Skip to main content
MyRecallCheckNHTSA recall explorer

NHTSA model-year recall report

2001 BMW 540I Recalls

4 campaigns in our verified NHTSA snapshot, with source consequences, remedies, and VIN-specific next steps.

Check exact VIN status Decode a VIN

Urgent NHTSA instruction

Park It advisory found

1 campaign tells owners not to drive affected vehicles. Read the highlighted campaign details below and confirm applicability to your VIN immediately.

Campaign 19V015000

4

NHTSA campaigns

3

Affected systems

1

Urgent advisories

Jan 14, 2019

Latest campaign date

At a glance

What the record says

This model year's count is above the BMW 540I average of 2.0 campaigns per listed year. That is context only—not proof that this year is safer or less safe.

The most frequent affected category is Engine And Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan, appearing in 2 campaigns.

  1. 1

    Read

    Review every campaign and urgent instruction below.

  2. 2

    Verify

    Check your exact VIN with NHTSA or the manufacturer.

  3. 3

    Repair

    Contact an authorized dealer if a campaign applies.

Source campaign records

All 2001 BMW 540I recall campaigns

Shown newest first. NHTSA summary, consequence, and remedy text is preserved without truncation.

NHTSA Park It instruction

NHTSA campaign 19V015000

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module

Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC

Reported Jan 14, 2019

What is recalled

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 03V421000

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor / Control Module-inactive

Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Reported Oct 24, 2003

What is recalled

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A MICROPROCESSOR IN THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE, WHICH ACTIVATES THE FRONT AIR BAGS, THE SIDE AIR BAGS, THE FRONT SEAT SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONERS, AND THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL, MAY HAVE A MALFUNCTION THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED ACTIVATION OF ONE OR MORE OF THESE COMPONENTS.

Safety consequence

UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG(S) COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF AN OCCUPANT IS TOO CLOSE TO THE DEPLOYING AIR BAG(S). IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL MAY ALSO BE ACTIVATED. IF THAT HAPPENS, THE STARTER CABLE WOULD BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE BATTERY, AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 02V138000

Engine And Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan

Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Reported May 16, 2002

What is recalled

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.

Safety consequence

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A RECALL THAT BEGAN DURING SEPTEMBER 2001 (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V206). OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 01V206000

Engine And Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan

Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

Reported Jun 21, 2001

What is recalled

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.

Safety consequence

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

Other BMW 540I model years

Compare campaign histories within the same model. Counts are descriptive, not a safety grade.

20241 campaign20171 campaign20014 campaigns20002 campaigns
View all model years

Other 2001 BMW recall reports

2001 BMW X512 campaigns2001 BMW 330I8 campaigns2001 BMW 325I7 campaigns2001 BMW 325CI6 campaigns2001 BMW 330CI6 campaigns2001 BMW 330XI5 campaigns

2001 BMW 540I recall questions

How many recalls does the 2001 BMW 540I have?

This verified dataset contains 4 NHTSA campaigns associated with the 2001 BMW 540I. A campaign can apply to some, not all, vehicles of the same model year.

Does this confirm an open recall for my 2001 BMW 540I?

No. This page is a model-year campaign history. Use NHTSA's official lookup or an authorized dealer to confirm whether a campaign applies to your exact VIN and whether the repair remains open.

Are vehicle recall repairs free?

When a safety recall campaign applies to your VIN, the manufacturer remedy is generally provided at no charge through an authorized dealer. Confirm eligibility and scheduling with the manufacturer or dealer.

Source: NHTSA. Dataset includes campaigns through Jul 30, 2026. Last processed Aug 8, 2026. Methodology