1999 BMW 540IA Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 540IA years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 BMW 540IA. That ranks 2nd out of 7 540IA model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (6 complaints, 60%), typically at around 51,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 10owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 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 | 6 | 60% | 51,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 20% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 10% | 51,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 10% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 10% | 106,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 BMW 540IA recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables
Problem: 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.
Risk: The cable insulation can be worn away, exposing the wire. The wire could contact the clip or a short circuit could occur.
Fix: Dealers will apply a thickness of insulating tape to the cable in the area of the clip, and install a revised clip.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a 5hp24 automatic transmission. Premature wear of the ring gear can occur, leading to the loss of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and reverse gears.
Risk: If this problem occurs, the car may no longer operate in reverse, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gears.
Fix: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission.
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 1999 540i and the reverse has stopped working completely. The forward gears work perfectly but the reverse suddenly stopped working. I have read many similar stories. *tr
My 1999 bmw 540i sport caught fire 12/19/08 while it was sitting in the driveway of my home. I noticed flames about 1:30 am coming from the sides of the hood. I had driven the car to dinner that night and it was parked and locked in my driveway. I just happened to notice the flames through the…
Tl*- the contact owns a 1999 bmw 540ia with failure mileage of 100,000 miles. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph he began having problems with the transmission. The contact stated that the gears began to function improperly, and could not be operated in 1st through reverse gears. The…
I had troubles with my abs module unit that is attached to my bmw 1999 540ia. I have become aware that this is a common problem that disables the abs control of my car and many other same model cars as mine. I had to replace the part myself due to no recall or acceptance from bmw that this is a…
Radiator cracked at top hose inlet causing loss of coolant
Other BMW 540IA years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 540IA | 2 | 1 |
| 2001 540IA | 7 | 3 |
| 2000 540IA | 8 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 2 |
| 1998 540IA | 3 | 1 |
| 1997 540IA | 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 1999 BMW 540IA?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, power train, equipment problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 BMW 540IA?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 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 1999 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.