NHTSA lists 20 complaints for the 2017 BMW 540I, 0 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-08.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW 540I.
At a glance
Complaints
20
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
1
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
33
Investigations
1
Open investigations
1
Manufacturer communications
443
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
AIR BAGS
5
25.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
20.0%
SEATS
4
20.0%
SEAT BELTS
3
15.0%
ENGINE
2
10.0%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
10.0%
SERVICE BRAKES
2
10.0%
TIRES
2
10.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
10.0%
BACK OVER PREVENTION
1
5.0%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
AIR BAGS
SENSOR
2
BACK OVER PREVENTION
WARNINGS
1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
WARNINGS
1
TIRES
SIDEWALL
1
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.
Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i and 540i xDrive and 2017-2018 530e xDrive vehicles. Prior exposure to excessive levels of humidity within the driver and passenger head air bag inflators may affect the proper deployment of the head air bags.
Consequence: In the event of a crash of sufficient severity, deployment of the head air bag may be impaired and/or the igniter could separate from the inflator, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left or right head air bag, free of charge. The recall began June 24, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
1 investigations; 1 open.
EA21002
Opened: 2021-09-17. Closed: Not listed.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupt
Systems: AIR BAGS.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
443 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
176
EQUIPMENT
149
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
50
ENGINE
31
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
26
STRUCTURE
21
STEERING
20
BACK OVER PREVENTION
19
11024726
Date: 2025-10-29. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
A situation may occur where the front passenger seat is not occupied; however, a a fasten seat belta warning and a front passenger seat air bag deactivation message appears. If the situation is currently present, sit in the seat and move the seat to a slightly different position. The POL (Passeng
11017101
Date: 2025-04-18. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
The Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Front Passengera s Seat Occupancy Capacitive Interior Sensor (CIS) Mat for defects in materials and/or workmanship that causes a false seat occupancy alert to occur has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the vehicle's original in-se
EVAP SYSTEM PURGE (VENT) VALVE EXT LTD WTY (ELW) 15/150
10252031
Date: 2024-03-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
10252038
Date: 2024-03-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage supply The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following DME Fault Code: 21B209 - Starter alternator / belt for 48V system (OSA_RIEMEN_RISS): Belt betweenCombustion engine and starter generator torn And/or o
10249437
Date: 2024-01-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY.
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
10249027
Date: 2024-01-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle A A?A A A A discharged batteryA A?A A A A compl
10249018
Date: 2024-01-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.
At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. This can be felt (jerking)/ heard via an acoustic acknowledgement (clunk) as seen at the 11 second mark of the vide
10249032
Date: 2024-01-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT.
The Central Information Display goes black intermittently due to resets of the Head Unit (HU-H3). FaultB7F8F9 A A A A A A A A?A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A?A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A HU-H: ResetA A A A A A A A?A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A will be stored in the HU-H3.
10249017
Date: 2024-01-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.
SITUATION Unusual noises occur only when operating the steering column in the axial direction. 1. A one-time thump sound at the start of movement Shortly after the steering column starts moving, retracting, or extending, a one-time thump noise is heard. See attached video V32 03 23 2. Humming no
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.