2020 BMW 540I Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2020 BMW 540I, and owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 2020 BMW 540I
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Engine
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 M340i, M340i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, X3 M40i, 2020-2021 X4 M40i, 745Le xDrive, 2019-2021 Z4 M40i, and 2020-2021 Toyota Supra vehicles. During engine start, the engine management software may cause loss of braking assist. Full mechanical braking (without assist) remains…
Remedy: Dealers will update the engine management software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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Software (back over prevention) and camera (back over prevention)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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Driveshaft (power train)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530i xDrive, 540i xDrive and 2021 740Li xDrive vehicles. The output shafts (left/right) which transfer power from the driveshaft to the rear wheels may break due to a heat treatment error during supplier production.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the output shaft(s), free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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Camera (back over prevention)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e iPerformance vehicles. A small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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Camera (back over prevention)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at…
3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2020 BMW 540I have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I am reporting a potential safety concern with my engine. The oil pumps are known to fail due to plastic internal components. BMW has issued a new pump with metal parts, but existing engines are not b”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 27, 2026 · Engine
“Component: Engine Oil Pump (Plastic Internal Variant) Safety Risk: Sudden Loss of Motive Power / Engine Seizure Defect Description: The oil pump in the BMW B58 engine utilizes a plastic tensioning/adj”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 26, 2026 · Engine
Compare BMW 540I model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 540I model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 BMW 540I | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 BMW 540I | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 BMW 540I | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 BMW 540I | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 BMW 540I | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 BMW 540I | 4 | 8 |
| 1995 BMW 540I | 2 | 10 |
| 1997 BMW 540I | 0 | 27 |
| 1998 BMW 540I | 1 | 26 |
| 1999 BMW 540I | 1 | 22 |
| 2000 BMW 540I | 2 | 31 |
| 2001 BMW 540I | 4 | 15 |
| 2002 BMW 540I | 2 | 12 |
| 2003 BMW 540I | 2 | 7 |
| 2017 BMW 540I | 1 | 20 |
| 2018 BMW 540I | 2 | 31 |
| 2019 BMW 540I | 1 | 11 |
| 2020 BMW 540I | 5 | 3 |
| 2021 BMW 540I | 6 | 9 |
| 2022 BMW 540I | 1 | 6 |
| 2023 BMW 540I | 1 | 5 |
| 2024 BMW 540I | 1 | 5 |
| 2025 BMW 540I | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2020 BMW 540I
How do I know if my 2020 BMW 540I has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2020 BMW 540I; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 19V684000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.