1999 BMW 540IAT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
3
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1999 BMW 540IAT
The 1999 BMW 540IAT has received a total of 3 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemradiator Assembly (1 complaint), Power Trainautomatic Transmission (1 complaint), and Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slipcontrol Unitmodule (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1999 BMW 540IAT
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1999 BMW 540IAT, potentially affecting up to 1,864 vehicles.
Recall 99V004000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
| 1,615 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Recall 99V005000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
| 249 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1999 BMW 540IAT
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 BMW 540IAT. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemradiator Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainautomatic Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slipcontrol Unitmodule | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
COMPLETE ABS FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONTROLLED EACH WHEEL DIFFERENTLY AT DIFFERENT TIMES, CAUSING THE CAR TO BUCK WILDLY AT HIGHWAY SAFE SPEEDS. WHILE BRAKING, THE CONTROLLER WENT BAD (WAS REPORTED TO DEALER PREVIOUSLY AND TOLD IT WAS THE BRAKE PADS - CHANGED AND STILL HAD ISSUE) , LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEELS, CAUSED SLIDING CONDITION IN TRAFFIC, NEARLY COLLIDING WITH OTHER CARS AND UNDERPASS BARRICADE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIME AND HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER (NONE AT SPEEDS - 10 MPH OR UNDER - CONTROLLABLE AT THOSE SPEEDS). *NM
RADIATOR FAILURE ON 1999 540 TOURING - DISABLES THE VEHICLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE FROM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHERE THE PANIC COULD ENDANGER OTHER DRIVERS, TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN THE DEAD OF WINTER BY YOURSELF. *AK - STEAM FROM FAILED RADIATOR BLOCKS VISION OF THE ROAD, OR WHATEVER ELSE IS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. - FAILURE CAN NOT BE PREDICTED BY VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE RADIATOR.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN OCCASIONAL HARD DOWNSHIFT OR CLUNK WHEN SLOWING MY VEHICLE AND THEN BRISKLY ACCELERATING. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM REPORTED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 240300.*AK
Safety Rating for the 1999 BMW 540IAT
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1999 BMW 540IAT in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1999 BMW 540IAT
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1999 BMW 540IAT
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW 540IAT
- 1999 BMW 540IAT (current)
- 2000 BMW 540IAT — 2 complaints
- 2001 BMW 540IAT — 0 complaints