NHTSA Complaint #10038996 — 1997 BMW 540IA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY issue reported to NHTSA

Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report

Vehicle Towed

Complaint Details

ODI Number	10038996
Vehicle	1997 BMW 540IA
Component	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
Date of Incident	May 1, 2003
Date Filed	September 16, 2003
Mileage	65,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	Yes
State	IL

Consumer Description

THE RADIATOR HOSE CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR FAILED COMPLETELY. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND SPLIT UNDER COOL WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE RADIATOR, AND REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR OVERFLOW CONTAINER. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE USE OF PLASTIC IN THIS APPLICATION RESULTED IN HEAT STRESS OVER TIME, EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN COMPLETE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE STILL BEING ASSESSED AT THIS TIME. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TOO MANY CUSTOMERS, HOWEVER, THE FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS APPEAR TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME AS ORIGINAL. THEREFORE, I CAN EXPECT TOTAL COOLANT FAILURE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THIS SEEMS IMPRUDENT, AND I HAVE NO RESPONSE FROM BMW ON THIS ISSUE. *JB

Related Complaints for the 1997 BMW 540IA

Other ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY Complaints

#10062386 — March 17, 2004 — A FAULTY RADIATOR DESIGN (PLASTIC NECK?) CAUSED MY 97 BMW 540IA TO BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. *NM

#10043859 — October 29, 2003 — RADIATOR/OVERFLOW TANK ON MY 1997 BMWS 540IA CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 85,000 MILES. THE RADIATORS IN BMWS A...

#10036683 — August 27, 2003 — RADIATOR DEFECT -- PLASTIC NECK OF RADIATOR CONNECTING TO UPPER HOSE BROKE AT POINT OF CONNECTION WHILE AT MODERATE S...

#10030313 — July 29, 2003 — 1997 BMW 540IA RADIATOR FAILURE. UPPER HOSE CONNECTION CRACKED OFF UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DUMP OF ENGINE...

#10018923 — May 19, 2003 — AT THE PRECISE MOMENT I FULLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO PASS A SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE, CAUSING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMIS...

Recent Complaints for the 1997 BMW 540IA

#10149990 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS — February 10, 2006 — I HAVE A 1997 540 BMW WITH 180,000 MI. INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF A FLAT DRIVER SIDE RIGHT FRONT TIRE I DISCOVERED T...

#10144815 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN — December 8, 2005 — 1. BROUGHT MY CAR TO FIRESTONE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA AND HAD THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED - WORK CO...

#10036683 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM — August 27, 2003 — RADIATOR DEFECT -- PLASTIC NECK OF RADIATOR CONNECTING TO UPPER HOSE BROKE AT POINT OF CONNECTION WHILE AT MODERATE S...

#10019942 — AIR BAGS — May 15, 2003 — THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS DUE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WEIGHT SYSTEM. *NLM *SCC *JB

#10003345 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM — January 24, 2003 — RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY 1997 BMW 540I. CAR QUICKLY OVERHEATED SEVERELY AND SHUT DOWN ON INTERSTATE ...