2003 BMW 530I — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
61
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 BMW 530I
The 2003 BMW 530I has received a total of 61 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (17 complaints), Electrical System (7 complaints), and Vehicle Speed Control (5 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 BMW 530I
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2003 BMW 530I, potentially affecting up to 576,784 vehicles.
Recall 19V015000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 157,549 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The...
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag...
View full details →Recall 15V318000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 419,235 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that...
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 BMW 530I
61 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 BMW 530I. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Power Train | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seatsfront Assemblyseat Heatercooler | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System12v24v48v Battery | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control Esc | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainautomatic Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainclutch Assemblypedalhand Levermotorcycle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsrearother | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 9/4/18, AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY. CAR WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES TO A STORE. THE PASSENGERS WERE EXITING THE CAR WHEN THEY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN THEY NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE THE DRIVERS SIDE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE INSULATION ON PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS IS COMPLETELY BURNT, AND NUMEROUS OTHER ITEMS INCLUDING THE FIBERGLASS BODY. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 215000 MILES ON IT, AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED. NO RECENT REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE ENGINE. NO SMELLS OF GASOLINE, OIL, OR PLASTIC BURNING WERE EVIDENT BEFORE THE MOMENT THE FIRE STARTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN TO US AT THIS TIME.
THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 9/4/18, AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY. CAR WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES TO A STORE. THE PASSENGERS WERE EXITING THE CAR WHEN THEY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN THEY NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE THE DRIVERS SIDE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE INSULATION ON PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS IS COMPLETELY BURNT, AND NUMEROUS OTHER ITEMS INCLUDING THE FIBERGLASS BODY. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 215000 MILES ON IT, AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED. NO RECENT REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE ENGINE. NO SMELLS OF GASOLINE, OIL, OR PLASTIC BURNING WERE EVIDENT BEFORE THE MOMENT THE FIRE STARTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN TO US AT THIS TIME.
THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 9/4/18, AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY. CAR WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES TO A STORE. THE PASSENGERS WERE EXITING THE CAR WHEN THEY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN THEY NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE THE DRIVERS SIDE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE INSULATION ON PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS IS COMPLETELY BURNT, AND NUMEROUS OTHER ITEMS INCLUDING THE FIBERGLASS BODY. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 215000 MILES ON IT, AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED. NO RECENT REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE ENGINE. NO SMELLS OF GASOLINE, OIL, OR PLASTIC BURNING WERE EVIDENT BEFORE THE MOMENT THE FIRE STARTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN TO US AT THIS TIME.
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY 210 IN THE SECOND LANE NEXT TO FAST LANE, GOING 70-72 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. CAUSING THE REAR TIRES TO SKID, IN TURN CAUSING IT TO START A CLOCKWISE SPIN TWO TIMES. BECAUSE I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I QUICKLY DESIDED NOT TO TRY TO CONTROL THE CAR IN THAT LANE CAUSING A MAYOR CAR PILE UP, SO I DESIDED TO TRY TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF FWY. I MISSED THREE CARS AND A SEMI TRUCK AND ENDED UP STOPPING BEFORE I HIT THE THIRD CAR. I WAS STILL SETTING PART WAY IN THE SLOW LANE, SO I TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACK WARD EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE CAR WOULD GO IN GEAR. MY WIFE AND I CAME OUT WITH NO INJURIES AND NO ONE HIT US. WOW AS I THINK ABOUT IT NOW. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND IT STILL SETS IN MY BACK YARD. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES OR THE P/C THAT MAY HAVE CAUSE IT?
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY 210 IN THE SECOND LANE NEXT TO FAST LANE, GOING 70-72 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. CAUSING THE REAR TIRES TO SKID, IN TURN CAUSING IT TO START A CLOCKWISE SPIN TWO TIMES. BECAUSE I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I QUICKLY DESIDED NOT TO TRY TO CONTROL THE CAR IN THAT LANE CAUSING A MAYOR CAR PILE UP, SO I DESIDED TO TRY TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF FWY. I MISSED THREE CARS AND A SEMI TRUCK AND ENDED UP STOPPING BEFORE I HIT THE THIRD CAR. I WAS STILL SETTING PART WAY IN THE SLOW LANE, SO I TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACK WARD EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE CAR WOULD GO IN GEAR. MY WIFE AND I CAME OUT WITH NO INJURIES AND NO ONE HIT US. WOW AS I THINK ABOUT IT NOW. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND IT STILL SETS IN MY BACK YARD. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES OR THE P/C THAT MAY HAVE CAUSE IT?
Safety Rating for the 2003 BMW 530I
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 BMW 530I in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 BMW 530I
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 BMW 530I
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW 530I
- 2000 BMW 530I — 0 complaints
- 2001 BMW 530I — 29 complaints
- 2002 BMW 530I — 32 complaints
- 2003 BMW 530I (current)
- 2004 BMW 530I — 175 complaints
- 2005 BMW 530I — 84 complaints
- 2006 BMW 530I — 128 complaints
- 2007 BMW 530I — 109 complaints
- 2008 BMW 530I — 0 complaints