2001 BMW 530IA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
11
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2001 BMW 530IA
The 2001 BMW 530IA has received a total of 11 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemfan (3 complaints), Air Bags (2 complaints), and Electrical System (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2001 BMW 530IA
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2001 BMW 530IA, potentially affecting up to 101,019 vehicles.
Recall 03V421000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
| 23,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Recall 01V206000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
| 76,469 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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...
View full details →Recall 02V138000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
| 1,550 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2001 BMW 530IA
11 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 BMW 530IA. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemfan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiringfront Underhood | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainautomatic Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seatsfront Assemblyseat Heatercooler | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT WALMART. LESS THEN 5 MINUTES AFTER WALKING INTO THE STORE THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE.
I PARKED MY CAR AND FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE, MELTING THE CARPET AND PLASTIC INTERIOR, GLOVEBOX AND MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND WIRING HARNESS. THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED AND THERE WAS BLACK SOOT COVERING THE INTERIOR. I FOUND THAT THERE WAS WATER ACCUMULATED BENEATH THE PASSENGER FOOTWELL, WHERE THERE IS A MAJOR ELECTRICAL FUSE PANEL. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN FRONT OF MY HOME AND I'VE HAD TO FIND A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS AND MODULES. ALSO THE SMOKE DAMAGE WOULD PREVENT ME FROM WANTING TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT HAD BEEN RAINING REGULARLY FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTHS DURING WINTER AND I BELIEVE IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WATER WAS BEING DIVERTED TO THIS AREA WHERE THE MAIN ELECTRICAL FUSES WERE LOCATED. THERE DO NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY PROVISIONS TO KEEP WATER FROM ACCUMULATING OR TO PROTECT THE FUSES FROM WATER INTRUSION. THE ANGLE AT WHICH THE CAR WAS PARKED WAS WITH THE FRONT POINTED UP AT AN INCLINE OF APPROXIMATELY 15 DEGREES. THIS OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET. THE CAR IS IRREPARABLE AND MUST BE DISPOSED OF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 530IA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,000.
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
CAR FAILED TO OPERATE IN REVERSE WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. *TR
View all Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemfan complaints →
Safety Rating for the 2001 BMW 530IA
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2001 BMW 530IA in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2001 BMW 530IA
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2001 BMW 530IA
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW 530IA
- 2001 BMW 530IA (current)
- 2002 BMW 530IA — 5 complaints
- 2003 BMW 530IA — 15 complaints