The 1999 BMW 540iat has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,864 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS, THE CAR MAY NO LONGER OPERATE IN REVERSE, 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEARS.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
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.
THE CABLE INSULATION CAN BE WORN AWAY, EXPOSING THE WIRE. THE WIRE COULD CONTACT THE CLIP OR A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR.
DEALERS WILL APPLY A THICKNESS OF INSULATING TAPE TO THE CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE CLIP, AND INSTALL A REVISED CLIP.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Complete abs failure while traveling at speeds. The abs control module controlled each wheel differently at different times, causing the car to buck wildly at highway safe speeds. While braking, the controller went bad (was reported to dealer previously and told it was the brake pads - changed and…”
“Radiator failure on 1999 540 touring - disables the vehicle no matter where you are from rush hour traffic where the panic could endanger other drivers, to the middle of nowhere in the dead of winter by yourself. *ak - steam from failed radiator blocks vision of the road, or whatever else is in…”
“I have experienced an occasional hard downshift or clunk when slowing my vehicle and then briskly accelerating. This is very similar to the problem reported in service bulletin number 240300.*ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 BMW 540iat as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.