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U.S. public vehicle records

2000 Bmw 540IA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

8 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

68,444 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 8 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting225.0%
Braking behavior112.5%
Electrical and battery issues112.5%
Steering behavior112.5%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
3
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
1
Structure
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly3
Power Train:Automatic Transmission2
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan1
Structure1

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 1; Structure: 1

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
2
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 0 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.

2003
2
2004
1
2005
1
2007
2
2008
1
2009
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20032
20041
20051
20072
20081
20091

2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 10142201 · 2005-11-08 (November 8, 2005)

FAILURE: ENGINE COOLING FAN CLUTCH SEIZED AND THE FAN TURNED AT WATER PUMP RPM. THE FAN FLEW APART, FLINGING ALL BLADES OFF THE FAN HUB. THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME ON A 25 MPH STREET IN THE EVENING WITH OUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE: EXPLODING FAN CHOPPED THROUGH THE RADIATOR, COOLANT TANK, BOTH RADIATOR HOSES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HOSES, POWER STEERING HOSES, PUNCHED HOLES THROUGH HOOD AND OUT THROUGH BOTTOM ENGINE COMPARTMENT COVER, BROKE BOTH AIR DUCTS FOR FRONT BRAKE COOLING …

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142201 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10199532 · 2007-08-14 (August 14, 2007)

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES ON MY BMW 540I, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER SAYS IT HAS INTERNAL SLIPPAGE/DAMAGE AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACUTED ONE. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW - SEE HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/BMW_TRANS.HTML FOR TESTIMONY OF LOTS OF OTHER BMW OWNERS WHO LOST REVERSE. IT SURPRISES ME THAT BMW DOESN'T WARRANTY THEIR TRANSMISSIONS/DRIVETRAIN AS LONG AS THE "LOWER QUALITY" AMERICAN AND ASIAN VEHICLE MAKERS DO. BUT IF THE TRANNY ROUTINELY QUITS A…

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199532 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10212302 · 2007-12-19 (December 19, 2007)

WHILE DRIVING IN MASSACHUSETTS ON 495N AT ABOUT 5:30PM I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. CHECKED MY GAUGES AND ALL SEEMED WELL, THOUGHT IT MAY BE A WOOD BURNING STOVE IN THE AREA I JUST KEPT DRIVING. I TURNED OFF RT495 AND ONTO RT 119. ABOUT A MILE DOWN RT119 I NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE BUILDING UP INSIDE THE CAR, I THEN REALIZED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND BEFORE I CAN PULL OFF THE ROAD THE INSIDE OF THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE AND BURNED MY EYES AND I WAS CHOKING A LOT. I SLAMMED IT INTO PARK, SHUT THE KEY AND JUMPED OUT THE CAR. A CAR BEHIND ME PULLED OV…

Owner-reported narrative. 138,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212302 at NHTSA ↗