NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 BMW 5 Series Recalls & Complaints

The 2001 BMW 5 Series has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 BMW 5 Series. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2001 BMW 5 Series owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW 5 Series, describing incidents dated August 1, 2006 to February 26, 2010.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Visibility/Wiper 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10430272 · Filed October 15, 2011
THE HEADLIGHT'S HAVE MANUAL ADJUSTERS ON EACH SIDE, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS POINT TOWARDS THE GROUND BECAUSE THEY ARE BROKEN, I TRIED TO ADJUST THE BEAM AND BOTH SIDES JUST CLICK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE AT NIGHT IT LIMITS YOUR VISION AHEAD TO ABOUT 10 TO 20 FEET. I OWN OTHER VEHICLE'S…
ODI #10294367 · Filed December 3, 2009
FAILURE OF THE INFORMATION CLUSTER, MISSING PIXELS)....MILEAGE AND OTHER INFORMATION CAN NOT BE READ.*TR
ODI #10293490 · Filed November 25, 2009
BMW X5 WITH 15,000 MILES HAD SUCH EXTENSIVE RUST IN THE FRONT END PARTS THAT THE REPAIR COST OVER $2,000. *TR

Read all 3 complaints

Steering Rod May Detach from Wheel Knuckle

NHTSA #19E058000 · Steering — Linkages — Rod — Relay — Connecting · NHTSA notice

Reported August 28, 2019 · ZF North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 614 vehicles

Repair completion: 41.21% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified August 28, 2019

Defect description

ZF Group North America Operations (ZF) is recalling certain Lemförder Steering Center Rods sold as aftermarket parts for 1996-2004 BMW 5-Series (E39) vehicles. The steering center rods may have an insufficient ball pin pull force that may allow the rods to detach from the steering knuckle.

Safety consequence

If the steering rod detaches from the steerable wheel knuckle, it can cause sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

ZF has notified the parts distributors, instructing them to inform the end customer. ZF will reimburse them for the affected parts. The recall began August 28, 2019.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Engine Cooling Fan Assemblies/Service Parts

NHTSA #12E029000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Cooling System — Fan · NHTSA notice

Reported August 10, 2012 · Valeo

Potentially affected: 585 vehicles

Repair completion: 33.1% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified August 22, 2012

Defect description

This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.

Safety consequence

This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.

Manufacturer remedy

Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2001 BMW 5 Series. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 BMW 5 Series.

Exterior Lighting; Visibility

ODI #10430272

Incident: February 26, 2010 · Filed: October 15, 2011

THE HEADLIGHT'S HAVE MANUAL ADJUSTERS ON EACH SIDE, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS POINT TOWARDS THE GROUND BECAUSE THEY ARE BROKEN, I TRIED TO ADJUST THE BEAM AND BOTH SIDES JUST CLICK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE AT NIGHT IT LIMITS YOUR VISION AHEAD TO ABOUT 10 TO 20 FEET. I OWN OTHER VEHICLE'S THAT ARE OLDER THAN THIS VEHICLE AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM. I AM A MEMBER OF A FORUM FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL CAR AND MORE THAN HALF, IF NOT EVERY MEMBER HAS ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION FROM MY DEALER WAS TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS FOR A TOTAL OF $1000.00 PLUS. I DON'T THINK A HEADLIGHT SHOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON A VEHICLE AND THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS AT RISK BECAUSE OF THE POOR DESIGN OF THESE HEADLIGHTS. THE ADJUSTER'S JUST CLICK AND THE HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS POINT TOWARDS THE GROUND, IM PRETTY SURE IT WAS MADE THIS WAS TO INCREASE VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD AND HAZARDS AHEAD BUT IF THE MECHANISM IS BROKEN THEN THE SAFETY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT MY VISION AHEAD IS VERY LIMITED, IT PRESENTS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE A BETTER VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD OF YOU AS OTHER CAR'S HAVE. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL BY BMWNA FOR ALL USA OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF HEADLIGHT. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10294367

Incident: August 1, 2006 · Filed: December 3, 2009

FAILURE OF THE INFORMATION CLUSTER, MISSING PIXELS)....MILEAGE AND OTHER INFORMATION CAN NOT BE READ.*TR

Structure

ODI #10293490

Incident: October 12, 2009 · Filed: November 25, 2009

BMW X5 WITH 15,000 MILES HAD SUCH EXTENSIVE RUST IN THE FRONT END PARTS THAT THE REPAIR COST OVER $2,000. *TR

Other BMW 5 Series model years

Check your 2001 BMW 5 Series VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 5 Series at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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