2017 BMW 530I Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 BMW 530I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Seat belts521.7%
- Airbags417.4%
- Engine313.0%
- Interior & seats28.7%
- Body & structure28.7%
- Electrical28.7%
- Steering28.7%
- Fuel system14.3%
- Suspension14.3%
- Exterior lighting14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR DEFECTIVE. ALERTED ME THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WAS UNBUCKLED FOR OVER A MONTH. TOOK REPLACING THE SEAT TO FIX.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 ..
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .