2000 BMW 540I
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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These records cover every 2000 BMW 540I. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 2000 BMW 540I. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If this happens, the brake lamps either will not operate or will be continuously illuminated, regardless of brake pedal position.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the existing brake lamp switch with an improved switch.
Owner complaints
31 complaints1 involved a crash2 involved a fire3 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Exterior lighting
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…
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
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…
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
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 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
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…
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
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…
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
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
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…
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
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
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
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…
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.
- Air bags
Bought a BMW with the airbag sign on from a car dealership. *Tr
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 BMW 540I. While the contact was driving approximately 1 mph in the driveway, there was a loud roaring noise outside of the vehicle. Immediately, the engine was turned off. The radiator fan blades detached, dented the hood, which caused the paint to peel and then fell to…
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 BMW 540I. While the contact was driving approximately 1 mph in the driveway, there was a loud roaring noise outside of the vehicle. Immediately, the engine was turned off. The radiator fan blades detached, dented the hood, which caused the paint to peel and then fell to the ground.. The failure mileage was 111,000. The contact was in the process of towing the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
- Electrical system · Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
Engine fire: electronic thermostat wires overheated and caused wires and electrical connectors to burn. smoke entered the cabin while driving and vehicle performance has been degraded. *Tr
- Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel · Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 BMW 540I. When the brakes were depressed, the traction did not hold or control the vehicle. The instrument panel gauge also failed to function properly when the ABS failed. The BMW manufacturer was called and informed the contact that his warranty had expired and he would be responsible for the repair cost. The vin was unknown. The failure mileage was 91,000.
- Air bags › Frontal · Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 BMW 540I. She stated that the battery continued to fail on the vehicle which caused several undisclosed electrical failures. The vehicle was taken to the dealer nine times to correct the faulty battery issue, to no avail. On a separate occasion, while the vehicle was…
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 BMW 540I. She stated that the battery continued to fail on the vehicle which caused several undisclosed electrical failures. The vehicle was taken to the dealer nine times to correct the faulty battery issue, to no avail. On a separate occasion, while the vehicle was sitting idle the frontal driver's and passenger's side air bags deployed which caused all of the windows to shatter. No one was in the vehicle at the time of failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they refused to repair the vehicle since the battery was purchased from a third party. No repairs were made to the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were under 36,206.
- Electrical system
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 BMW 540I. while driving less than 70 mph, the passenger compartment in the vehicle filled with smoke. the contact pulled the vehicle over and called the police and fire departments. it was determined that there was an electrical problem. the insurance company refused…
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 BMW 540I. while driving less than 70 mph, the passenger compartment in the vehicle filled with smoke. the contact pulled the vehicle over and called the police and fire departments. it was determined that there was an electrical problem. the insurance company refused to pay for any damage because there were no flames. an analysis was performed by BMW. the current mileage was 149,900. Updated 12/11/08. *lj updated 12/11/08
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
I have a 2000 BMW 540I (E39). my car was in a pristine condition, and all of sudden, the "engine failsafe prog" message came up, and the car shutdown. I took it to a dealership, and I was told the thermostat was burned badly, causing the engine wiring harness and dme burned as well. I believe…
I have a 2000 BMW 540I (E39). my car was in a pristine condition, and all of sudden, the "engine failsafe prog" message came up, and the car shutdown. I took it to a dealership, and I was told the thermostat was burned badly, causing the engine wiring harness and dme burned as well. I believe this IS a big safety concern for those that own this vehicle. I was quoted $3500 to fix this issue, and currently it's being repaired at BMW seattle. *tr
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module
I was moving my car in order to park it somewhere else. The car started then complete failure. The car cut off, no power brakes, no power steering. I had to press the brakes very hard to get stoppage. The thermostat shorted out and burned out the main computer. The car would not start. the main…
I was moving my car in order to park it somewhere else. The car started then complete failure. The car cut off, no power brakes, no power steering. I had to press the brakes very hard to get stoppage. The thermostat shorted out and burned out the main computer. The car would not start. the main computer was replaced, the wiring harness was burned out and several other electronic parts were replaced. The aluminum thermostat housing was melted and was replaced! Total of over $5,000 was required to fix. If a fuse had been there it would have been a couple of hundred dollars and if this had been on the road as speed it could have been extremely dangerous. *tr
- Air bags › Frontal
While driving 45 mph drivers air bag inadvertently deployed. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *Ak
- Air bags › Frontal
While driving 45 mph driver's air bag inadvertently deployed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
While driving coolant was leaking from the radiator. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
Radiator failure (blocked). *la
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
Radiator failure. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
Water pump failure.this IS a known defect that involves a high percentage of the E39 540I BMW. The failure of the pump IS known to happen between 5000-60000 miles and can put the driver in danger and cause unnecessary expensive repairs to be incurred on a car of this caliber. The water pump failure…
Water pump failure.this IS a known defect that involves a high percentage of the E39 540I BMW. The failure of the pump IS known to happen between 5000-60000 miles and can put the driver in danger and cause unnecessary expensive repairs to be incurred on a car of this caliber. The water pump failure in my case destroyed the main drive belt leaving me with out power steering, brakes, alternator etc. E39 owners who have had this experience should be reimbursed for the repairs and costs associated with the faulty design and problems associated with the water pump and cooling system. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
BMW 2000 540I, V8, failure (cracked, loss of coolant) of upper radiator hose connector. I had 3 1/2 yrs/45,000 miles on the car. Plastic component widely known among owners to be prone to failure. thanks to their advice on warning signs, I was able to stop under control and get repair without…
BMW 2000 540I, V8, failure (cracked, loss of coolant) of upper radiator hose connector. I had 3 1/2 yrs/45,000 miles on the car. Plastic component widely known among owners to be prone to failure. thanks to their advice on warning signs, I was able to stop under control and get repair without major incident; other unsuspecting drivers have been, and will be, less fortunate. to bmw's credit, they replaced my radiator under warranty. but this does not excuse a known design deficiency.*ak
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10249437The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- 10247567Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (- 0x33E) missing, receiver DME, transmitter TFE
- 10245422Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicles equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. Additionally, the red anti-theft alarm LED in the interior mirror does not briefly flash every 2 seconds, indicating the alarm is armed.
- 10160287TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.
- 10160244TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.
- 10154816In 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 open Takata recalls; and get rewarded for helping us with completing repairs.
- 10153726Takata class action settlement. Customer support program. Front driver side airbag modules.
- 10152674Radio / Navigation / Head Unit Identification Guide
- 10149557For 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 ?component-specific? customer support program applies only if there is a defect in materials or workmanship of the Takata driver?s side airbag module in a listed vehicle.
- 10135028SERVICE ACTION: PROGRAM DME: The incorrect dataset could be programmed into DME 5.2.1 control module.
- 10037025BMW: procedure for determining and replacing incandescent and halogen light bulbs under warranty.
- 10036979BMW: a new technical process has been created for BMW to identify causes of steering complaints with a wide range of models.
- 10033130BMW vehicles: fuel level sensor repairs. Where it IS necessary to replace the right or the left side fuel level sensor due to a failure, the entire pump and housing or delivery unit (suction jet assembly) do not need to be replaced as well. In some cases, epc does not show that the repair kit IS available separately in the illustration, but it IS available in the parts description. All models. No model years listed.
Every BMW 540I model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.