IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
1999 BMW 540I
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →22Owner complaints
Model-year median: 8
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1999 BMW 540I
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 22 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 5 reports
- Electrical System: 4 reports
- Power Train: 3 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3 reports
- Steering: 3 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 540I years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 17 of 22 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Latches/locks/linkages complaints
2 reportsMY 1999 BMW 540I HAS HAD INTERMITTENT DOOR UNLOCKING FAILURES FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE ANY OF THE FOUR DOORS MAY SUDDENLY BECOME DOUBLE LOCKED SO THAT NEITHER THE ELECTRONIC BUTTONS OR ANY MANUAL EFFORTS WILL UNLOCK/OPEN THE DOORS. FORTUNATELY NOT ALL OF THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED AT THE SAME TIME, SO OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO …
Read full complaint
MY 1999 BMW 540I HAS HAD INTERMITTENT DOOR UNLOCKING FAILURES FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE ANY OF THE FOUR DOORS MAY SUDDENLY BECOME DOUBLE LOCKED SO THAT NEITHER THE ELECTRONIC BUTTONS OR ANY MANUAL EFFORTS WILL UNLOCK/OPEN THE DOORS. FORTUNATELY NOT ALL OF THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED AT THE SAME TIME, SO OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLIMB OVER AND BETWEEN SEATS TO EGRESS THE CAR. MECHANICS SAY THAT THE PROBLEM IS RELAYS IN THE GENERAL MODULE (GM III) WHICH CONTROLS ALL OF THE DOOR LOCKS. IN THE PAST THE PROBLEM WOULD SELF-CORRECT IN A FEW HOURS OR DAYS. TWO WEEKS AGO, ONE BACK DOOR FOLLOWED BY THE OTHER A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER LOCKED AND WON'T UNLOCK. APPARENTLY, THE CRASH SENSOR WHICH TELLS THE GM TO UNLOCK THE DOORS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH WILL NOT WORK. THIS FAILURE TRAPS OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR. *TR
Recall campaigns
199V004000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables
Jan 4, 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.