Reliable Auto DB

2024 BMW 540i reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2024 BMW 540i over 3 years — 2 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 8 540i years on this site. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Control module.

2017 BMW 540i
Photo by Calreyn88, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

5

Per year

2

Recalls

1

Years on the road

3

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Back-over prevention (2 of 5), then Electronic stability control (ESC) (2) and Hydraulic brakes (2). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash.

Next to 2023 and 2025

The 2023 540i has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2025 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2024 has more complaints per year than the 2023.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2024 BMW 540i. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall electronic stability control, control module 2024-09-18 · NHTSA campaign 24V697000
Summary BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 X1, 2024-2025 X5, 2025 X6, 2023-2025 X7, 740i, 760i, 2024 XM, 530i, 540i, i7, 750e, X2, 2024-2025 i5, 2024 Rolls Royce Spectre, 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4, JCW Countryman ALL4, and 2025 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S) vehicles. Please refer to the recall report for the complete list of models. The welds in the servomotor of the integrated brake control module may break, causing a loss of power brake assist and rear brake function. In addition, the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system may not function.
Remedy Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 13, 2024. Owners can contact BMW Customer Service at 1-800-525-7417.

Complaints by component (5 total)

Back-over prevention
2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
Hydraulic brakes
2
Electrical system
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Service brakes
1
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

4202412025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "See attached document for complaint."
    Hydraulic brakes, Electronic stability control (ESC) · filed 2025-01-30
  • "I reserved this vehicle with a deposit on Oct. 26. At the time I was told the vehicle was under recall/stop sale for a brake issue and I would not be able to take delivery until the recall work was performed. On 11/5, I…"
    Service brakes · filed 2024-11-15
  • "See attached document for complaint."
    Back-over prevention, Electrical system · filed 2024-11-14
  • "PROBLEM: I recently had several incidents when the RAB (rear automatic brake) on the 2024 BMW 540i vehicle DID NOT WORK on multiple occasions. The vehicle never stopped as I backed out of my parking space. Afterwards I…"
    Back-over prevention, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2024-10-29
  • "The contact owns a 2024 BMW 540i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V10400(Electronic Stability Control(ESC), Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet…"
    Hydraulic brakes, Electronic stability control (ESC) · filed 2024-10-16

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
540i xDrive Sedan 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 26 33 28 MPG $2850

Specs and fitment

Tracked generation(s), 2017–present
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-20 , 6.9 qt capacity
Tire size 245/35R20, 245/40R19, 245/45R18, 275/30R20, 275/35R19 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA complaints and recalls for BMW 540i vehicles in the tracked years include air-bag, braking (vacuum pump lubrication campaigns such as 13V-454 on related N20 engines), lighting, and electrical themes shared across BMW 3/4/5/7/M lines. Confirm each campaign by VIN; many unit totals span multiple BMW models.

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See every BMW 540i model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2024 BMW 540i reliable?

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2024 BMW 540i over 3 years — 2 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 8 540i years on this site. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Control module.

What are common problems with a 2024 BMW 540i?

The complaints owners file most often name Back-over prevention (2 of 5), then Electronic stability control (ESC) (2) and Hydraulic brakes (2). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash.

Is the 2024 BMW 540i more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2023 540i has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2025 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2024 has more complaints per year than the 2023.

Has the 2024 BMW 540i been recalled?

The 2024 BMW 540i has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2024 BMW 540i?

Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2024 BMW 540i with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2024 BMW 540i get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2024 BMW 540i is 28 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a US BMW 540i use?

0W-20 With filter, about 6.9 qt is commonly listed for this generation—confirm in the owner manual.

What tire sizes fit a US BMW 540i?

Published US specs commonly list front 245/35R20, 245/40R19, 245/45R18, 275/30R20, 275/35R19 (trim-dependent) and rear 245/35R20, 245/40R19, 245/45R18, 275/30R20, 275/35R19 (trim-dependent); confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.

What NHTSA recalls affect the US BMW 540i?

NHTSA complaints and recalls for BMW 540i vehicles in the tracked years include air-bag, braking (vacuum pump lubrication campaigns such as 13V-454 on related N20 engines), lighting, and electrical themes shared across BMW 3/4/5/7/M lines. Confirm each campaign by VIN; many unit totals span multiple BMW models.