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1999 Bmw 540ia Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Moderate

11 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.55 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Moderate99V005000

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS, THE CAR MAY NO LONGER OPERATE IN REVERSE, 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEARS.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

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.

Moderate99V004000

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables

THE CABLE INSULATION CAN BE WORN AWAY, EXPOSING THE WIRE.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL APPLY A THICKNESS OF INSULATING TAPE TO THE CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE CLIP, AND INSTALL A REVISED CLIP.

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.

Complaint volume

11 this model-year 5 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

Complaints filed11
Reporting a crash0
Reporting a fire2
Injuries reported0
Deaths reported0
Severity Index0.55

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

  1. Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly — 4 reports
  2. Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System — 1 reports
  3. Exterior Lighting:Headlights — 1 reports
  4. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module — 1 reports
  5. Power Train:Automatic Transmission — 1 reports
  6. Equipment — 1 reports
  7. Engine And Engine Cooling — 1 reports
  8. Power Train — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. 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

1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002

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.

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