2017 BMW 540i Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
25/100
#7 most-complained of 9 540i years
The 2017 BMW 540i has a Complaint Index of 25, ranking 7th worst out of 9 model years, with a 'Good' verdict relative to other 540i years. It has 20 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall, with Airbags as the top problem area.
- Complaints
- 20
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 23.5
- 20 city / 29.5 hwy
Top 2017 BMW 540i problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags5 (25%)
- Electrical System5 (25%)
- Structure & Body4 (20%)
- Seat Belts3 (15%)
- Brakes2 (10%)
- Engine2 (10%)
- Other2 (10%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (10%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (5%)
- Fuel System1 (5%)
What owners report
- Passenger seat airbag system intermittently warns of possible malfunction or shows warning lights on and off.
- Backup camera blacks out while driving, which owners describe as dangerous, noting the recall covered 2018-19 models but not 2017.
- Instrument cluster display shakes and goes completely black, leaving the driver unable to see speed.
- Passenger seatbelt chime sounds loudly and continuously even when no one is seated, sometimes at highway speed.
- Steering wheel fails to return to its set position due to a faulty hall effect sensor in the steering column.
- Vehicle jerks unexpectedly at 55 mph and brakes engage on inclines, requiring a restart to resume normal operation.
2017 BMW 540i recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V243000Apr 29, 2020Airbags33 vehicles
Air bags
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i and 540i xDrive and 2017-2018 530e xDrive vehicles. Prior exposure to excessive levels of humidity within the driver and passenger head air bag inflators may affect the proper deployment of the head air bags.
Risk: In the event of a crash of sufficient severity, deployment of the head air bag may be impaired and/or the igniter could separate from the inflator, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left or right head air bag, free of charge. The recall began June 24, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
2017 BMW 540i fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 29.5 MPG
- Combined
- 23.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,375
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other 540i years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 BMW 540i reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2017 540i has a Complaint Index of 25 and ranks 7th worst among 9 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other 540i years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 BMW 540i?
- NHTSA data shows Airbags and Electrical System issues each account for 25% of complaints, followed by Structure & Body at 20% and Seat Belts at 15%.
- Does the 2017 BMW 540i have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 1 recall (campaign 20V243000) for head airbags that may have been exposed to excessive humidity, affecting the 2017 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, and 540i xDrive.
- How does the 2017 540i compare to other years?
- The 2017 540i's Complaint Index of 25 is lower than 2018 (100, Avoid), 2019 (50, Caution), and several later years, making 2017 one of the better years for the 540i.
- What mileage do 2017 540i problems typically occur at?
- Median mileage at failure across reported issues was 20,500 miles, with electrical system complaints at 21,000 miles and seat belt complaints at 7,500 miles.