KnownCarProblems2001 BMW 530i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW 530i, most often about the engine (24% of complaints, typically around 102,500 miles). It is 8th of 16 530i model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2001 BMW 530i problems
Engine
6 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 102,500 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system.
Tl contact owns a 2001 BMW 530i. The contact has experienced continuous failures with the radiator since the vehicle was purchased. While driving 25 MPH, the top housing of the radiator detached and caused the engine to fail. The contact noticed smoke under the hood. Upon opening the hood, water began spraying from…
Tl contact owns a 2001 BMW 530i. The contact stated the she heard an explosion coming from the engine compartment after the she cranked the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle sustained major damage. As of january 7, 2008, the dealer had not inspected he vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 150,000.
Transmission
5 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 99,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
BMW 530i 2001. Failure of reverse gear almost caused a major accident evidently, this is the most common failure on 3 & 5 BMW series with steptronic transmission years 2001-2003.
2001 BMW 5301 with 105k miles won't go into reverse. Car will move in reverse at idle on a flat surface but will not accelerate. I've noticed 100's of people have had similar issues and that gm (trans mfg) has recalled similar issues on gm vehicles but BMW will not issue a recall itself. We need the help of NHTSA to…
Air bags
4 complaints · 16%Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
I had stoped behind a stalled car on us95 in las vegas, nv and was rear ended and pushed into the car in front. Both the drivers seat and the passenger seat broke, and we were both nearly prone and under the lap and seat belts. Also, the air bags did not deploy which I am not sure they should or shouldn't have. I have…
: the contact stated while exiting a parking lot at 3 MPH the front passenger side curtain airbag deployed and exploded. Although the dealer and the manufacturer were alerted no inspection have been made.
Seats
3 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: front assembly.
I had stoped behind a stalled car on us95 in las vegas, nv and was rear ended and pushed into the car in front. Both the drivers seat and the passenger seat broke, and we were both nearly prone and under the lap and seat belts. Also, the air bags did not deploy which I am not sure they should or shouldn't have. I have…
Fuel system
3 complaints · 12%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…
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.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 BMW 530i recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: fan
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: fan
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2001 BMW 530i
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW 530i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (6 complaints, typically around 102,500 miles); transmission (5 complaints, typically around 99,000 miles); air bags (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2001 BMW 530i have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 14, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the BMW 530i?
- It is 8th of 16 530i model years by number of complaints, with 25 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.