1997 BMW 540I Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 11%of 27 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 73,388miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 BMW 540I, 11% of the 27 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 73,388 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“1997 Bmw 540I fuse to the fuel injector blew out.***no answer required*** the vehicle would all of a sudden die when in motion due to the blown fuse(s) to the injector. The thermostat temperature sensor had an internal short which caused the wire to melt and blew the fuse. The sunroof was inoperative due to the rail lift pieces being broken. The wiper blades were not cleaning the windows properly.”
NHTSA complaint #10130203, filed 2005-07, 53,777 miles“While driving on the freeway, the electronic coolant thermostat shorted out and caused engine wiring harness the burn up. This caused the enigine to stop running. Luckily, burning was restricted to wires and no other components were burnt. Car is still waiting for a new wiring harness at the Bmw dealer ($2000 est for repair). I have heard of similar occurances with this model car and with 740i of about the same year. This seems to be a dangerous situation and should be prevented by a fuse or fusable link.”
NHTSA complaint #10074901, filed 2004-06, 93,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10249437Jan 16, 2024The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- 10149557Oct 1, 2018For 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…
- 10142928Dec 1, 2017SERVICE ACTION: PROGRAM DME (FOR O2 SENSORS): Due to DME software error, the following oxygen sensors plausibility fault codes may be stored in DME 5.2.1 control module:
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 20% |
| 2022 | 1 | 17% |
| 2021 | 2 | 22% |
| 2019 | 1 | 8% |
| 2018 | 4 | 13% |
| 2017 | 4 | 20% |
| 2003 | 1 | 14% |
| 2002 | 5 | 42% |
| 2001 | 5 | 33% |
| 2000 | 8 | 26% |
| 1999 | 4 | 18% |
| 1997 | 3 | 11% |
| 1995 | 1 | 10% |
Other parts of the 1997 BMW 540I
13 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsSuspension
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 BMW 540I
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology