2000 Bmw 540IA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005229 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
COMMON RADIATOR FAILURES. ALL AT USUALLY BELOW 50K MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043678 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)
AT 71888 MILES THE RADIATOR OF MY BMW 540I BROKE BECAUSE OF A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND THE OUTLET.I HAD READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE ROADFLY MESSAGE BOARD. I READ THAT THE RADITORS BROKE AROUND THE HOSE AND THEY ONLY LASTED ABOUT 50,000 MILES. WHEN I READ IT, I WONDERED IF I WAS DUE, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, I WAS SETTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I ACCELERATED AWAY FROM THE LIGHT AND AS I DID I SAW STEAM COMING OUT OF THE FENDER WELLS. IT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS ANOTHER CAR, BUT SOON REALIZED IT WAS MINE. I PULL…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,888 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090613 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
RADIATOR FAILURE IN 2000 BMW 540I AT 57,000 MILES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090613 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Owner report 10246689 · 2008-10-25 (October 25, 2008)
REVERSE GEAR STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND WITH NO SYMPTOMS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274419 · 2009-06-20 (June 20, 2009)
AFTER A COUPLE TIMES USING MY CUP HOLDERS IN MY 2000 BMW 540 I THEY BROKE. THEY ARE MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC AND ARE VERY POORLY DESIGNED. I HAVE CHECKED OUT OTHER MODELS UP TO THE 2007 YEAR AND BMW HAS FAILED TO COME OUT WITH A QUALITY CUP HOLDER. EVEN A BETTER REPLACEMENT WOULD BE HELPFUL! IT NOW COSTS ME $150.00 JUST IN PARTS TO REPLACE THEM EACH TIME THEY BREAK. I CONSIDER MY CAR TO HAVE NO CUP HOLDERS AND WON'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO USE THEM BECAUSE THEY BREAK SO EASILY. THIS IS A "LUXURY CAR" WITH A CHEAP SHORT CUT IN THE OPTIONS DEPARTMENT. VER…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274419 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.