2001 BMW M5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other M5 years
- Not enough data 8th of 21 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW M5. That ranks 8th out of 21 M5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (3 complaints, 75%), typically at around 83,500 miles. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 4owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 BMW M5 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 | 75% | 83,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 25% | 68,391 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 BMW M5 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleDo not drive
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.
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.
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:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
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.
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.
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
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.
Risk: Handling and control would be drastically affected increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 bmw m5. While parked, the front driver and passenger side air bags deployed inadvertently. The contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 03v421000 (air bags:frontal:sensor/control module) but was advised by the manufacturer that the vin was not included in the recall…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 bmw m5. The contact stated that the air bag warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel. The manufacturer advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number: 03v421000 (air bags:frontal:sensor/control module). The vehicle was not…
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…
While driving at very low speed side air bags deployed. *ak
Other BMW M5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 M5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 M5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 M5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 M5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2020 M5 | 2 | 3 |
| 2019 M5 | 8 | 3 |
| 2018 M5 | 6 | 3 |
| 2016 M5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2015 M5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2014 M5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2013 M5 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010 M5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2009 M5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 M5 | 6 | 2 |
| 2007 M5 | 6 | 1 |
| 2006 M5 | 39 | 1 |
| 2003 M5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 M5 | 6 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 | 3 |
| 2000 M5 | 4 | 2 |
| 1995 M5 | 0 | 1 |
See all BMW M5 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW M5?
Owners most often report air bags, tires problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 BMW M5?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 BMW M5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other M5 model years, the 2001 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.