Bmw 540I transmission problems
13 complaint narratives mention transmission 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.
Transmission and shifting evidence
13 of 238 complaints match this topic (5.5%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10037497 · 2003-09-09 (September 9, 2003)
I BOUGHT A BMW 540I IN 1996 USED AT 45,000 MILES FROM A DEALERSHIP. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE DELAYED TEMPORARILY BEFORE ENGAGING. NOW I WAS NOT INFORM THE OF THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN AND DUE TO POOR TRANSMISSION FLUID, NOW AT 90,000 MILES THIS CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE , SHIFTER WOULD SLIDE, AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. NOW THERE IS A IDENTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH AN OTHER CONSUMER CASE# 889281 WITH THE NHTSA. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR OTHER RECALLS NOW I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY FAILED TO DO THERE PART AND IN MAKING SURE THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155238 · 2006-04-12 (April 12, 2006)
WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A HESITATION BEFORE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IN. HESITATION TIME IS INCREASING. ALSO, WHEN STEPPING ON PEDAL FOR AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION OR PASSING, VEHICLE HESITATES, THEN "CLUNKS" VIOLENTLY INTO GEAR. MECHANICS HAVE STATED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY SEE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION. SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE WITH A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION(PARTS COST $5000.00).NOTHING DONE YET TO REMEDY PROBLEM DUE TO INCREDIBLE COST. ALSO, SHIFT LEVER SAFETY BUTTON NO LONGER WORKS, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO BE ACCIDENTA…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860979 · 2000-04-26 (April 26, 2000)
SPEED SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, CANNOT CHANGE GEARS.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 889281 · 2001-05-29 (May 29, 2001)
AT 85,000 MILES WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE DELAYED TEMPORARILY BEFORE ENGAGING. DEALER NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED BECAUSE MANUFACTURERE DID NOT INFORM HIM OF THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN AND DUE TO POOR TRANSMISSION FLUID, FINALLY AT 92642 VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO IN TO REVERSE, SHIFTER WOULD SLIDE, BUT CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 889281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 740808 · 2001-02-12 (February 12, 2001)
TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT. I FOUND TWO EARLIER REPORTS TO BMW..BMW WILL NOT MAKE ALLOWANCES...ENGINE SHORT BLOCK REPLACED BY BMW AT 84,500 MILES UNDER 2ND OWNER. TRANS WOULD DOWN SHIFT CREATING A DRAG ON CAR...DEALER TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL../OTHER PA DEALER ON SECOND OWNER SAID THE SAME (NO PROBLEM - NORMAL). THE TRANS IS A SEALED UNIT...THERFORE NO CHANGE OF FLUID RECOMMENDED. IS THIS RIGHT??? IS THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM IN SLICK OR SNOWY/ICY WEATHER??
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 740808 at NHTSA ↗