Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2017 BMW 530I. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–18 of 18
Seatbelt alarm goes off on passengers seat and no one is seated in the seat. Received a notification from BMW that the warranty was extended to cover this problem with this model but the BMW dealership says my VIN number is not covered. They confirmed that it did need replacing but They quoted me a price of more than $2500 to fix it and claimed nothing could be done about it unless it’s paid out of pocket.
1.) The Steering Column 2.) The Column will get stuck and cannot be adjusted. 3.) Dealer has confirmed the problem & BMW USA has confirmed the problem 4.) No 5.) No Warnings BMW USA has offered a Fix for this issue and free fix if the car is under 50k miles however this is more of a safety issue as you cannot properaly adjust the steering wheel to the height needed to operate the car in a safe manner.
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 530I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "Refill Coolant" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered a puddle of blue liquid underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a leak in one of the hoses and that the hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the radiator and hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a diagnostic test; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 530I. The contact stated that while driving with the front passenger's side seat unoccupied, a message that the front passenger's side seat belt was not ON was displayed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a related limited extended warranty coverage letter from the manufacturer and contacted the manufacturer for assistance; however, the manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owned a 2017 BMW 530i. The contact stated while the unknown driver was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was involved in a collision. The contact stated the vehicle was driven without the contact's authorization. The contact stated the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the front driver's side door was severely damaged. In addition, the electrical system was disabled. The vehicle was taken to a tow yard. The insurance company inspected the vehicle and determined that the vehicle was being driven at the time of the failure. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss. A Police report was filed, however the information was unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 530I. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle, the contact became aware that the headlights were inoperable. The contact stated that the headlights failed to function properly, and the lights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the headlamps had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 105,453.
This is the second time I’ve had overheating issues, and it now seems more severe. I’ve noticed both coolant and oil leaking, and the car is unsafe to drive. Also fault codes related to emission. Here are the symptoms I’m experiencing: •Smoking: The car I started smoking, likely from oil or coolant leaking onto hot engine parts. Caused me to pull over at midnight on side of highway and get towed •Coolant and oil mixing: I’ve observed signs of contamination, which may indicate a gasket failure or internal leak. •Safety concerns: Due to the risk of overheating or fire, I am not driving the vehicle. •The engine could overheat, leading to catastrophic damage. •Leaked oil on hot parts could increase the risk of fire. •The compromised lubrication can cause engine seizure. I suspect the issue may be related to plastic components, as I’ve read they can become brittle over time and lead to leaks Also, the these BMWs involves the water pump's electrical pump connector allowing water to drip from the positive crankcase ventilation system through the seal, potentially causing a short circuit.
passenger restraint system malfunction goes off and on
This vehicle has been re[aired for cooling system problems multiple time by BMW dealer. Now that the vehicle is approximately 90 days outside of warranty a cooling system leak has arisen with the engine oil cooling interface. On-line there is mention of this issue with the B46 Engine which is in this vehicle developing coolant leaks. The repairs are very expensive for this apparently well know issue.
Front passenger seatbelt indicator is triggered even if there is no one sitting in seat. Unclear if the sensor is too sensitive. For example, if a book is set on the passenger seat, the indicator may go off. Or if I am tapping on the side of the console next to the passenger seat, the indicator may go off.
The passenger seat alerts me that the passenger seat belt is unbuckled even though nothing, or no one is in the seat.
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE RT REAR FAILED ON A SUDDEN STOP AND THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL I AVOIDED A MAJOR COLISION BECAUSE OF MY DRIVING EXPERIENCE , THE CONTROL ARM SPLIT IN 1/2 , THERE COULD HAVE BEEN DEATHS, I WAS TRAVLING AT A SPEED OF 55MPH NORTH BOUND ON INTERRSTATE 101 AT THE 280 /680 INTERR CHANGE AT 4PM ON MAY 27 2021, THE TRAFFIC WAS MODERATE THERE WHERE CARS IN FRONT OF ME BEHIND ME ON BOTH LANES LEFT AND TO MY RT. THE TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, I HAD AT LEAST A 6 CAR GAP IN FRONT I HIT THE BRAKES HARD, THE ABS SYSTEM WENT INTO PLAY , I FEFT THE FIRST PULSATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HERD A LOUD METAL CRACKLING NOISE , AND LOST STEERING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWERVE LEFT I COUNTER STEERED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM FLIPPING , I MANAGED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO A STOP WITH OUT IN DANGERING ANY OTHER VEHIHICLE , I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE A SUSPENSION SPECILIST THAT HAS 40 YEARS EXPERENCE AND IS A MASTER MECHNIK, HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME , THE LOWER ARE FAILED , IT STRETCHED APART AND CRACKED AT THE SPINDAL MOUNTING POINT , HE ALSO TOLD ME THERE ARE NO SIGN OF AN IMPACT OR MARKS FROM A COLISION WITH AN OBJECT , NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES AND NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS ..
I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAR DAY ON A NEARLY STRAIGHT 4 LANE SURFACE ROAD WHEN SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. WHERE THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE WOULD NORMALLY GIVE WARNING AND INTERFERE, THE CAR INSTEAD ISSUED AN ALERT THAT THE SYSTEM WAS UNAVAILABLE. IT WAS A CLEAR DAY, THE SENSORS WERE UNOBSTRUCTED, AND THE ROAD HAD NOTHING ABOUT IT THAT SHOULD BE A PROBLEM FOR THE SYSTEMS. THE ACCIDENT WAS ABLE TO BE AVOIDED, BUT A CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM ONLY INDICATED A FAULT RIGHT WHEN IT WAS NEEDED. THE DEALERSHIP WERE UNABLE TO FIND A FAULT AND BLAMED IT ON LIGHT BLINDING THE CAMERA.
I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ON MAY 8, 2019. ACCORDING TO BMW'S ACTIVATION SYSTEM THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 6:58 PM. I TALKED WITH THE BMW CRASH ANALYST TEAM AND I WAS GOING 17.5 MPH WHEN I RAN THROUGH TWO SETS OF SCRUBS, HIT A GARAGE DOOR AND ENDED PARALLEL TO THE DOOR. ACCORDING TO BMW THE SEAT BELT ACTIVATED AT TIME OF IMPACT WITH THE FIRST SET OF SCRUBS AND WITHIN A MILLISECOND THE AIR-BAG DEPLOYED. I RECEIVED A BROKEN BACK IN THIS MINOR ACCIDENT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE AIR-BAG IS TO PROVIDE SAFETY TO THE DRIVERS UPPER TORSO AND HEAD. MY UPPER TORSO AND HEAD RECEIVED NO INJURY FROM THE ACCIDENT OR THE AIR-BAG. MY ASSUMPTION IS THE AIR-BAG HIT MY LOWER WAIST AREA RESULTING IN THE L-1 FRACTURE. TWO TITANIUM RODS WERE ALSO INSERTED TO STABILIZE THE L-2,3,4,5,11. WHEN DISCUSSING THIS 'POTENTIAL' FAULT WITH BMW N.A. IT WAS INDICATED THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THE AIR-BAG WILL DEPLOY AND THEY ARE GLAD THAT I AM OK ASIDE FROM THE BROKEN BACK. IF BMW DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE AIR-BAG WILL DEPLOY IS THIS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN TESTING FOR THE DEPLOYMENT. IF IT DEPLOYED AS UNDERSTOOD TO THE UPPER TORSO AND HEAD, I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE HAD A BROKEN NOSE THAN A BROKEN BACK!
STEERING WHEEL SET IN HIGHEST POSITION AND STICKS THERE. REFUSES TO MOVE INTO DOWNWARD POSITION WHEN USING BUTTON; FORCES DRIVER TO HAVE HANDS VERY HIGH UP IN POSITION. DEALER REPLACED ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN TO FIX, BELIEVED TO BE DEFECTIVE MOTOR.
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR DEFECTIVE. ALERTED ME THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WAS UNBUCKLED FOR OVER A MONTH. TOOK REPLACING THE SEAT TO FIX.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FREEZES DURING COLD WEATHER. BMW HAS REPLACED THE DOOR ACTUATOR ONCE ALREADY, AND NOW IS MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. THE DOOR OPENS, THEN WILL NOT SHUT. I HAVE TO HOLD THE DOOR SHUT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. ATTACHED IS AN IMAGE OF THE DOOR NOT SHUTTING.
ACTIVE LANE KEEPING ASSISTANT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE OFTEN WILL VEER OUT OF LANE TOWARD ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR OTHER OBSTACLE. THIS OCCURS EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE CLEAR LANE MARKINGS AND ALL OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR SYSTEM OPERATION ARE MET. IT HAPPENS AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND AT LOWER SPEEDS AS WELL. SINCE THE FEATURE DOES OPERATE CORRECTLY A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME, THE DRIVER IS PUT UNDER EXTRA STRESS HAVING TO BE CONSTANTLY ON GUARD FOR WHEN THE CAR WILL VEER OFF WITHOUT WARNING. BMW LITERATURE AND VIDEO SAY THE SYSTEM WILL MAKE THE DRIVE MORE RELAXED AND THE DRIVER MORE RESTED BUT IT IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE. EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT THE DRIVER IS ALWAYS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE, THEIR VIDEO STATES THAT THE SYSTEM KEEPS THE CAR IN THE CENTER OF THE LANE WITHOUT DRIVER STEERING INPUT. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND MY LOCAL DEALER. ALL THEY SAY IS THAT THE SYSTEM OPERATES AS DESIGNED. BUT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND WILL CAUSE INJURY OR WORSE. ADDITIONALLY, "WITH THE SYSTEM SWITCHED ON, THE PERSON WARNING WITH CITY BRAKING FUNCTION AND THE SIDE COLLISION WARNING ARE ACTIVE." THEREFORE, IF YOU TURN THE SYSTEM OFF BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF VEERING OUT OF LANE, YOU WILL LOSE THE SAFETY FEATURES JUST MENTIONED. I AM VERY SURPRISED AND DISTURBED BY BMW'S FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ADDRESS THE FAILURES AND DANGERS OF THE SYSTEM. BEING MOST INTERESTED IN SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE I ALWAYS PURCHASE ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES. IN THIS SITUATION I HAVE BEEN SADLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE RELIABILITY OF THE BMW TECHNOLOGY.
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.
Data on this page last refreshed .