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2001 BMW 530IA

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 5 of 11 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports5 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports
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97,000 miles · Nov 6, 2011
Power Train

2001 BMW 530IA REVERSE?!?! THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED AND ALWAYS SERVICED AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ON BOARD COMPUTER AND OWNERS MANUAL. REVERSE FOR NO REASON STOPPED WORKING AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME!!! IT HAS ENOUGH POWER TO ROLL VERY SLOWLY IF YOU REV THE MOTOR OUT OF A FLAT PARKING SPOT BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY POWER TO B…

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2001 BMW 530IA REVERSE?!?! THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED AND ALWAYS SERVICED AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ON BOARD COMPUTER AND OWNERS MANUAL. REVERSE FOR NO REASON STOPPED WORKING AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME!!! IT HAS ENOUGH POWER TO ROLL VERY SLOWLY IF YOU REV THE MOTOR OUT OF A FLAT PARKING SPOT BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY POWER TO BACK UP ANY INCLINE AT ALL. I HAVE NEVER ABUSED THE CAR OR HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT HAS A SEALED TRANSMISSION AND YOU CAN'T CHECK OR ADD FLUID. I GOT STUCK AGAINST A CURB WHILE TRYING TO PERFORM A U-TURN BLOCKING ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND HAD TO GET A TOW TRUCK TO REMOVE MY CAR A FEW FEET BACK. I THOUGHT THAT I DID SOMETHING WRONG BUT AFTER RESEARCHING I SEE THAT TONS OF PEOPLE HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS SAME DEFECT!! WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED? IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR COSTING THOUSANDS FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I WORKED AT A BMW DEALERSHIP IN SALES AND THE SERVICE PROVIDER I SPOKE TO SAID IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434352

112,300 miles · Aug 22, 2009
Power Train

CAR FAILED TO OPERATE IN REVERSE WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281388

Official recalls

3

03V421000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Oct 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 & remedy

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.

02V138000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

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 & remedy

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.

01V206000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Jun 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.