YearToAvoid

2018 BMW 540i Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 9 540i years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2018 BMW 540i ranks worst of the 9 model years covered, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 31 complaints, mostly airbag and seat belt issues. It carries 2 recalls and is rated Avoid relative to other 540i years.

Complaints
31
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23.5
20.5 city / 29.5 hwy

Top 2018 BMW 540i problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags14 (45%)
  2. Seat Belts11 (35%)
  3. Structure & Body11 (35%)
  4. Electrical System4 (13%)
  5. Other4 (13%)
  6. Engine3 (10%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain2 (6%)
  9. Brakes1 (3%)
  10. Lane Departure1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Passenger restraint system malfunction warnings appear on startup, sometimes with the airbag light on even when no one is in the seat.
  • The passenger seat sensor mat is reported to fail, causing the passenger airbag to default to deploy regardless of occupant weight.
  • Seat belts on the passenger side reportedly lock and unlock repeatedly or fail to lock correctly, in one case during a crash.
  • Owners report the seat occupancy sensor malfunctioning, with dealers citing moisture contamination that some owners dispute.
  • One owner reported the engine revving uncontrolled to over 5,000 and then 7,000 rpm while braking to a stop, requiring the car to be shut off.
  • A transmission malfunction was reported alongside sudden unintended acceleration from a stop, ending in a crash.
  • Rear and front tires (Dunlop Sport Maxx GT) were reported with sidewall bulging and separation, described as unsafe to drive.
2018 BMW 540i complaints: complaints filed per month6Apr 2018Apr 2022Jan 2023Jan 2024Dec 2024Jun 2025Jan 2026
54 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2018 to Sep 2026; peak Jul 2018 (6).

2018 BMW 540i recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V684000Sep 27, 2019Collision Avoidance & Cameras257,473 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50i, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, Z4 sDrive, Z4 M40i, 740Le xDrive and 745Le xDrive, 2018-2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2019 M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and Rolls-Royce Cullinan and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

    Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

  2. NHTSA 18V465000Jul 11, 2018Engine5,309 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330e, 2019 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440i xDrive Gran Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, 740i, 740i xDrive, MINI Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), and MINI Clubman (Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, JCW All4) vehicles.

    Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

2018 BMW 540i fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20.5 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.

2018 compared with other 540i years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Good2520123.5
2018Avoid10031223.5
2019Caution5011124
2020No verdict03525

All BMW 540i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 BMW 540i reliable?
Among 540i model years with data, 2018 has the highest Complaint Index at 100 and ranks worst of the years covered, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other 540i years.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 BMW 540i?
Airbags account for 45% of complaints (14 of 31), Seat Belts for 35%, and Structure & Body for 35%. Median mileage at failure for airbag and seat belt issues is 6,500 to 8,150 miles.
Does the 2018 BMW 540i have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for back-up camera software (campaign 19V684000) and one for a crankshaft sensor firmware issue tied to the 540d variant (campaign 18V465000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2018 540i compare to other years?
The 2018 540i's Complaint Index of 100 is higher than 2017 (25), 2019 (50), 2021 (38), 2022 (88), 2023 (75), 2024 (63), and 2025 (13), making 2018 the worst-ranked year in the data.
Did the 2018 BMW 540i have any crashes reported?
NHTSA data shows 3 crashes and 2 injuries linked to complaints for the 2018 540i, with no reported fires or deaths.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.