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U.S. public vehicle records

2000 Bmw 540I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

31 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

91,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 31 complaints (16.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues722.6%
Braking behavior412.9%
Steering behavior412.9%
Transmission and shifting13.2%
Engine operation13.2%
Fuel system concerns13.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
5
Electrical System
4
Air Bags:Frontal
3
Exterior Lighting
3
Engine
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly5
Electrical System4
Air Bags:Frontal3
Exterior Lighting3
Engine2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System2
Unknown Or Other2

Air Bags: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 5; Electrical System: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
8
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9998
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 1

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
1
2001
3
2003
6
2004
1
2005
2
2007
1
2008
2
2010
4
2011
4
2012
1
2013
2
2014
1
2023
2
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20001
20013
20036
20041
20052
20071
20082
20104
20114
20121
20132
20141
20232
20241

2000: 1; 2001: 3; 2003: 6; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10209879 · 2007-11-26 (November 26, 2007)

I WAS MOVING MY CAR IN ORDER TO PARK IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. THE CAR STARTED THEN COMPLETE FAILURE. THE CAR CUT OFF, NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING. I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKES VERY HARD TO GET STOPPAGE. THE THERMOSTAT SHORTED OUT AND BURNED OUT THE MAIN COMPUTER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNED OUT AND SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRONIC PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE ALUMINUM THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS MELTED AND WAS REPLACED! TOTAL OF OVER $5,000 WAS REQUIRED TO FIX. IF A FUSE HAD BEEN THERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209879 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10223331 · 2008-04-04 (April 4, 2008)

I HAVE A 2000 BMW 540I (E39). MY CAR WAS IN A PRISTINE CONDITION, AND ALL OF SUDDEN, THE "ENGINE FAILSAFE PROG" MESSAGE CAME UP, AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS TOLD THE THERMOSTAT WAS BURNED BADLY, CAUSING THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND DME BURNED AS WELL. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN FOR THOSE THAT OWN THIS VEHICLE. I WAS QUOTED $3500 TO FIX THIS ISSUE, AND CURRENTLY IT'S BEING REPAIRED AT BMW SEATTLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 103,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223331 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10043755 · 2003-10-28 (October 28, 2003)

WATER PUMP FAILURE.THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT INVOLVES A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE E39 540I BMW. THE FAILURE OF THE PUMP IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN BETWEEN 5000-60000 MILES AND CAN PUT THE DRIVER IN DANGER AND CAUSE UNNECESSARY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS TO BE INCURRED ON A CAR OF THIS CALIBER. THE WATER PUMP FAILURE IN MY CASE DESTROYED THE MAIN DRIVE BELT LEAVING ME WITH OUT POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ALTERNATOR ETC. E39 OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAULTY DESIGN AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH…

Owner-reported narrative. 58,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043755 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10519549 · 2013-06-12 (June 12, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HYDRO-LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519549 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10569285 · 2014-03-14 (March 14, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS METAL SHARDS STARTED TO FALL FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE COOLANT WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH FAN HAD BECOME SEPARATED AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH FAN WAS FRACTURED AND CUTTING THROUGH THE ENGINE…

Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10569285 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 894307 · 2001-08-14 (August 14, 2001)

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY RAN OVER A PIECE TIRE. CONSUMER HEARD TIRE STRIKE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE. NEXT DAY UPON ENTERING GARAGE THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL LIKE GAS, AND GAS WAS ALL OVER THE GROUND. CONSUMER COULD SEE TANK WAS MOIST AFTER LOOKING UNDERNIETH. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY WILL REPLACE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER FELT A PIECE OF TIRE SHOULD NOT PUNCTURE A FUEL TANK.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 894307 at NHTSA ↗