1999 BMW 540IA Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1999 BMW 540IA, and owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1999 BMW 540IA
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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Cables (electrical system)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The thickness of the main positive electrical cable (generator to starter) insulation is less than specified, making it susceptible to being abraded or cut by the clip that secures the cable to the generator.
Remedy: Dealers will apply a thickness of insulating tape to the cable in the area of the clip, and install a revised clip.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a 5hp24 automatic transmission. Premature wear of the ring gear can occur, leading to the loss of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and reverse gears.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission.
10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1999 BMW 540IA have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 65,687 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I have a 1999 540i and the reverse has stopped working completely. The forward gears work perfectly but the reverse suddenly stopped working. I have read many similar stories. *tr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 20, 2009 · Power train
“My 1999 BMW 540i sport caught fire 12/19/08 while it was sitting in the driveway of my home. I noticed flames about 1:30 am coming from the sides of the hood. I had driven the car to dinner that night”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 21, 2008 · Equipment
Compare BMW 540IA model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 540IA model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 BMW 540IA | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 BMW 540IA | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 BMW 540IA | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 BMW 540IA | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 BMW 540IA | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 BMW 540IA | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 BMW 540IA | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 BMW 540IA | 0 | 12 |
| 1998 BMW 540IA | 1 | 3 |
| 1999 BMW 540IA | 2 | 10 |
| 2000 BMW 540IA | 0 | 8 |
| 2001 BMW 540IA | 3 | 7 |
| 2002 BMW 540IA | 1 | 2 |
Checking a specific 1999 BMW 540IA
How do I know if my 1999 BMW 540IA 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 1999 BMW 540IA; 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 99V004000).
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
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- 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.