2017 Bmw 540I

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Bmw 540I has 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is seats/restraints problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: i had dropped off the vehicle for swapping out my winter tires for all season tires. their technicians removed the rear seat belt latches and installed them incorrectly. this work was neither approved by me or mentioned on the work order. i was also not verbally informed of this work being performed.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

7 complaints

21%

• I HAD DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE FOR SWAPPING OUT MY WINTER TIRES FOR ALL SEASON TIRES. THEIR TECHNICIANS REMOVED THE REAR SEAT BELT LATCHES AND INSTALLED THEM INCORRECTLY. THIS WORK WAS NEITHER APPROVED BY ME OR MENTIONED ON THE WORK ORDER. I WAS ALSO NOT VERBALLY INFORMED OF THIS WORK BEING PERFORMED
• Front Passenger Seat Malfunction - Intermittent on and off warning No risk yet but BMW road aside assist confirmed that air bag might not deploy on passenger side Vehicle inspected by Irvine BMW and warning or concerns shown, just tried to bill me without root causing the issue. Yes the warning
• Passenger seat in 2017 BMW 5 series cars have a well known and not covered fault where in a loud chiming will go off requiring the passenger seatbelt to be buckled. This chime does not stop and continues until the seat belt is buckled. There is nothing in the passengers seat. The noise is ve

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I HAD DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE FOR SWAPPING OUT MY WINTER TIRES FOR ALL SEASON TIRES. THEIR TECHNICIANS REMOVED THE REAR SEAT BELT LATCHES AND INSTALLED THEM INCORRECTLY. THIS WORK WAS NEITHER APPROVED BY ME OR MENTIONED ON THE WORK ORDER. I WAS ALSO NOT VERBALLY INFORMED OF THIS WORK BEING PERFORMED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

7 complaints

21%

• Front Passenger Seat Malfunction - Intermittent on and off warning No risk yet but BMW road aside assist confirmed that air bag might not deploy on passenger side Vehicle inspected by Irvine BMW and warning or concerns shown, just tried to bill me without root causing the issue. Yes the warning
• Front Passenger Seat Malfunction - Intermittent on and off warning No risk yet but BMW road aside assist confirmed that air bag might not deploy on passenger side Vehicle inspected by Irvine BMW and warning or concerns shown, just tried to bill me without root causing the issue. Yes the warning
• Passenger seat in 2017 BMW 5 series cars have a well known and not covered fault where in a loud chiming will go off requiring the passenger seatbelt to be buckled. This chime does not stop and continues until the seat belt is buckled. There is nothing in the passengers seat. The noise is ve

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“Front Passenger Seat Malfunction - Intermittent on and off warning No risk yet but BMW road aside assist confirmed that air bag might not deploy on passenger side Vehicle inspected by Irvine BMW and warning or concerns shown, just tried to bill me without root causing the issue. Yes the warning ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

12%

• BACKUP CAMERA IS BLACKING OUT. VERY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2018-19 BMW'S BUT NOT FOR 2017 BMWS. FORUMS ALSO REPORT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS REVERSE CAMERA.
• The Instrument Cluster Display Shakes and goes completely black unable to know haw fast Your driving with all the system down You never know when its going to happen
• Daytime Running Lights on the driver's side are malfunctioning. Connection between headlight housing and the daytime running lights are melted. Dealer found faults stored for headlight malfunction. They recommended replacing headlighthousing and LED module. The dealer has reproduced and confirmed

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“BACKUP CAMERA IS BLACKING OUT. VERY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2018-19 BMW'S BUT NOT FOR 2017 BMWS. FORUMS ALSO REPORT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS REVERSE CAMERA.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BMW 540I. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON ANY INCLINED HILL OR ROAD, TH
• While driving on highways when there is no car in front of me, my car suddenly warns me of collision and applies brakes automatically! This almost caused an accident with the cars behind me. They were about to collide with me from behind because my car was applying brakes automatically without my co

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BMW 540I. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON ANY INCLINED HILL OR ROAD, TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints

• BACKUP CAMERA IS BLACKING OUT. VERY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2018-19 BMW'S BUT NOT FOR 2017 BMWS. FORUMS ALSO REPORT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS REVERSE CAMERA.
• On G models of the bmw 5 series. Ac coil leaks r1234yf freon which causes safety issue due to the gas being exposed into the cabin of the car and to the atmosphere. Dealerships wants $5000-7000 for this repair as the whole dash needs to come out. This is almost a guaranteed failure and BMW has faile

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“BACKUP CAMERA IS BLACKING OUT. VERY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2018-19 BMW'S BUT NOT FOR 2017 BMWS. FORUMS ALSO REPORT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS REVERSE CAMERA.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 33 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: I HAD DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE FOR SWAPPING OUT MY WINTER TIRES FOR ALL SEASON TIRES. THEIR TECHNICIANS REMOVED THE REAR SEAT BELT LATCHES AND INSTALLED THEM INCORRECTLY. THIS WORK WAS NEITHER APPROVED BY ME OR MENTIONED ON THE WORK ORDER. I WAS ALSO NOT VERBALLY INFORMED OF THIS WORK BEING PERFORMED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: Front Passenger Seat Malfunction - Intermittent on and off warning No risk yet but BMW road aside assist confirmed that air bag might not deploy on passenger side Vehicle inspected by Irvine BMW and warning or concerns shown, just tried to bill me without root causing the issue. Yes the warning
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: BACKUP CAMERA IS BLACKING OUT. VERY DANGEROUS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2018-19 BMW'S BUT NOT FOR 2017 BMWS. FORUMS ALSO REPORT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS REVERSE CAMERA.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BMW 540I. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON ANY INCLINED HILL OR ROAD, TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)