1997 BMW 540I vs 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 BMW 540I | 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 27 | 540 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 21 | 94 |
| Investigations | 0 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 70 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 25 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 16–18 | 23–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 84,649 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 540I | Chevrolet Cavalier |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 13 | 106 |
| Electrical System | 3 | 107 |
| Steering | 0 | 83 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 78 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 58 |
| Visibility | 1 | 40 |
| Suspension | 2 | 27 |
| Power Train | 1 | 26 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 51 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 15 |
| Overheating | 0 | 12 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 11 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 10 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 9 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 8 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 7 |
1997 BMW 540I
1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
Compare all BMW 540I vs Chevrolet Cavalier years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.