Model year record

2001 BMW 530i recalls & problems

The 2001 BMW 530i has 4 safety recalls and 25 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (5 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints25filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints

1 recall for this model year carries an NHTSA do not drive advisory. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Safety recalls

Air bagsJan 14, 2019

Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

Recall 19V015000157,549 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

NHTSA advisory: do not drive affected vehicles until repaired.

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air bagsOct 24, 2003

Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive

Recall 03V42100023,000 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A MICROPROCESSOR IN THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE, WHICH ACTIVATES THE FRONT AIR BAGS, THE SIDE AIR BAGS, THE FRONT SEAT SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONERS, AND THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL, MAY HAVE A MALFUNCTION THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED ACTIVATION OF ONE OR MORE OF THESE COMPONENTS.
Risk: UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG(S) COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF AN OCCUPANT IS TOO CLOSE TO THE DEPLOYING AIR BAG(S). IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL MAY ALSO BE ACTIVATED. IF THAT HAPPENS, THE STARTER CABLE WOULD BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE BATTERY, AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Engine and engine coolingMay 16, 2002

Cooling system › Fan

Recall 02V1380001,550 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.
Risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A RECALL THAT BEGAN DURING SEPTEMBER 2001 (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V206). OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Engine and engine coolingJun 21, 2001

Cooling system › Fan

Recall 01V20600076,469 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.
Risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

530i

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

530i

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingCooling system	5	0	0	55,319 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission	5	0	0	98,750 mi
Air bagsFrontal; Side/window	4	1	3	57,095 mi
SeatsFront assembly › Seat heater/cooler	3	1	2	—
Fuel/propulsion system	3	1	1	—
Electrical system	2	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	1	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch	1	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights	1	0	0	—
StructureBody	1	1	1	—
Suspension	1	1	1	—
Engine	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine and engine cooling
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 5301. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the warning light that the engine was overheating was displayed on the instrument cluster. The contact stated that the failure had occurred at various speeds, and the vehicle stalled due to the engine overheating. The contact was constantly refilling the coolant reservoir monthly. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, and the radiator hoses were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V138000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the…
Jan 6, 2025 · 150,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
MAJOR FUEL LEAK UNDER ENGINE OF CAR ON A COLD START (COLDER TEMPS ~40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR LESS). FUEL SMELL IMMEDIATELY ON START UP, WITH A STEADY STREAM FUEL DRIPPING UNDER THE CAR...FUEL LINES THE DRIVEWAY WHEN BACKING OUT. DRIPPING APPEARS TO STOP AFTER CAR WARMS UP, SO MULTIPLE FAILED ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE ISSUE. HOWEVER, NOW CAN SEE THAT ALL INJECTORS LEAK AND SPRAY FUEL FROM THE HOUSING...APPEARS TO BE WHERE THE PLASTIC AND METAL MEETS. CAR RUNS FINE THROUGHOUT THIS TIME. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE KNOWN TO BE FAULTY AND THE PROBLEM WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CORRECTED AT SOME POINT. THERE IS ENOUGH FUEL POURING OUT TO QUICKLY IGNITE AND BURN UP THE…
Nov 1, 2020 · 162,000 miles
Air bags
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT RECENTLY ILLUMINATED UPON STARTING CAR. NOW COMES ON EACH TIME CAR IS DRIVEN.
Nov 8, 2018 · 50,500 miles
Unknown or other
WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK 2.3 MILES NO A/C ON PULLED IN DRIVEWAY CAR WAS WISSLING SMOKE WATER POUR OUT EVERYWHERE . TEMP GAGE DID NOT SHOW OVER HEATED. ALL COOLANT GONE BURST AND LEAKED OUT BUTTOM OF ENGINE.
May 4, 2017 · 94,000 miles
Engine
REVERSE TRNSMISSION NOT WORKING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIENT.
Jan 1, 2017 · 167,020 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
FUEL INJECTORS LEAK IN EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES. EXACT TEMPERATURE UNKNOWN BUT HAS BEEN -5F FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS AND THE CABIN FILLS WITH THE SMELL OF GAS WITHIN MOMENTS AND UPON OPENING THE HOOD YOU CAN SEE A MIST OF FUEL FROM THE INJECTOR. TRIED IT LAST NIGHT AT 8F AND NO NOTICEABLE LEAK, ALTHOUGH STILL FAINT SMELL. RESEARCHED ONLINE ONLY TO DISCOVER THIS APPEARS TO BE A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN VERY COLD AREAS AS MYSELF. I PURCHASED IT USED FROM A MUCH MILDER CLIMATE. VERY THANKFUL IT DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE WITH MY KIDS IN IT. CAR WILL REMAIN PARKED UNTIL FIXED. I REALLY HOPE THIS GET LOOKED INTO. AS AN INSURANCE AGENT THIS IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME, BOTH ON A PERSONAL…
Jan 4, 2017
Structure › BodyCrash1 injury
TAKATA RECALL 2001 BMW 530I SEVERAL RELATED TO CAR ACCELERATES HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR THE 2001-2005 BMW 530I. CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN PROBLEM 1 FAILURE DATE: 12/15/2015 WE OWNS A 2001 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A BANK OF AMERICA IN MIAMI , FLORIDA PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED CRASHING INTO BANKS WALL AND THE ATM MACHINE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DECORATION AROUND THE ATM, BUT NOT THE ATM MACHINE ITSELF. BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT FAILED DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF ACCELERATION. ONLY MY WIFE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. AFTER THE CRASH WE CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE TRYING TO DISREGARD OUR COMPLAINT AND LEAVE US ON HOLD…
Dec 15, 2015 · 46,456 miles
Seats › Front assembly › Seat heater/cooler
I'M WRITING YOU THIS EMAIL AFTER WHAT HAPPENED ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK LAST NIGHT. I GOT INTO MY CAR AFTER A DAY OF MEETINGS AND TURNED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I REALIZE THAT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT CUSHION WAS GETTING VERY, VERY HOT. I THEN NOTICED THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEAT AND THEN PULLED INTO A GAS STATION. WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY CAR I NOTICED A HOLE BURNED INTO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE BURN MARK IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. I'VE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THIS SPOT. THIS ALSO CAUSE A SMALL MARK ON THE JACKET THAT I WAS WEARING, BUT THAT'S NOT MY ISSUE. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I ALSO NOTICE THAT MY AIRBAG…
Nov 29, 2011

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.