Model year record
2000 BMW 540iA recalls & problems
The 2000 BMW 540iA has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 8 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (5 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2000 BMW 540iA.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingCooling system › Radiator assembly; Cooling system › Fan | 5 | 65,000 mi |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 2 | — |
| Structure | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Structure
AFTER A COUPLE TIMES USING MY CUP HOLDERS IN MY 2000 BMW 540 I THEY BROKE. THEY ARE MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC AND ARE VERY POORLY DESIGNED. I HAVE CHECKED OUT OTHER MODELS UP TO THE 2007 YEAR AND BMW HAS FAILED TO COME OUT WITH A QUALITY CUP HOLDER. EVEN A BETTER REPLACEMENT WOULD BE HELPFUL! IT NOW COSTS ME $150.00 JUST IN PARTS TO REPLACE THEM EACH TIME THEY BREAK. I CONSIDER MY CAR TO HAVE NO CUP HOLDERS AND WON'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO USE THEM BECAUSE THEY BREAK SO EASILY. THIS IS A "LUXURY CAR" WITH A CHEAP SHORT CUT IN THE OPTIONS DEPARTMENT. VERY DISSAPPOINTING. SHAME ON BMW! ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES FROM DAY ONE OF BUYING THE CAR. I HADN'T EVEN DRIVEN…
- Power train › Automatic transmission
REVERSE GEAR STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND WITH NO SYMPTOMS. *TR
- Engine and engine coolingFire
WHILE DRIVING IN MASSACHUSETTS ON 495N AT ABOUT 5:30PM I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. CHECKED MY GAUGES AND ALL SEEMED WELL, THOUGHT IT MAY BE A WOOD BURNING STOVE IN THE AREA I JUST KEPT DRIVING. I TURNED OFF RT495 AND ONTO RT 119. ABOUT A MILE DOWN RT119 I NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE BUILDING UP INSIDE THE CAR, I THEN REALIZED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND BEFORE I CAN PULL OFF THE ROAD THE INSIDE OF THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE AND BURNED MY EYES AND I WAS CHOKING A LOT. I SLAMMED IT INTO PARK, SHUT THE KEY AND JUMPED OUT THE CAR. A CAR BEHIND ME PULLED OVER AND SAID HE WAS FOLLOWING ME AND SMELLED MY CAR BURNING AND TRIED TO SIGNAL ME. LITTLETON, MA FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER. FIRE DEPARTMENT…
- Power train › Automatic transmission
AFTER APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES ON MY BMW 540I, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER SAYS IT HAS INTERNAL SLIPPAGE/DAMAGE AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACUTED ONE. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW - SEE HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/BMW_TRANS.HTML FOR TESTIMONY OF LOTS OF OTHER BMW OWNERS WHO LOST REVERSE. IT SURPRISES ME THAT BMW DOESN'T WARRANTY THEIR TRANSMISSIONS/DRIVETRAIN AS LONG AS THE "LOWER QUALITY" AMERICAN AND ASIAN VEHICLE MAKERS DO. BUT IF THE TRANNY ROUTINELY QUITS AROUND THE 60-80K MILE MARK, I GUESS IT'S A SMART BUSINESS DECISION FOR BMW! *TR
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
FAILURE: ENGINE COOLING FAN CLUTCH SEIZED AND THE FAN TURNED AT WATER PUMP RPM. THE FAN FLEW APART, FLINGING ALL BLADES OFF THE FAN HUB. THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME ON A 25 MPH STREET IN THE EVENING WITH OUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE: EXPLODING FAN CHOPPED THROUGH THE RADIATOR, COOLANT TANK, BOTH RADIATOR HOSES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HOSES, POWER STEERING HOSES, PUNCHED HOLES THROUGH HOOD AND OUT THROUGH BOTTOM ENGINE COMPARTMENT COVER, BROKE BOTH AIR DUCTS FOR FRONT BRAKE COOLING AND DESTROYED THE MAIN FAN SHROUD. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR OUR CPO EXTENDED WARRANTY VEHICLE ASSISTANCE.…
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
RADIATOR FAILURE IN 2000 BMW 540I AT 57,000 MILES.*AK
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
AT 71888 MILES THE RADIATOR OF MY BMW 540I BROKE BECAUSE OF A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND THE OUTLET.I HAD READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE ROADFLY MESSAGE BOARD. I READ THAT THE RADITORS BROKE AROUND THE HOSE AND THEY ONLY LASTED ABOUT 50,000 MILES. WHEN I READ IT, I WONDERED IF I WAS DUE, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, I WAS SETTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I ACCELERATED AWAY FROM THE LIGHT AND AS I DID I SAW STEAM COMING OUT OF THE FENDER WELLS. IT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS ANOTHER CAR, BUT SOON REALIZED IT WAS MINE. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS THE RADIATOR AND THE PLASIC HOUSING BROKE AROUND THE HOSE.THIS IS A SERIOUS…
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly
COMMON RADIATOR FAILURES. ALL AT USUALLY BELOW 50K MILES.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.