2001 BMW 530I Owner Complaints

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 contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11658526

Incident

Jan 6, 2025

Mileage

150,000 mi

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 CAR, GARAGE, AND HOME IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. SHOP QUOTED WELL OVER $2K TO REPLACE THE INJECTORS, AND WAS UNCERTAIN IF IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. ASKED ME TO TOW THE CAR FROM THEIR LOT, FOR FEAR IT WOULD IGNITE. CLEARLY A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND IT I AM SHOCKED TO SEE THERE IS INFO ONLINE AND AT NHTSA, BUT NO SAFETY RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11382807

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

162,000 mi

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT RECENTLY ILLUMINATED UPON STARTING CAR. NOW COMES ON EACH TIME CAR IS DRIVEN.

NHTSA ID

11157108

Incident

Nov 8, 2018

Mileage

50,500 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10983602

Incident

May 4, 2017

Mileage

94,000 mi

REVERSE TRNSMISSION NOT WORKING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIENT.

NHTSA ID

10966284

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

Mileage

167,020 mi

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 LEVEL AND AS A PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. I AM NOT VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CARS AND WHEN I SMELLED IT I THOUGHT IT WAS AN EXHAUSTIVE LEAK OR MY FUEL RUNNING TOO RICH BECAUSE OF THE COLD, AT FIRST. BUT AFTER GETTING A HEADACHE DRIVING TO WORK I DECIDED IT WAS MORE. INVESTIGATED TRYING TO FIGURE WHERE IT CAME FROM AND ONCE I DISCOVERED THE SMELL WAS MORE INTENSE UNDER THE HOOD I GOT WORRIED. MY HUSBAND INVESTIGATED WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK AND THOUGHT I WAS OVERREACTING SINCE HE ONLY SMELLED A FAINT SMELL AND LOOKED EVERYTHING OVER AND SAW NOTHING. THIS MORNING THOUGH, BEING COLD AND HIM RUNNING LATE FOR WORK, MY CAR WAS RUNNING WHEN HE WENT TO LEAVE.HE COULD SMELL IT AS HE WALKED BY. HE OPENED IT UP AND COULD SEE THE MIST OF FUEL. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 3 KIDS TO SCHOOL THE LAST TWO DAYS WITH FUEL SPRAYING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION, BUT BECAUSE IT ONLY OCCURS IN EXTREME COLD IT IS EASILY OVERLOOKED AND MISDIAGANOSISED. ESPECIALLY AS THE VEHICLES ARE GETTING OLDER, THE DRIVERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO OVERLOOK ISSUES THINKING THEY LEAKING IN THE EXHAUST OR TANK ETC DUE TO DETERIORATION, AS I DID AT FIRST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10940051

Incident

Jan 4, 2017

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 UNTIL THE LINE DROPS. THE FAILURE HAPPENED WITH LOW MILEAGE AT JUST UNDER 47,000 MILES. OTHER VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RELATED PROBLEMS OF THE 2002 BMW 530 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEMS 4 CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN PROBLEMS 1

NHTSA ID

10862178

Incident

Dec 15, 2015

Mileage

46,456 mi

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 LIGHT HAS COME ON MY DASH BOARD. WHEN I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER THIS MORNING TO ASK THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND TO SEE IF THEY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST THEY TOLD ME THEY'VE HEARD NOTHING OF THIS ISSUE, BUT THAT IT WOULD BE $125.00 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. I SAID NO THANK YOU, APPRECIATED THEIR TIME AND HUNG UP. I'M JUST SHOCKED THAT WITH BMW BEING SUCH A REPUTABLE CAR COMPANY, THAT AN ISSUE SUCH AS THIS WOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IN GOOD FAITH. ALL I WANT IS THE ISSUE CORRECTED. *KB *TR

NHTSA ID

10437808

Incident

Nov 29, 2011

2001 BMW 530I WITH 74,000 MILES- WELL MAINTAINED, BUT SUDDENLY THE CAR WON'T GO IN REVERSE. I'M TOLD THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'VE FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB- NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND FORCE BMW TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10396567

Incident

Mar 26, 2011

Mileage

74,000 mi

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 REQUIRE BMW TO RECALL THIS DANGEROUS AND FAULT TRANSMISSION PART. *LN

NHTSA ID

10372183

Incident

Dec 14, 2010

Mileage

105,000 mi

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MY DAUGHTER WHO IS THE OWNER OF THE CAR. BMW 530I 2001 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, WENT TO BACK IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY BUT IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE ENGINE STARTS EVERYTHING IS OK BUT THE VEHICLE REFUSES TO REVERSE. NO PROBLEM WITH REVERSE BEFORE. ALSO THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING INDICATING THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360847

Incident

Oct 16, 2010

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LOCATED IN THE DOOR AND THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A MINOR INJURY TO THE LEFT ARM. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE VEHICLE FOR DAMAGES. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE VIN NUMBER THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE CURRENT RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ID

10312742

Incident

Feb 19, 2010

Mileage

128,000 mi

RADIATOR FAN MAKES A LOUD NOISE, DREW CURRENT WHILE ENGINE WAS OFF. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY TWICE. 5,900 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266048

Incident

Nov 14, 2003

Mileage

4,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257526

Incident

Dec 28, 2008

Mileage

98,750 mi

TL*THE 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 THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE SYSTEM OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH A PRESSURE RELEASE CAP, WHICH CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO EXPLODE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,500. TWO YEARS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE RADIATOR FAILED AND EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PLASTIC ON THE OVERFLOW TANK DETACHED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $400. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS DESIGNED CORRECTLY; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,319 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,699. UPDATED 020209 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT EQUIPPED WITH A PRESSURE RELIEF SYSTEM FOR THE RADIATOR. UPDATED 02/03/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10255034

Incident

Dec 19, 2007

Mileage

55,319 mi

2001 BMW 530I, WITH 77500 MILES WITH TRANSMISSION TYPE ZF 5HP19. TRANSMISSION WENT BAD WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND CHANGING LANE, WHICH CAUSE TO REDUCE MY SPEED. I AM WAS ALMOST GETTING HIT BY CAR BEHIND ME. I CONTACT THE DEALER AND COMPLAINED WITH OUT ANY RESPONSES. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND MANY ISSUES WITH THESE TYPES OF TRANSMISSION. BMW OF NORTH AMERICAN SHOULD RECALL THIS TYPE TO AVOID GETTING SOMEONE HURT, BECAUSE OF MALFUNCTION DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237553

Incident

Aug 7, 2006

Mileage

77,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10227423

Incident

Apr 10, 2008

Mileage

5,500 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10214090

Incident

Jan 3, 2008

Mileage

150,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10177621

Incident

Feb 12, 2005

Mileage

41,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10155969

Incident

Apr 22, 2006

Mileage

53,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10148077

Incident

Jan 17, 2006

Mileage

30,450 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10137747

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

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.

NHTSA ID

10090595

Incident

Sep 4, 2004

Mileage

61,190 mi

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 MILES AND 3RD ON AT 35,500 ON JAN 30, 2003 AFTER WE SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10047197

Incident

Jan 30, 2003

Mileage

19,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED TO VEHICLE DUE TO MOVEMENTS AND SHIFTING. COULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPING, DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8004222

Incident

Feb 15, 2002