1997 BMW 540IABmw 540ia 1997

Vehicle Details: Consumer Complaints, Service Bulletins

Below you will find all available information on the 1997 BMW 540IA.

ManufacturerKnown WMI(s)Fuel Type
BMW
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NHTSA Mandated Recalls

No recalls could be found for this vehicle. To ensure accuracy and for your safety, do a free VIN recall check here or here [USA] - UK - Canada.

Bulletins

Bulletins are notices put out by manufacturers in conjunction with the NHTSA to notify the public of manufacturing issues or changes.

  • B510819 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
  • B013118 - AIR BAGS: Takata air bag recall-related short-term alternate transportation and consequential repairs this service information bulletin supersedes si b01 31 18 dated october 2018.
  • B013118 - AIR BAGS: Takata air bag recall-related short-term alternate transportation and consequential repairs this service information bulletin supersedes si b01 31 18 dated october 2018.
  • B080119 - AIR BAGS: In an effort to improve the completion rate on takata air bag recall affected vehicles; bmw na has expanded the bmw ultimate rewards platform to include a new recall support page. This page will allow irfs to check their customers vins for
  • B011618 - AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE: Takata class action settlement. Customer support program. Front driver side airbag modules.
  • B650916 - EQUIPMENT: Radio / navigation / head unit identification guide
  • B011618 - AIR BAGS: For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?S side airbag modules, bmw of north america, llc (?Bmw na?) will provide a customer support program as outlined in the takata settlement customer support program overview attachment. This ?Comp
  • 16 06 97 - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY: Fuel level sensor may have been damaged during production which will cause fuel gauge to read approximately 3/4 full even if tank is comopletely full. *ak
  • 84 01 97 - EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.: Bmw navigation system cd v 05 operating software for mark i system.
  • 11 05 97 - STRUCTURE: Left side engine support may contact the front subframe, causing a drone noise. *ak
Most Recent Consumer Complaints and Accidents
CrashFireTowedInjuredDeathsFailure
Date
NoNoN NoneNone20060201

I have a 1997 540 bmw with 180,000 mi. Investigating the cause of a flat driver side right front tire i discovered the front spring strut plate was cracked and allowed itself and the coil spring to contact and cut down the tire. Found nhtsa campaign # 04v183000 describing exact condition. Towed to devon hill bmw in pa. They will not pay to replace spring strut plate. They state bmw does not sell the spring strut plate separate from the strut and since i install aftermarket bilstien struts at 108,000 mi. Which requires the installer to use the existing spring strut plate bmw is not responsible. There is also a record of the car being at another bmw dealer at 135,000 miles where the repair order notes the recall and states they inspect struts and state no further action needed. No mention of retaining clip installation as described in the remedy section of the campaign. I have owned the car since 40,000 mi. I call bmw and referred me back to the dealer service manager which has not changed his position. *nm

NoNoN NoneNone20051205

1. Brought my car to firestone automotive repair in los angeles california and had the thermostat replaced - work completed by firestone - 2-5 days later went to beverly hills bmw to have coolant resevoir replaced was told i needed a new thermostat (just replaced at firestone) and water pump and that i had a major engine leak (later was told i had a minor engine leak not worth repair at that point) - had water pump replaced. - recieved vehicle from beverly hills bmw with the engine cover removed and vehicle not checked as asked - this took 3 weeks! 2. The problem: while driving at 65 mph on the hwy 2 hours from my house an explosion occured in the engine bay of the vehicle. 4 peices of the fan had shot through the hood of the vehicle making a large 1 inch slit accros the entire hood and approx 1 inch hole the whole length. Almost lost control and crashed! Pulled over to find that my fan was completly gone (the plastic parts had completly exploded from the fan clutch and gone through the hood and look to have tore many hoses inside the engine bay) and coolant was leaking out (my cooling system had been completly replaced whitin the last 4 weeks). 3. Towed the car to harloff bmw where they suspected that beverly hills bmw forgot to tighten the fan when they removed it for service to the water pump. Beverly hills bmw refused to service the car at harloff bmw and towed the vehicle to beverly hills bmw where i was told by the service manager that everything would be taken care of and not to worry. Was told today that this is my fault and that they said my fan was going bad (not true - have documentation to prove this and now they seem to have documentation to say otherwise fraud?). Damage: the hood, many internal engine bay parts i have found many other cases of this. Either bmw is not servicing this part or that they cut some corners in designing the engine fan there is no way that an engine fan should ever explode through the engine hood!!! *nm

NoNoN NoneNone20030822

Radiator defect -- plastic neck of radiator connecting to upper hose broke at point of connection while at moderate speed, spraying coolant onto engine and windshield and causing risks of fire and hazardous impairment of visability. This defect is well known to the manufacturer and a recall should be commenced.*ak

NoNoN NoneNone20030712

1997 bmw 540ia radiator failure. Upper hose connection cracked off unexpectedly, causing catastrophic dump of engine coolant. Vehicle was immediately disabled.*ak

NoNoN NoneNone20030509

At the precise moment i fully depressed the accelerator to pass a slow-moving vehicle, causing the automatic transmission to down shift, the radiator upper neck broke off, causing complete loss of coolant. Significant steam was generated from the leak and caused a cloud behind my car that could have blocked the view of a following vehicle. I was traveling at highway speeds which minimized the steam's ability to block my view, but at lower speeds the steam may have completely blocked my view. Considering i was passing a vehicle, there was a risk that if my view was obstructed, an accident with either the vehicle being passed or oncoming traffic could have resulted. I was stranded until my temporary repairs allowed me to limp to the nearest repair facility. I understand that this is a common failure mode for this vehicle, and request an investigation be initiated.*jb

NoNoN NoneNone20030430

The airbag light illuminated. The dealer stated it was due to the passenger side weight system. *nlm *scc *jb

NoNoN NoneNone20030430

The radiator hose connection at the top of the radiator failed completely. It is made of plastic, and split under cool weather conditions. This resulted in replacement of entire radiator, and replacement of radiator overflow container. It would appear that the use of plastic in this application resulted in heat stress over time, eventually resulting in complete failure without warning. Possible engine damage still being assessed at this time. I understand that this problem has occurred too many customers, however, the factory replacement parts appear to be exactly the same as original. Therefore, i can expect total coolant failure again in the future. This seems imprudent, and i have no response from bmw on this issue. *jb

NoNoN NoneNone20030331

A faulty radiator design (plastic neck?) caused my 97 bmw 540ia to break down on the freeway during rush hour. *nm

NoNoN NoneNone20030114

Radiator/overflow tank on my 1997 bmws 540ia cracked and needed replacement at 85,000 miles. The radiators in bmws are known as a weakness and continually fail on owners. This situation should be remedied!*ak

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