RoadVitals

1995 BMW 530I

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Oct 27, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Aug 4, 1998
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 BMW 530I, most frequently naming the interior & seats, electrical and airbags categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Interior & seats342.9%
  • Electrical228.6%
  • Airbags114.3%
  • Tires & wheels114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
98V178000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Aug 4, 1998
340,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
The risk: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov
97V131000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Aug 19, 1997
410,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Oct 27, 2014

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT DEFECTIVE. CONFIRMED BY DEALER VOLUNTARY RECALL NOTED BY BMW OF NORTH AMERICA BUT WILL NOT GIVE VIN NUMBERS AFFECTED. STATE VEHICLE NOT AFFECTED BUT DEALER DOES ADMIT THESE SENSOR WERE CHANGED UNDER WARRANTY. REQUESTING EXACT VIN NUMBERS AFFECTED I CANNOT GET ANSWERS NOW REQUESTING FROM YOU. NOTE BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SITER INFORMATION ON RECALL HTTP:/WWW.BMWUSA.COM/STANDARD/CONTENT/CONTACTUS/VOLUNTARYRECALL.ASPX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10650267
Incident
Sep 24, 2014
Mileage
119,000 mi
ElectricalTires & wheels
Filed Sep 4, 2005

AFTER WASHING MY CAR I LOST A HUB CAP WHILE DRIVING. MY CAR WAS HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING UP TO 50 MPH. I WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT IN 4TH GEAR FOR IT TO KICK BACK INTO A GOOD SPEED. IT WAS A HOT DAY AND I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO GET A DRINK. LIKE NORMAL, I ROLLED UP MY WINDOWS. BUT DID NOT CLOSE MY SUNROOF. I TRIED TO PROCEED TO GET OUT OF MY CAR BUT COULD NOT. MY WINDOWS WERE LOCKED IN THE UP POSITION, THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GET ANY POWER WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNIGESTION, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STAND UP AND ASK SOMEBODY WALKING BY TO STICK MY KEY IN THE KEY LOCK ON MY DOOR TO LET ME OUT. I COULD NOT START MY CAR AFTER IT BEING PARKED FOR A 1/2 HOUR. COMES TO FIND OUT IT IS THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. AND THE LAST THING THAT OCCOURED TO ME WHILE I HAVE HAD MY CAR IS THAT I RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN THE COMPUTER SCREEN STATED I HAD 3 MILES BEFORE I RAN OUT OF GAS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10135296
Incident
Jul 13, 2005
Electrical
Filed Apr 27, 2005

(1) WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE THE DOORS WERE LOCKED INADVERTANTLY WHILE TRYING TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE LOCK, WHIHC ENGAGED THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE. ALL THE DOORS TO THE VEHICLE BESIDES THE THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS CLOSED. ONCE COMPLETELY ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR WAS CLOSED AND THE CAR REFUSED TO TURN OVER, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT LET DOWN THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAD THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT ACCOMPLISH ANY OF THESE TASK. THE DASH BOARD WAS SHOWING A STRONG LIGHT SO IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY. I CALLED A WRECKER SERVICE TO ATTEMPT TO ASSITST WITH MY REMOVAL FROM THE CAR, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO UNLUCK THE DOOR WHICH IS SECURED BY A DOUBLE LOCK LATCH WHICH WILL NOT LET YOU OPEN THE DOOR ONCE THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE IS ENGAGED. THE WRECKER SERVICE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO FORCE THE WINDOW DOWN INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO (1) BREAK THE WINDOW OR TWO ATTEMPT TO BY-PASS OR RESET THE UNIT MYSELF. THEY SLIPPED SOMETHING THROUGH A CRACK IN THE WINDOW AND I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE BACK SEAT AND UN-HOOK THE BATTERY WHICH IS LOCATED THERE AND REMOVE THE FUSE FROM THE DEVICE. AFTER 10 MINUTES IT RESET ITSELF AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND ROLL THE WIDOW DOWN. ONCE THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN I HAD TO USE THE KEY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, BY UNLOCKING IT FROMT HE OUTSIDE. AFTER I RETURNED HOME THAT NIGHT I DID A SEARCH AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE AND LOCATED A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM FOR A SIMILAR VEHICLE. THAT NUMBER IS 94V219000. MY CAR IS A 1995 BMW 530I SERIES, MANUFACTORED MARCH 1994.

NHTSA ID
10118550
Incident
Apr 23, 2005
Mileage
148,785 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 11, 2000

FRONT SEATS ROCK ON THE RAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
736138
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 8, 2000

SEAT RAILS CAUSE SEAT TO ROCK. *AK

NHTSA ID
718473
Incident
Feb 2, 2000

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

SIB662419

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column. Note: Opening, closing and starting via the BMW Digital Key or the Digital Key Card are not affected.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 530I by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025140—
2024136063.9
2023220—
2022840—
2021178058.4
2020950—
2019151057.7
2018252044.2
2017181156.6
2016001—
2015001—
2014001—
2013000—
2012000—
2011010—
2010010—
2009010—
2008010—
2007732049.7
2006843048.8
2005580241.7
20041290148.0
2003462050.2
2002294055.5
2001254052.5
2000010—
1995Viewing520—
1994930—
1993010—
1992010—
1991010—
1990010—
1989010—
1978010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.