MYRModel Year Report

BMW 540I — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

No year of this model has a ranking yet: each has too few complaints, or too few other years to compare with. Open a year below to see its complaints and recalls.

Complaint history

1989: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1989 1990: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1991: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1992: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1993: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1994: 8 complaints, Not enough data 1994 1995: 10 complaints, Not enough data 1997: 27 complaints, Not enough data 1998: 26 complaints, Not enough data 1999: 22 complaints, Not enough data 2000: 31 complaints, Not enough data 2000 2001: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2002: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2003: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2009 2014 2017: 20 complaints, Not enough data 2018: 31 complaints, Not enough data 2019: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2019 2020: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2021: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2023: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2024: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2024 2025: 1 complaint, Not enough data 2000 · 31
1989: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1989 1990: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1991: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1992: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1992 1993: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1994: 8 complaints, Not enough data 1995: 10 complaints, Not enough data 1995 1997: 27 complaints, Not enough data 1998: 26 complaints, Not enough data 1999: 22 complaints, Not enough data 2000: 31 complaints, Not enough data 2000 2001: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2002: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2003: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016 2017: 20 complaints, Not enough data 2018: 31 complaints, Not enough data 2019: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2019 2020: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2021: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2022 2023: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2024: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2025: 1 complaint, Not enough data 2025 2000 · 31
1989: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1989 1990: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1991: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1991 1992: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1993: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1993 1994: 8 complaints, Not enough data 1995: 10 complaints, Not enough data 1995 1997: 27 complaints, Not enough data 1997 1998: 26 complaints, Not enough data 1999: 22 complaints, Not enough data 2000: 31 complaints, Not enough data 2000 2001: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2002: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2003: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017: 20 complaints, Not enough data 2017 2018: 31 complaints, Not enough data 2019: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2019 2020: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2021: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2021 2022: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2023: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2023 2024: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2025: 1 complaint, Not enough data 2025 2000 · 31
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2025 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 ○ Not enough data 5 Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2023 ○ Not enough data 5 Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2022 ○ Not enough data 5 Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2021 ○ Not enough data 9 Only 9 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2020 ○ Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2019 ○ Not enough data 11 Only 11 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2018 ○ Not enough data 31 Not enough comparison years on file yet for a fair verdict.
2017 ○ Not enough data 20 Only 20 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2004–2016 No NHTSA records on file — this model year may not have been sold, or no complaints, recalls or investigations were ever filed against it.
2003 ○ Not enough data 7 Only 7 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2002 ○ Not enough data 12 Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2001 ○ Not enough data 15 Only 15 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2000 ○ Not enough data 31 Not enough comparison years on file yet for a fair verdict.
1999 ○ Not enough data 22 Only 22 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1998 ○ Not enough data 26 Only 26 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1997 ○ Not enough data 27 Only 27 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1996 No NHTSA records on file — this model year may not have been sold, or no complaints, recalls or investigations were ever filed against it.
1995 ○ Not enough data 10 Only 10 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1994 ○ Not enough data 8 Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1993 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1992 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1991 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1990 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1989 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

23

recalls on file across every BMW 540I model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other BMW models