NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1999–2001

BMW 540iAT recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 5 owner complaints for the BMW 540iAT, covering model years 1999 to 2001. The 1999 model year drew the most complaints (3), and Engine and Engine Cooling is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your BMW 540iAT VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

3 recall campaigns on file
5 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
3 model years with data (1999–2001)

most complaints: 1999 (3 for that model year)
top component: Engine and Engine Cooling (3 complaints)
latest recall 03V421000 (reported Oct 24, 2003)

0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

BMW 540iAT complaints by model year

2 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1999 model year has the most complaints: 3 of 5, or 60.0%. Next come 2000 (2).

BMW 540iAT complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

BMW 540iAT complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
1999	3	0	0	0	0
2000	2	0	0	0	0
All model years	5	0	0	0	0

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported BMW 540iAT components

top 3 · NHTSA categories

Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often, in 3 complaints (60.0% of all 5), followed by Power Train (1) and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (1).

Components named most often in BMW 540iAT complaints (top 3)

Components named most often in BMW 540iAT complaints (top 3)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Engine and Engine Cooling	3	60.0%
Power Train	1	20.0%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	1	20.0%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

BMW 540iAT recalls

3 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name 540iAT, newest first. The 3 campaigns cover model years 1999 to 2001. The 1999 model year appears in the most campaigns (2).

3 recall campaigns

BMW 540iAT recall campaigns covering each model year
1999: 2 campaigns	2000: no campaigns	2001: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 03V421000
Reported Oct 24, 2003
Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Model year 2001
On certain passenger vehicles, a microprocessor in the air bag control module, which activates the front air bags, the side air bags, the front seat safety belt pretensioners, and the battery safety terminal, may have a malfunction that could lead to an unintended activation of one or more of these components.
Consequence:
Unexpected deployment of the air bag(s) could cause serious injury if an occupant is too close to the deploying air bag(s). In addition, the battery safety terminal may also be activated. If that happens, the starter cable would become disconnected from the battery, and the engine could not be restarted.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the air bag control module. Owner notification began NOVEMBER10, 2003. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 99V005000
Reported Jan 4, 1999
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Model year 1999
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.
Consequence:
If this problem occurs, the car may no longer operate in reverse, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gears.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the automatic transmission.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 99V004000
Reported Jan 4, 1999
Electrical System › 12V/24V/48V Battery › Cables
Model year 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.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

BMW 540iAT questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the BMW 540iAT have?

NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recall campaigns for the BMW 540iAT, covering model years 1999 to 2001. The most recent, 03V421000, was reported on October 24, 2003 and is filed under “Air bags”. The 1999 model year is covered by the most campaigns (2).

Which BMW 540iAT model year has the most complaints?

The 1999 model year, with 3 of the 5 complaints in NHTSA’s file (60.0%). The next is 2000 (2). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common BMW 540iAT complaint?

Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often: 3 complaints, or 60.0% of all 5. Power Train (1) and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (1) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my BMW 540iAT?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a BMW dealer.

How many BMW 540iAT complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 5 complaints, 0 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The BMW models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the BMW VIN decoder with every BMW model page, WMI code and VIN note.

BMW X5 1999–2026 · 103 recalls · 3,138 complaints
BMW 328i 1996–2016 · 27 recalls · 2,576 complaints
BMW X3 2004–2026 · 60 recalls · 1,989 complaints
BMW 325i 1995–2012 · 20 recalls · 1,281 complaints
BMW Z4 2002–2023 · 28 recalls · 1,280 complaints
BMW 3 Series 1995–2023 · 8 recalls · 841 complaints
BMW 528i 1997–2016 · 14 recalls · 831 complaints
BMW 330i 1999–2026 · 38 recalls · 813 complaints

All BMW models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.