1997 BMW 540IA Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 540IA years
- More complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 BMW 540IA. That is the most of any 540IA model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (10 complaints, 83%), typically at around 59,681 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 12owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 BMW 540IA problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 83% | 59,681 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 8% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 8% | 180,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 BMW 540IA recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 BMW 540IA.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I have a 1997 540 bmw with 180,000 mi. Investigating the cause of a flat driver side right front tire i discovered the front spring strut plate was cracked and allowed itself and the coil spring to contact and cut down the tire. Found nhtsa campaign # 04v183000 describing exact condition. Towed to…
1. Brought my car to firestone automotive repair in los angeles california and had the thermostat replaced - work completed by firestone - 2-5 days later went to beverly hills bmw to have coolant resevoir replaced was told i needed a new thermostat (just replaced at firestone) and water pump and…
A faulty radiator design (plastic neck?) caused my 97 bmw 540ia to break down on the freeway during rush hour. *nm
Radiator/overflow tank on my 1997 bmws 540ia cracked and needed replacement at 85,000 miles. The radiators in bmws are known as a weakness and continually fail on owners. This situation should be remedied!*ak
The radiator hose connection at the top of the radiator failed completely. It is made of plastic, and split under cool weather conditions. This resulted in replacement of entire radiator, and replacement of radiator overflow container. It would appear that the use of plastic in this application…
Other BMW 540IA years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 540IA | 2 | 1 |
| 2001 540IA | 7 | 3 |
| 2000 540IA | 8 | 0 |
| 1999 540IA | 10 | 2 |
| 1998 540IA | 3 | 1 |
| 1997 | 12 | 0 |
| 1995 540IA | 0 | 1 |
See all BMW 540IA problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 BMW 540IA?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, air bags, suspension problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 10 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 BMW 540IA?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 BMW 540IA a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 540IA model years, the 1997 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.