Moderate
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
THE CABLE INSULATION CAN BE WORN AWAY, EXPOSING THE WIRE.
1999 Bmw 540i Recalls & Complaints
1
open safety recall on record
Moderate
The recalls
Complaint volume
| Complaints filed | 29 |
|---|---|
| Reporting a crash | 1 |
| Reporting a fire | 0 |
| Injuries reported | 0 |
| Deaths reported | 0 |
| Severity Index | 0.07 |
What owners report most
- Electrical System — 4 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly — 3 reports
- Steering — 3 reports
- Power Train:Automatic Transmission — 2 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System — 2 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 2 reports
- Latches/Locks/Linkages — 2 reports
- Air Bags:Side/Window — 1 reports
- Tires:Tread/Belt — 1 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module — 1 reports
What to do
- Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
- Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
- Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.
Other model years
1995 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025
Questions
Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?
Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.
Do I pay for recall repairs?
No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.
Why are there complaints but no recalls?
Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.