Vehicle safety record

2001 BMW M5 Problems, complaints & recalls

Q: Which BMW M5 years have the most complaints?

2002 (19), 2003 (18). See every BMW M5 year compared .

No owner complaints about the 2001 BMW M5 have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in January 2017 for the inflator module.

Share your experience See 3 recalls

NHTSA data checked 23 hours ago

35/100Safety Index

DMore problems than a typical M5 year, for its age

Complaints: 0
Recalls: 3
Crashes: 0
Fires: 0
Injuries: 0
Deaths: 0

2001 BMW M5 recalls 3

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Air bags: inflator module

17V047000Jan 20, 2017230,117 vehicles affected

Do not drive

The problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk: 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.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air bags: sensor / control module-inactive

03V421000Oct 24, 200323,000 vehicles affected

The problem: 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.
The risk: 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.
The fix: Dealers will replace the air bag control module. Owner notification began november10, 2003. Owners should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.

Tires: sidewall

01V001000Jan 4, 20013,167 vehicles affected

The problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 18-inch tires. (18-Inch tires are standard equipment on the m5 and optional equipment on the 7-series models). The machine used to mount and inflate the tires on the wheels at the assembly plant may have damaged the sidewall of one or more tires. The damaged area could weaken to the point where a sudden loss of air from the tire could occur.
The risk: Handling and control would be drastically affected increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the tires and if damage from the mounting machine is found, the tire will be replaced. Owner notification began march 10, 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.

What owners say

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No complaints about the 2001 BMW M5 yet

No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.

BMW M5: every year compared

'89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '00 0'01 '02 '03 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '13 '14 '15 '16 '18 '19 '20 '21 '25 '26

Year	Complaints	Recalls	Crashes	Fires	Top problem	Grade
2003	18	1	1	1	Airbags	F
2002	19	2	1	1	Engine & cooling	F
2001	0	3	0	0	-	D
2000	0	2	0	0	-	C

All M5 years

2001 BMW M5 vs rivals

Vehicle	Complaints	Recalls	Crashes	Grade
2001 BMW M5	0	3	0	D
2001 BMW 325I	150	7	7	F	Compare
2001 BMW 325CI	49	6	1	F	Compare
2001 BMW 3 Series	36	1	1	B	Compare
2001 BMW 325	31	2	2	F	Compare
2001 BMW 325XI	14	2	0	F	Compare
2001 BMW 320	10	1	0	F	Compare
2001 BMW 325IX	7	0	0	-	Compare
2001 BMW 318	6	0	0	C	Compare

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

Questions about the 2001 BMW M5

Does the 2001 BMW M5 have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2001 BMW M5: inflator module (January 2017); sensor / control module-inactive (October 2003); sidewall (January 2001). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

How many complaints has the 2001 BMW M5 had?

None have been filed with NHTSA so far.

Is the 2001 BMW M5 a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 35 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical BMW M5 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which BMW M5 years have the most complaints?

2002 (19), 2003 (18). See every BMW M5 year compared.

What should I do if my 2001 BMW M5 has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked 23 hours ago. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data