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1997 BMW 540I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
27Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
8
199410
199527
199726
199822
199931
2000
Compare all 540I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
13Electrical System
3Seat Belts
2Suspension
2Unknown Or Other
2
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
2Air Bags
1Power Train
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Tires
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 27 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

2 reports
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130,000 miles · Dec 27, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES RAPIDLY IN OUT-OF-CONTROL MANNER. SOMETIMES IT ALSO DECELERATES RAPIDLY, AND LURCHES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297073

150,000 miles · May 4, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

WHENEVER MY CRUISE CONTROL IS SET, VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY OVERCOMPENSATES IN SPEED FLUCTUATIONS. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDDLE GETS STUCK ALL THE WAY DOWN. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO GO FROM HWY SPEEDS TO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS 80+MPH SPEEDS IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS. CRUISE CONTROL MUST THEN BE DISENGAGED. I HAVE …

Read full complaint

WHENEVER MY CRUISE CONTROL IS SET, VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY OVERCOMPENSATES IN SPEED FLUCTUATIONS. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDDLE GETS STUCK ALL THE WAY DOWN. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO GO FROM HWY SPEEDS TO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS 80+MPH SPEEDS IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS. CRUISE CONTROL MUST THEN BE DISENGAGED. I HAVE OWNED THIS PARTICULAR CAR FOR OVER A YEAR AND IT HAS ALWAYS DONE THIS. CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT SAFE TO USE AT ANY TIME. SEVERAL TIMES, IT HAS NEARLY MADE ME HAVE A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE OFF WITH NO WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267722

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.