BMW

540i

Midsize Cars · model years 1994 to 2027

Includes 540i, 540i Sedan, 540i Sport Wagon and 3 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 45 540i trims All BMW cars

The verdict

Best year: 2027. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2.

Worst year: 2000. complaints: 31, about 1.6x this model's typical 19; recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the BMW 540i
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1994	1Gas	17	no data	$4,550	4	8	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 33%, POWER TRAIN 33%, SEATS 17%
complaints: 8, about 1.6x this model's typical 5 recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 Score: 32 of 100, where higher is better.
1995	2Gas	17	no data	$4,550	2	10	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 29%, POWER TRAIN 14%, SEATS 14%
complaints: 10, in line with this model's typical 10 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
1997	2Gas	17	no data	$4,550	0	27	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 43%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, SEAT BELTS 7%
complaints: 27, about 2.7x this model's typical 10 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 34 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	2Gas	17	no data	$3,675	1	26	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 62%, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 8%, STRUCTURE 8%
complaints: 26, about 2.6x this model's typical 10 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 34 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	4Gas	16	no data	$3,900	1	22	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 22, above this model's typical 19 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 70 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	4Gas	16	no data	$4,800	2	31	0	no data	AIR BAGS 22%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 22%
complaints: 31, about 1.6x this model's typical 19 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 2 NHTSA advised parking the 2000 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 18 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	4Gas	16	no data	$4,800	4	15	0	no data	AIR BAGS 29%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 29%, POWER TRAIN 18%
complaints: 15, below this model's typical 19 recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 NHTSA advised parking the 2001 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 28 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	4Gas	16	no data	$4,800	2	12	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 29%, STEERING 29%, AIR BAGS 12%
complaints: 12, below this model's typical 19 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 NHTSA advised parking the 2002 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 51 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	4Gas	17	no data	$4,550	2	7	0	no data	AIR BAGS 22%, STEERING 22%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 7, below this model's typical 19 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 NHTSA advised parking the 2003 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 54 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	2Gas	23.5	335	$3,275	1	20	1 (1 open)	297	AIR BAGS 16%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, SEATS 13%
complaints: 20, about 2x this model's typical 10 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 37 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	2Gas	23.5	no data	$3,275	2	31	0	197	AIR BAGS 26%, SEAT BELTS 20%, SEATS 18%
complaints: 31, about 3.1x this model's typical 10 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 28 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	2Gas	24	no data	$3,200	1	11	0	163	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 21%, POWER TRAIN 14%
complaints: 11, above this model's typical 10 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 72 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	2Gas	25	335	$3,100	5	3	0	163	ENGINE 67%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 33%
complaints: 3, below this model's typical 10 recalls: 5, about 2.5x this model's typical 2 Score: 51 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	2Gas, Hybrid	26.5	335	$2,900	6	9	1	120	POWER TRAIN 23%, SERVICE BRAKES 23%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%
complaints: 9, below this model's typical 10 recalls: 6, about 3x this model's typical 2 Score: 41 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	2Hybrid	26	no data	$2,975	1	6	1	43	POWER TRAIN 40%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 20%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 6, below this model's typical 10 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 80 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	2Hybrid	26	no data	$2,975	1	5	0	32	BACK OVER PREVENTION 29%, SERVICE BRAKES 29%, STRUCTURE 14%
complaints: 5, below this model's typical 10 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 83 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	1Hybrid	28	no data	$2,750	3	5	0	no data	BACK OVER PREVENTION 22%, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 22%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 22%
complaints: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 Score: 60 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	1Hybrid	28	no data	$2,950	3	1	0	1	WHEELS 100%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 Score: 72 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	1Hybrid	28	no data	$2,950	0	0	0	no data	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2027	1Hybrid	28	no data	$2,950	0	0	0	no data	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 5 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1994: 17 to 2027: 28

Owner complaints1994: 8 to 2027: 0

How we score each year

We compare each year of the BMW 540i to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.