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2021 BMW 540I Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 2021 BMW 540I, and owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
9
owner complaints to NHTSA
1 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire

6 safety recalls for the 2021 BMW 540I

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Driveshaft (power train)

    NHTSA 26V525000 Reported 27,720 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2026 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.

    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…

  2. Seat belts

    NHTSA 21V554000 Reported 21,537 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i xDrive), M2…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW…

  3. Software (back over prevention) and camera (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 21V096000 Reported 13,858 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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.

  4. Driveshaft (power train)

    NHTSA 21V046000 Reported 28 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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.

  5. 12v/24v/48v battery (electrical system)

    NHTSA 20V761000 Reported 812 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The connection between the 48-Volt battery and the…

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator assembly, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 12, 2021.…

  6. Camera (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 20V598000 Reported 312 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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.

9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2021 BMW 540I have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 38,350 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 4 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“In August 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced an active safety recall under campaign number 26V525000 for certain 2021–2023 BMW vehicles experiencing severe driveshaft-t”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 21, 2026 · Power train

“Starter engine failure. Car failed to start multiple times. Major safety hazard that can cause a short circuit, melt wiring harnesses, and spark an engine bay fire posing an immediate threat to life.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 10, 2026 · Electrical system

Compare BMW 540I model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 540I model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1989 BMW 540I10
1990 BMW 540I10
1991 BMW 540I10
1992 BMW 540I10
1993 BMW 540I10
1994 BMW 540I48
1995 BMW 540I210
1997 BMW 540I027
1998 BMW 540I126
1999 BMW 540I122
2000 BMW 540I231
2001 BMW 540I415
2002 BMW 540I212
2003 BMW 540I27
2017 BMW 540I120
2018 BMW 540I231
2019 BMW 540I111
2020 BMW 540I53
2021 BMW 540I69
2022 BMW 540I16
2023 BMW 540I15
2024 BMW 540I15
2025 BMW 540I01

Checking a specific 2021 BMW 540I

How do I know if my 2021 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 2021 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 20V598000).

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

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.