2001 BMW 540i Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

AIR BAGS

3 complaints

TAKATA RECALL: BOTH THE MANUFACTURER (BMW NORTH AMERICA) AND THE LOCAL DEALER (UNITED BMW OF ROSWELL, GA) ARE REFUSING TO PERFORM THE INSPECTION OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE REFERENCED VEHICLE, PER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 17V-047. DEALER CLAIMS THAT NO INSPECTION IS REQUIRED SINCE MANUFACTURE'S SERVICE RECORDS FOR THIS VIN SHOW THAT THE "AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT" WAS REPLACED 6/22/04. HOWEVER, THE OPEN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ON THIS VEHICLE NOTES THAT THE INFLATOR MAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED PREVIOUSLY BUT THAT THE INFLATOR THAT WAS REPLACED STILL NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED AT THIS TIME AS IT MAY BE FAULTY.

May 21, 2017

POSSIBLE TAKATA INFLATOR: AT FIRST THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON OCCASIONALLY AND NOW THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON ALL AT THE TIME.

Jul 01, 2016

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 60MPH ON INTERSTATE AND SIDE/ TOP AIRBAGS EXPLODED. AFTER THEY EXPLODED, WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. DEALER GAVE CONSUMER A LOANER CAR . CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED.*AK

Mar 28, 2001

POWER TRAIN

3 complaints

2001 BMW 540I REVERSE GEAR FAILURE ON ZF 5HP24 (A5S 440Z) TRANSMISSION. MY BMW WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE REVERSE, CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS STILL IN NEUTRAL.

Feb 10, 2011

ON MY 2001 BMW 540I WITH 84000 MILES WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO REVERSE IT WILL NOT REVERSE JUST FILLS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. *TR

Feb 05, 2009

I OWN A 2001 BMW 540I. I WILL PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, THE CAR WILL MOVE REALLY SLOW, AS I GIVE IT A LITTLE GAS TO GO, THE CAR WILL ONLY REV UP THEN JUMP INTO GEAR. THIS WILL CAUSE A VERY STRONG JERK TO THE CAR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES, I FEEL THAT IT IS MUCH TOO SOON FOR A $65,000 CAR TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO BMW TO FIND OUT THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. (COST $5600) I HAVE NOT FIX THE CAR IN HOPE THAT I WILL FIND A SOLUTION FOR BMW TO FIX IT. *NM

Dec 08, 2005

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 complaints

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN FAULTY THERMOSTAT CAUSED ALL WIRING TO MELT AND LEAD TO A DAMAGE OF MAIN COMPUTER. *TR

Mar 19, 2009

BMW 540I ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS / DAMAGE TO INTERNAL HEATING AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. THEY POSE A HAZARD DUE TO EXTREME TEMPERATURE CHANGE IN THE CAR INTERIOR. THE HOT / AND COLD SENSATION LEAVES THE DRIVER FEELING SICK / NAUSEOUS.

Jan 16, 2003

VEHICLE FAILS TO START. TOWED TO DEALER. UNABLE TO LOCATE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Jan 22, 2002

STEERING

2 complaints

THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2001 BMW 540I SNAPPED ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM PIECES OF THE BRACKET RESULTING IN MY BELTS AND PULLEYS TO BE THROWN AND DESTROYED. THE REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING. THIS IS BECOMING A MORE AND MORE COMMON PROBLEM ON THE E39 STYLE 1997-2003 BMW 540I'S. *TR

May 05, 2015

POWER STEERING BRACKETS ON THESE CARS BREAK. HAPPENED TO ME AND THREW A BELT DURING A TURN. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING WHEN THE BRACKET BREAKS AND THE BELT IS THROWN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IF YOU SEARCH ON BMW FORUMS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY BMW! THIS IS HAPPENING TO MY VEHICLE FOR THE SECOND TIME. OTHER OWNERS REPORT MULTIPLE INSTANCES AS WELL. *TR

Feb 14, 2014

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2001 BMW 540I. The contact stated that the dealer had previously performed an unknown air bag recall repair; however, the failure occurred a year after the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, an explosion was heard. The contact entered the vehicle and noticed that the passenger's side air bag had deployed, which shattered the front windshield. The air bag and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The driver's side air bag deployed a month later. The contact stated that there was no impact to the vehicle that could have caused the air bags to deploy. Additionally, the vehicle made an abnormal sound after it was turned off. The vehicle also needed to be jumpstarted daily due to the battery failing to retain a charge. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

Mar 21, 2023

ENGINE

1 complaint

M62 V-8 ENGINES USED IN THE E-39 540 AND E-38 740 ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FAULTY TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. AT AROUND 125,000 THE PLASTIC CAN DISINTEGRATE CAUSING THE CHAIN TO SKIP A TOOTH. ONCE A TOOTH IS SKIPPED THE VALVES ARE CRUSHED AND THE ENGINE IS DESTROYED. THE COST TO REPLACE THE GUIDES IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. I WAS LUCKY IN THAT I REPLACED MINE AT 140,000 MILES

Jan 14, 2020

Crash: 1

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1 complaint

3RD (HIGH) TAIL LIGHT BULB AND SOCKET OVERHEATS AND MELTS, RENDERING THE LIGHT INOPERABLE AND POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

May 21, 2010

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2001 BMW 540i have?

The 2001 BMW 540i currently has 14 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2001 BMW 540i?

The most common problems reported for the 2001 BMW 540i are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2001 BMW 540i problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2001 BMW 540i comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.