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BMW 540IModel year report

2019 BMW 540I Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
16,600miles, 9 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 21 city / 29 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2019 BMW 540I (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2019 BMW 540I. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (3) and transmission and drivetrain (2). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 16,600 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 239 technical service bulletins for this model year. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Other or unknown: “I purchased four (4) michelin pilot alpin pa4 tires in 245/35/20 for the front and 275/30/20 for the rear. I subsequently hit a pothole and had the front driver's side tire blow out. I then had the tire replaced. A couple months later, I hit a pothole on the highway with the front drivers side tire, which again caused the tire to blow, but this time damaged the wheel beyond repair. The passenger side tire was also found to have two bubbles in the sidewall even without having been struck by a pothole. …”

NHTSA complaint #11323551, filed 2020-05, 11,192 miles

Vehicle speed control: “On friday, 11/20/20, driving on interstate at about 60-65 miles speed, suddenly within few seconds, the speed dropped down to 35-40 miles without any braking action by me. It scared the hack out of me. I barely managed to get off the driving lane. While in my car, bww sos on-call ( don't know exact name) called, and asked me if I was ok. Then, the operator got roadside assistance or their mechanic online; he tried to diagnose the problem. He said it would need to be towed in to the dealership. The operator arranged for the towing truck; the car was towed in to 'global imports Bmw' dealership. …”

NHTSA complaint #11377490, filed 2020-12, 15,496 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “My check engine light came on for chassis stabilization and drivetrain malfunction. I took it to the dealership and they told me they repair would not be covered under warranty. Dealership alleges a rodent gnawed on a engine wiring harness. From what I gather from the dealership this occurs frequently. The manufacturer is aware of this problem but has failed to make necessary design changes to make these wiring harnesses inaccessible to rodents. …”

NHTSA complaint #11324466, filed 2020-05, 8,323 miles

Air bags: “The contact owns a 2019 BMW 540i. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the failure recurred. The contact continuously depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle lunged forward and collided with a barrier and crashed into his neighbor's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy upon impact. The contact was not treated for any injuries. A police report was not filed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11421080, filed 2021-06, 18,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 11,192 and 23,000 miles.

22%0–1056%10–2522%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (9 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 16,600 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

201920203202132022202420263
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2019 BMW 540I version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
540i RWD3.0L 6-cyl8-speed automatic212924$3,400
540i xDrive AWD3.0L 6-cyl8-speed automatic212924$3,400

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2019 BMW 540I → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 239 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 239 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 540I

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20245—3—28—Too new
20236—1—27—Too new
20226—1—27—Not enough data
2021938,3506—26—Not enough data
20191216,6001—24—Not enough data
2018318,1502—24Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
20172020,5001—24—Rising
2003792,0002—17—Not enough data
20021298,0002—16—Not enough data
20011589,0004—16—Stable
20003191,0002—16Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19992270,0001—16—Stable
19982650,9141—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19972776,3500—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19951080,2502—18—Not enough data
1994887,0004—17—Not enough data

All BMW 540I model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2019 BMW 540I have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2019 BMW 540I as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2019 BMW 540I is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 3.

Has the 2019 BMW 540I been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2019 BMW 540I get?

The EPA rates the 2019 BMW 540I (540i, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 21 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2019 BMW 540I reported?

Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 16,600 miles and the middle half falls between 11,192 and 23,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.