RecallMyCar

2001 BMW M5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2001 BMW M5, and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
4
owner complaints to NHTSA
15–18
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2001 BMW M5

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive

    NHTSA 17V047000 Reported 230,117 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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…

    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…

  2. Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive

    NHTSA 03V421000 Reported 23,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag control module. Owner notification began november10, 2003. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.

  3. Tires: sidewall

    NHTSA 01V001000 Reported 3,167 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    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…

    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…

4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2001 BMW M5 have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 78,464 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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:sens”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 23, 2012 · Air bags

“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 i”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 20, 2011 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2001 BMW M (M Coupe, M Roadster, M3, M3 Convertible, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined15–18 mpg
City / Highway12–15 / 19–23
FuelPremium
EPA classCompact Cars, Minicompact Cars, Subcompact Cars, Two Seaters
Engine6/8 cyl, 3.2/4.9 L
TransmissionManual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd

Compare BMW M5 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW M5 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1989 BMW M510
1990 BMW M510
1991 BMW M530
1992 BMW M520
1993 BMW M510
1994 BMW M510
1995 BMW M510
2000 BMW M524
2001 BMW M534
2002 BMW M526
2003 BMW M513
2006 BMW M5139
2007 BMW M516
2008 BMW M526
2009 BMW M520
2010 BMW M521
2013 BMW M5210
2014 BMW M512
2015 BMW M513
2016 BMW M521
2018 BMW M536
2019 BMW M538
2020 BMW M532
2021 BMW M512
2022 BMW M501
2025 BMW M521
2026 BMW M510

Checking a specific 2001 BMW M5

How do I know if my 2001 BMW M5 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2001 BMW M5; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 01V001000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other BMW models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.