2023 BMW 540I

Recalls

1 recall names the 2023 BMW 540I. Newest first.

• Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft

  Aug 12, 2026NHTSA 26V52500036,823 vehicles

  BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2026 840i, 840i xDrive, 2021-2023 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, and 2024-2026 750e xDrive vehicles. The connection between the driveshaft and the rear differential may become damaged, possibly resulting in a loss of power to the rear wheels or a vehicle rollaway.

  Risk and remedy

  Risk

  An unexpected loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. In addition, a damaged driveshaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

  Remedy

  Dealers will inspect the connection between the driveshaft and rear axle differential, and apply adhesive or replace the driveshaft and rear axle differential, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 8, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 2, 2026.

  Full recall details →

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Back over prevention2
2. Service brakes2
3. Power train1
4. Structure1
5. Tires1
6. Vehicle speed control1

Latest complaints

• Oct 19, 2026NY
  Power train
  I received a recall notice for my vehicle that states that the connection between the driveshaft and rear differential may, over time, be subject to excessive wear. This could lead to a loss of power to the rear wheels, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH, OR A ROLLAWAY IF THE VEHIOCLE IS NOT…

  I received a recall notice for my vehicle that states that the connection between the driveshaft and rear differential may, over time, be subject to excessive wear. This could lead to a loss of power to the rear wheels, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH, OR A ROLLAWAY IF THE VEHIOCLE IS NOT SECURED WITH A PARKING BRAKE. This is a serious safety issue, but the manufacturer failed to state when the repair is to be made or how to safely drive the vehicle with the stated defect.

• May 20, 2026TN
  Back over prevention › Rearview system braking

  My vehicle offers rear traffic alert system, but it is not working properly. It's a safety issue that I almost caused several accidents because of it. The vehicle is available for inspection. Safety to me and others are at risk because the feature is not working (rear traffic alert system). I have an appointment on May 28, 2026 to have the BMW dealership look into it. There were no warning lamps or messages.

• Sep 26, 2024CACrash
  Service brakes · Structure › Body · Vehicle speed control
  About June 2024 when I was driving downslope at about 30 MPH, when I hit break the car accelerated. Fortunately, nobody and no car were around and I gained control of the car by pumping the break. I did not think much about this issue to report it. On August 23, 2024, I was driving home. I was very…

  About June 2024 when I was driving downslope at about 30 MPH, when I hit break the car accelerated. Fortunately, nobody and no car were around and I gained control of the car by pumping the break. I did not think much about this issue to report it. On August 23, 2024, I was driving home. I was very close to my home at very low speed (about 1-2 MPH). I hit the break and the car accelerated for the second time crashing into my next door neighbor's house damaging his bushes, steps, spriklers and the gate. My car sustained considerable amount of damages. It was in the BMW Authorized body shop about a month. I received the car on 9/25/2024.

• Mar 31, 2024OH
  Back over prevention › Rearview system braking
  The rear cross tracking warning system does not provide an audible warning or apply brakes. The settings have been set, and verified with the dealer, including the most sensitive sensor level and loudest audio alert level. I have gone to two different dealers in Ohio and Florida and got the same…

  The rear cross tracking warning system does not provide an audible warning or apply brakes. The settings have been set, and verified with the dealer, including the most sensitive sensor level and loudest audio alert level. I have gone to two different dealers in Ohio and Florida and got the same response, “it works as designed”. My brother in law has a 2023 BMW 440i and has the same issue, with the same results with dealer responses. It’s a well known issue in the BMW community since 2019 models, yet the company doesn’t fix. Not only is it dangerous backing out of parking spaces etc., but it causes a lack of faith in the other critical safety features which you rely on, but cannot easily check; like adaptive cruise and forward collision features.

• Mar 27, 2024RICrash
  Service brakes

  Car did not fully stop when brakes engaged. Caused collision with a wall. Mechanics are currently evaluating the braking system but it appears to be consistent with the brake recall issued for other 2023-4 BMW vehicles—loss of power brake assist or antilock brake to not function properly. (See National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Campaign Number 24V-104 reported on February 12, 2024).

• Nov 10, 2023MD
  Tires

  size 19. I have had two tires fail in 3 months. Less than 3k miles on both. There was no road hazard but both tires blew out on the side.

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.

• 10252038Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage supply The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following DME Fault Code: 21B209 - Starter alternator / belt for 48V system (OSA_RIEMEN_RISS): Belt betweenCombustion engine and starter generator torn And/or one or more of the following other issues are also occurring: Noise in the area of the belt drive. Odor from the engine compartment. Smoke formation in the area of the belt drive. Drive belt damaged or prematurely worn. Torn drive belt.
• 10252031One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
• 10249437The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
• 10249032The Central Information Display goes black intermittently due to resets of the Head Unit (HU-H3). FaultB7F8F9 HU-H: Reset will be stored in the HU-H3.
• 10249027The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle discharged battery complaints.
• 10249018At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. This can be felt (jerking)/ heard via an acoustic acknowledgement (clunk) as seen at the 11 second mark of the video. See attached video V36 01 21.
• 10249017SITUATION Unusual noises occur only when operating the steering column in the axial direction. 1. A one-time thump sound at the start of movement Shortly after the steering column starts moving, retracting, or extending, a one-time thump noise is heard. See attached video V32 03 23 2. Humming noise while steering column extends in the axial direction. The sound is only heard when the steering column is extended, not when the steering column is retracted. When the steering column starts to move in the extended direction, the humming noise can be heard. See attached video V32 04 23
• 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.
• 10245367Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage supply The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following DME Fault Code: 21B209 - Starter alternator / belt for 48V system (OSA_RIEMEN_RISS): Belt betweenCombustion engine and starter generator torn And/or one or more of the following other issues are also occurring: Noise in the area of the belt drive. Odor from the engine compartment. Smoke formation in the area of the belt drive. Drive belt damaged or prematurely worn. Torn drive belt.
• 10244243Upon performing a vehicle read out, faultcode (CD0D16- Control unit light (BEL)(LIN): Wrong variant installed) is stored inthe BCP (Basic Central Platform). Note: Functionality of the exterior lights and switch is fully operational when fault code is present.
• 10242967BMW AG has requested the inspection of all dealer stock of the following part number(s) listed below to ensure the spacer is conformed to drawing.
• 10242698?The sunroof will not operate in either direction.
• 10239614The air conditioning cycles from cold to warm air while driving or while at a stand still. The vent outlet temperatures vary by 25 degrees Fahrenheit or more (38 F to 60 F +) without changing any climate control settings.
• 10239611Headlight check control (CC) message 128 "High beam headlight failure" is displayed. The following fault codes are stored during a vehicle test: 80419A - Left high-beam headlight: Short circuit and/or 8041A5 - light outputs: Number of permitted short circuit cycles exceeded
• 10239603BMW AG has issued an Emissions Recall (effective March 17, 2023) on a certain Model Year 2021 - 2023 BMW vehicles that were produced between June 16, 2020, and December 13, 2022. Due to a software failure, there is the possibility that the transmission does not go into "sleep mode" if the car is turned off.
• 10239602A vehicle arrives at your center to be diagnosed for a micro-leak in the fuel evaporative (EVAP) system (NVLD natural vacuum leak detection). For this condition, the following fault is stored in the DME: 190302 - fuel tank ventilation and scavenging air system, micro-leak: leakage more than 0.5 mm.
• 10239601BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop effective June 6, 2023 on certain Model Year 2023 - 2024 BMW vehicles that were produced between October 26, 2022 and May 8, 2023.
• 10239599With the introduction of the BMW Remote Software Upgrade, all Service Pack 18 vehicles and partial Service Pack 15 vehicles may receive new functionality or modifications in their features.
• 10238090After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.
• 10238083Due to a software error, the vehicle sporadically does not achieve sleep mode. As a result, the 12-volt battery becomes discharged and may cause a no-start condition.
• 10238081Upon opening and closing the tailgate, a creaking/groaning sound can be heard from tailgate actuator.
• 10236387Engine Variants Updated.
• 10236236Issues with the various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (KAFAS system) can possibly lead to following customer complaints: KAFAS camera system deactivates itself, due to system restrictions that are not clear to the customer KAFAS camera system cannot be activated due to system restrictions that are not clear to the customer Road signs are sporadically not detected.
• 10235206Customer is shown an incorrect GPS location in the vehicle (i.e., Nav Map, coordinates).
• 10235205The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via the Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. For this purpose, the SIM card must perform an IMS registration in the mobile communication network. Due to a production error, the telematics control units were delivered without an IMS configuration. The Connected Drive voice services (Concierge Call, BMW Assistance, and emergency call voice) can no longer be used regionally in the US in vehicle with telematics control units ATM-1 and TCB-4G. Voice control of the vehicle and all other telephone (paired mobile devices) functions are not affected. Emergency call location data is unaffected.
• 10235203Customer states there is no audio playback (telephony, navigation, radio) and system sounds (PDC, turn indicators, acoustic signals) may also have failed.
• 10235200One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
• 10235191Due to a software error, the vehicle sporadically does not achieve sleep mode. As a result, the 12-volt battery becomes discharged and may cause a no-start condition.
• 10235181A groaning type noise is heard during the height adjustment.
• 10235179There is a howling or whistling noise from under the vehicle at 30 -37 mph (50 -60 km/h) when driving after a cold start, when the outside temperature is 32 F (0 C) or lower.
• 10235178BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop: Due to a software failure, there is the possibility that the transmission does not go into "sleep mode" if the car is turned off.
• 10225126Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.
• 10224210The sound output intermittently drops out entirely. This can be reproduced with all audio sources as well as telephone and voice output.
• 10218418A limited amount of Model Year 2022/2023 (MY22/23) vehicles were produced with non-functional smart opener control units. The Smart Opener is part of the Comfort Access feature, enabling to open the trunk lid or tailgate using the "foot kicking" motion beneath the rear bumper. Do not deliver to a customer, a New, Certified Pre-Owned or Used vehicle subject to a Delivery Stop, until the vehicle is repaired. Do not use or sell replacement equipment/parts subject to a Delivery Stop.
• 10218376A limited amount of Model Year 2022/2023 (MY22/23) vehicles were produced with non-functional smart opener control units. The Smart Opener is part of the Comfort Access feature, enabling to open the trunk lid or tailgate using the foot kicking motion beneath the rear bumper.

Every BMW 540I model year

Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.