2001 Bmw 530I: complaints, problems and recalls

ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION - COMPUTER RESETS WHILE DRIVING TURNING OFF LIGHTS, STALLING MOTOR AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. POWER RETURNS TO NORMAL AFTER 4 SECONDS OF POWER DOWN. STORED COMPUTER VALUES RESET TO FACTORY DEFAULTS WHICH INCLUDE MAINTAIN SCHEDULES AND INDICATORS. DEALER WOULD NOT PERFORM WARRANTY MAINTENANCE UNTIL RESET INDICATORS EXPIRE. WE DROVE 36,000 MILES ON ORIGINAL OIL UNTIL THAT TIME WHEN THE OIL SERVICE INDICATOR ACTIVATED. REQUESTING ODI ID # 8016663 TO COMPARE FAULT. FIRST EVENT AT 10K MILES, SECOND EVENT AT 19,500…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047197 at NHTSA ↗

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.*AK ALSO, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH I AM NOT SURE THEY SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T HAVE. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE AS TO WHAT WILL BE DONE TO THE CAR SINCE IT COULD WELL BE "TOTALLED" AS A LOSS. NO INTERNAL INJURIES FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER, BUT SOME SCRAPES AND BRUISES.

Owner-reported narrative. 61,190 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090595 at NHTSA ↗

COMPLAINT REGARDING THE CUP HOLDERS IN THE 2001 BMW 530I.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN BURNED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE SPILLING OF A HOT BEVERAGE THAT WAS IN THE CUP HOLED. THE CONSUMER STATED A TYPICAL 16OZ CUP WILL NOT STAY IN THE CUP HOLDER. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137747 at NHTSA ↗

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 BMW 530I COMPLETELY DISABLING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. IT WOULD NOT OPEN MANUALLY. EGRESS FROM CAR WAS LIMITED TO PASSENGER AND REAR DOORS. A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CONDITION IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 30,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148077 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: 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.

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155969 at NHTSA ↗

BROKEN HEADLIGHT ADJUSTERS ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS. HEADLIGHTS ARE SEALED BEAMS AND NON-REPAIRABLE (PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE). IF PROPER ADJUSTMENT CAN'T BE MADE, IT COULD IMPAIR THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT OR IT COULD BLIND ON-COMING TRAFFIC. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177621 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE 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.

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214090 at NHTSA ↗

2001 BMW 530I - ELECTRIC FAN COME ON AND MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE, IT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DRAWING CURRENT EVEN WHEN OFF THAT RESULTED IN BATTERY REPLACEMENT TWICE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227423 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-06-21 (June 21, 2001)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2002-05-16 (May 16, 2002)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2003-10-24 (October 24, 2003)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2019-01-14 (January 14, 2019)

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.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.