1999 Bmw 540I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 22 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 18.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 13.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 13.6% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 13.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 9.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 3; Steering: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 5 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10033422 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
RADIATOR FAILURE AT 54,000 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062972 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THIS OCCURRED ON BOTH REAR TIRES. THE CAUSE OF THE TREAD SEPARATION WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MODEL TIRES. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066088 · 2004-04-13 (April 13, 2004)
DURING A DOWN SHIFT, MY CAR SOMETIMES JUMP FORWARD A FOOT OR SO AND MAKES A THUMP DOWN SHIFTING NOISE. THIS FORCES ME TO APPLY THE BREAK QUICKLY. JUST A WEEK AGO, I HIT A CURVE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT AND THE BOTTOM BUMPER COVER OF THE CAR GOT HIT AND BECAME CRACKED! LUCKILY THIS PROBLEM IS RARE. THIS IS ABOUT 4TH FAILURE IN A SPAN OF 10 MONTHS. FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS, MY CAR ALSO STALLS (ENGINE LOSES POWER) DURING A SLOWDOWN. USUALLY THIS HAPPENS WHEN I SLOW TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT FEW TIMES THIS MONTH BECA…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080565 · 2004-07-08 (July 8, 2004)
(1) NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; NOTICED "STEAM" COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. 2) RADIATOR'S UPPER HOSE INLET CRACKED (PLASTIC); CAR DISABLED (3) CAR OUT OF WARRANTY; NO REMEDY FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080565 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 10153224 · 2006-03-20 (March 20, 2006)
WITHOUT WARNING A CRACK APPEARED IN THE RADIATOR HOUSING CAUSING A LOSS OF ANTIFREEZE. CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HAD TO REPLACE THE PART. SAME THING JUST HAPPENED AGAIN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153224 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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
99V004000 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
Reported: 1999-01-04 (January 4, 1999)
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.
Consequence: THE CABLE INSULATION CAN BE WORN AWAY, EXPOSING THE WIRE. THE WIRE COULD CONTACT THE CLIP OR A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL APPLY A THICKNESS OF INSULATING TAPE TO THE CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE CLIP, AND INSTALL A REVISED CLIP.
NHTSA campaign record ↗