14
Total Recalls
48
Total Complaints
0
Investigations
3
Reported Crashes
9
Reported Fires
0
Reported Deaths
BMW 540IA - Year by Year
Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.