Bmw 540I brakes problems
29 complaint narratives mention brakes terms.
Key facts
238 owner complaints analyzed
23 distinct recall campaigns
70,780 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 122 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Braking behavior evidence
29 of 238 complaints match this topic (12.2%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10068593 · 2004-04-21 (April 21, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A SCREECHING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE SCREECHING OCCURRED WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED OR NOT. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. HOWEVER, THE SCREECHING BRAKE PROBLEM WAS STILL EVIDENT. ALSO, CONSUMER BECAME LOCKED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT GET OUT DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039551 · 2003-09-25 (September 25, 2003)
BOTH SUN VISORS CRACKED ALONG WELD SEAM. REPLACED BY DEALER. TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCHE COVERS BROKEN. REPLACED BY DEALER. NOTICED THE DESIGN OF NEW COVERS IS DIFFERENT AND ELIMINATES RISK OF FAILURE. PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T HOLD. DEALER ADMITS BAD DESIN AND TRIED DIFFERENT SHOES WITHOUT SUCCESS IN PAST. DELER COULDN'T FIX, RESULTING IN SAFETY HAZARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 33,224 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143834 · 2005-11-28 (November 28, 2005)
ABS WARNING AND DSC LIGHT IS ON INDICATING FAILURE OF ABS ELECTRONIC MODULE. ABS AND DSC IS NO LONGER OPERABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE CAR WILL NO LONGER HAVE ABS AND DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM IN OPERABLE CONDITION. IT IS UNKNOWN IF BRAKE COULD BE RANDOMLY ACTIVATED BY THE FAILED ABS MODULE WHILE DRIVING. COMMON FAILURE ON 1999 OR PLUS 5-SERIES BMW BASED ON USER DISCUSSION ON INTERNET. THE FAILURE IS TEMPERTURE RELATED. THE HIGHER THE TEMPERTURE, THE QUICKER THE WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 66,896 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147794 · 2006-01-14 (January 14, 2006)
I THINK THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT THE 60,000 DOLLAR BMW 5 SERIES WITH DSC AND ABS CONTINUALLY HAVE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURES. THE PART IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW AND THE COMPANY SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE UNITS FREE OF CHARGE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE MODULE FAILURE CAUSES THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS TO FAIL. THIS IS COMMON IN MODEL YEARS 98,99,AND 2000. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190367 · 2007-05-10 (May 10, 2007)
THE DRIVER OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I WITH 72,579 MILES. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS THE DISC BMW ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ICON AND THE AMBER ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED IN ONE OF TWO SCENARIOS: (1) JUST AFTER A NEW IGNITION CYCLE, (2) DURING NORMAL DRIVING. ONCE THESE WARNINGS ILLUMINATED THE DSC, ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS BECOME NON-FUNCTIONAL. UNTIL RECENTLY, THE WARNINGS WOULD GO OUT AFTER 5-10 IGNITION CYCLES. NOW THEY WERE ON CONTINUOUSLY.*AK NEXT TO SEATBELTS, I STRONGLY BELIEVE ESC IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DEV…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190367 at NHTSA ↗