2002 BMW 540IA
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
These records cover every 2002 BMW 540IA. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 2002 BMW 540IA. Newest first.
Vehicle description: during the tire mounting process on certain passenger vehicles built with standard (non-sport) suspension and equipped with continental contitouringcontact CH95 ecoplus tires, size 225/65r16 95H, having dot codes 4001, 4101, or 4201, the outer sidewall surface of the tires may have been cut by a sharp edge. operation of the vehicle…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Continued driving with low inflation pressure in the tire could ultimately result in damage to the tire, affect vehicle handling and control, and could in some cases result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect all five tires for a possible cut in the sidewall, and if a cut IS found, the tire will be replaced. owner notification began december 10, 2001. 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.
Owner complaints
2 complaints2 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system · Seats
I went out to my BMW 540I and found the driver's power seat all the way back in the horizontal position. I did not leave it this way, so this was confusing to me. when I attempted to move it back upright into a comfortable driving position, it did not respond- the seat was dead. I could not move…
I went out to my BMW 540I and found the driver's power seat all the way back in the horizontal position. I did not leave it this way, so this was confusing to me. when I attempted to move it back upright into a comfortable driving position, it did not respond- the seat was dead. I could not move it manually, either. I was forced to drive the car a short distance to drop my son off at an activity, so I decided to drive it and lean forward while driving. my plan was to take the car to my local BMW mechanic later that night and drop it off to be repaired. my son and I were only two minutes into our drive, I was leaning forward, and he said "do you smell smoke?" I did smell it, and was looking around to see what was wrong. then my son said "dad, your seat IS on fire!" I looked down, and saw flames coming out from under my seat. we pulled the car over and put out the fire with his water bottle. the heated seats were not being used, this happened on july 19TH, during the summer. my local BMW shop IS telling me this IS a $3100 repair. the part in question that caused the fire, per the claims adjuster, IS the "general module." I understand the car IS 10 years old, but it simply blows my mind that a car can randomly catch on fire internally like this. BMW north america IS not taking ownership to this situation, and has offered no help. *tr
- Power train › Automatic transmission
On 7/19/2008, my 2002 BMW 540I with automatic transmission caught fire while myself and my wife driving toward an evening party. at first I smell something IS burning then see a tiny bit of smoke. I parked the car in a bank of america parking lot and my wife went out to check the car, and she saw…
On 7/19/2008, my 2002 BMW 540I with automatic transmission caught fire while myself and my wife driving toward an evening party. at first I smell something IS burning then see a tiny bit of smoke. I parked the car in a bank of america parking lot and my wife went out to check the car, and she saw fire started to burst. we call 911 and within five minutes, the front end of the car IS in flame. the local fire department came the put out the fire. the car IS now been tow to a local shop and will be moved to the "total lot" of my insurance company. I did a quick search on the internet, and found out I am not the only one. I hope BMW can find out exactly what cause the fire and fix the problem. my wife and I are lucky since we got out of car soon enough. this IS not a good example for BMW such a luxury brand. sincerely, steve hung *tr
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.
- 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 540IA model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.