2002 BMW 540IA Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2002 BMW 540IA, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2002 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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Tires: sidewall
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.…
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…
2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 BMW 540IA have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 99,917 miles. Complaints peaked in 2008 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 upri”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 24, 2012 · Electrical system
“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 p”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 21, 2008 · Power train
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 2002 BMW 540IA
How do I know if my 2002 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 2002 BMW 540IA; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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 01V352000).
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.