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2001 BMW M5

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

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: 3 of 4 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 1 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Tires complaints

1 reports
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68,391 miles · Jan 18, 2009
Tires

HI, I PURCHASED A PAIR OF MICHELIN PS2 HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES FOR $600 FROM TIRERACK.COM AND NOTICED THAT THE LATERAL TREAD / GROVES ARE BLOCKED WITH EXCESS RUBBER THROUGHOUT BOTH TIRES. THEY WERE INSTALLED ON 12/06/2008. I RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION FROM ANOTHER TIRE MANUFACTURER THAT STATES THE LATERAL GROVES PLAY AN IMPORTANT …

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HI, I PURCHASED A PAIR OF MICHELIN PS2 HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES FOR $600 FROM TIRERACK.COM AND NOTICED THAT THE LATERAL TREAD / GROVES ARE BLOCKED WITH EXCESS RUBBER THROUGHOUT BOTH TIRES. THEY WERE INSTALLED ON 12/06/2008. I RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION FROM ANOTHER TIRE MANUFACTURER THAT STATES THE LATERAL GROVES PLAY AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION TO DISPERSE WATER TO MINIMIZE HYDROPLANING. CURRENTLY, TIRERACK DENIES MY CLAIM FOR AN EXCHANGE. I CONTACTED MICHELIN AND THEY REFERRED ME BACK TO TIRERACK. HTTP://WWW.YOKOHAMATIRE.COM/CUSTOMER_SERVICE/CONSTRUCTION_TREAD.ASPX THE BLOCKAGE IS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AND WOULD REQUIRE ME TO USE A SHARP UTILITY KNIFE TO MY TIRES. I AM NOT SURE WHAT MICHELIN WOULD SAY IF THEY KNEW I TOOK A KNIFE TO MY TIRES. TIRERACK SO FAR HAS DENIED MY REQUEST FOR AN EXCHANGE CLAIMING THE PROBLEM IS COSMETIC AND WOULD GO AWAY. I DIFFER BECAUSE THE PROBLEM BLOCKS A FUNCTIONAL SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE AREA OF THE TIRE AND PREVENTS ITS ABILITY TO DISPERSE WATER. TIRERACK'S WRITTEN WARRANTY POLICY STATES THAT THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME AND THE MANUFACTURER TO RESOLVE A CLAIM. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED ACCORDING TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE EVEN SUBMITTED A VIDEO AND PICTURES. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE AS A CONSUMER WHO PAID A PREMIUM FOR THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND HIGHEST PERFORMANCE TIRES AVAILABLE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PIECE OF MIND THAT THEY WILL NOT FAIL... AND WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY, A CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CONTEMPLATE IF, WHEN OR THE LIKELIHOOD AN ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR - EVEN IF ONE PERCEIVES THE LIKELIHOOD TO BE LOW. I'D RATHER NOT TAKE THAT CHANCE AND IT ONLY TAKES ONE EVENT TO CHANGE SOMEONE(S) LIFE FOREVER. I THEREFORE FEEL THAT TIRERACK HAS DELAYED THIS ISSUE FOR OVER A MONTH AND HAS NO REGARD FOR MY SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS ON THE ROAD BY MAKING A SWIFT EXCHANGE. TIRERACK HAS SO FAR ONLY SHOWN SIGNS OF ONLY WANTING TO MAKE MONEY IRREGARDLESS OF SAFETY. PLEASE FOLLOW UP ON MY CONCERNS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255515

Official recalls

3

17V047000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 20, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

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 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.

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.

01V001000 · Tires:sidewall

Jan 4, 2001

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: HANDLING AND CONTROL WOULD BE DRASTICALLY AFFECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

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.