1999 BMW 540IAT Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1999 BMW 540IAT, and owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1999 BMW 540IAT
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.
3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1999 BMW 540IAT have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 61,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Complete ABS failure while traveling at speeds. The ABS control module controlled each wheel differently at different times, causing the car to buck wildly at highway safe speeds. While braking, the c”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 17, 2004 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“Radiator failure on 1999 540 touring - disables the vehicle no matter where you are from rush hour traffic where the panic could endanger other drivers, to the middle of nowhere in the dead of winter”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 10, 2003 · Engine and engine cooling
Compare BMW 540IAT model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 540IAT model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 BMW 540IAT | 2 | 3 |
| 2000 BMW 540IAT | 0 | 2 |
| 2001 BMW 540IAT | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1999 BMW 540IAT
How do I know if my 1999 BMW 540IAT 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 540IAT; 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
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- 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.