2002 BMW 540I Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 ...
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 33...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 BMW 540I. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN, IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FA...
Mileage: 40,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK TEN ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST THIRTY TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
Mileage: 166,000
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACT...
THE PLASTIC COVERS ON THE HEADLIGHTS OF MY BMW BECAME CRAZED/FROSTED. EVERY BMW OF THIS VINTAGE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I SHOWED THIS TO OCCUR IN 2010 AT 100,000 MILES, BUT IN FACT IT WAS A STEADY DEGRADATION OVER SEVERAL YEARS. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDU...
Mileage: 100,000
POWER STEERING PUMP MOUNTING BRACKETS BROKE OFF ( ON A POWER STEERING PUMP ITSELF), CAR THUS LOST POWER STEERING, BELT GOT OFF, IN A TURN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER , SOMEHOW I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT CLEAR IN A TURN. I GUESS I WAS LUCKY.
Mileage: 86,000
I WAS DRIVING AND MY SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF. AFTER INSPECTION THE BRACKET FOR MY POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE AND CAUSED THE BELT TO FALL OFF. LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Mileage: 96,000
AFTER STARTING UP MY CAR, THERE WAS A SLIGHT WHINE UNDER THE HOOD. I GAVE THE CAR A LITTLE BIT OF THROTTLE TO SEE IF THE WHINE WENT AWAY AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT MY BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON. I NEEDED TO GET HOME, AND I THOUGHT THAT MY CAR MAY NOT START AGAIN IF I TURNED IT OF...
Mileage: 151,345
AFTER STARTING UP MY CAR, THERE WAS A SLIGHT WHINE UNDER THE HOOD. I GAVE THE CAR A LITTLE BIT OF THROTTLE TO SEE IF THE WHINE WENT AWAY AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT MY BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON. I NEEDED TO GET HOME, AND I THOUGHT THAT MY CAR MAY NOT START AGAIN IF I TURNED IT OF...
Mileage: 151,345
AFTER STARTING UP MY CAR, THERE WAS A SLIGHT WHINE UNDER THE HOOD. I GAVE THE CAR A LITTLE BIT OF THROTTLE TO SEE IF THE WHINE WENT AWAY AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT MY BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON. I NEEDED TO GET HOME, AND I THOUGHT THAT MY CAR MAY NOT START AGAIN IF I TURNED IT OF...
Mileage: 151,345
I WAS DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING FELT A LITTLE STIFFER THAN USUAL. AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES AND BETTER FLOWING TRAFFIC I PULLED INTO A RESTAURANT FOR DINNER WHEN MY UPPER RADIATOR HOSE EXPLODED. I PULLED INTO A STALL AND OPENED THE HOOD TO INSPECT WHAT HAPPENED. THE HOSE W...
Mileage: 76,854
I WAS DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING FELT A LITTLE STIFFER THAN USUAL. AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES AND BETTER FLOWING TRAFFIC I PULLED INTO A RESTAURANT FOR DINNER WHEN MY UPPER RADIATOR HOSE EXPLODED. I PULLED INTO A STALL AND OPENED THE HOOD TO INSPECT WHAT HAPPENED. THE HOSE W...
Mileage: 76,854
I WAS DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING FELT A LITTLE STIFFER THAN USUAL. AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES AND BETTER FLOWING TRAFFIC I PULLED INTO A RESTAURANT FOR DINNER WHEN MY UPPER RADIATOR HOSE EXPLODED. I PULLED INTO A STALL AND OPENED THE HOOD TO INSPECT WHAT HAPPENED. THE HOSE W...
Mileage: 76,854
MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF NO START. EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BMW SPECIALIST WHO OVER AND OVER AGAIN DIAGNOSED COMPLETELY DRAINED BATTERY, BUT CHARGING SYSTEM WAS OK. I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT BMW HAS BEEN RECALLING 2003-2010 MODELS WITH THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. *TR
Mileage: 105,000
1. EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: I DROVE THE CAR 5MIN AND PARKED FOR 30 MINUTE LUNCH. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING FAILED IMMEDIATELY AND I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. 2. THE FAILURE, FREQUENCY, CONSEQUENCES: POWER STEERING PUMP MOUNTING BRACKETS FRACTURED NEAR THE BOLTS THAT RETAIN...
Mileage: 130,000
APPARENT COMPUTER MALFUNCTION CAUSED WINDOWS TO FOG UP, CLOCK TO FAIL, DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS TO FAIL AND THE ENGINE TO REFUSE TO RESTART. ALSO, THE DASH DISPLAY AND BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ON EVEN WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED. DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, WAITING ABOUT ONE HOUR, RECONNECTING THE BATTERY ...
Mileage: 41,000
THERE IS A CONSTANT FUEL LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE CAUSING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.*AK
THERE IS A CONSTANT FUEL LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE CAUSING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.*AK