2007 BMW 530I problems
NHTSA has received 109 complaints about the 2007 BMW 530I, and 24% of them involve air bags. After that come electrical system (15%) and lighting (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 109 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 6 and 5
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 101,000 miles 77 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 7 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 14 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 9 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 14 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 11 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 12 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 77 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 101,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 60,000 miles (14 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 6 complaints mention a crash; 5 complaints mention a fire; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2007 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the BMW 530I with enough data (20 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owned a 2007 BMW 530I. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle surged forward until it crashed into a rock. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an authorized dealer. The failure was not diagnosed. The contact sustained serious injuries and was taken to the hospital. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure and current mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 BMW 530I. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH and depressing the brakes, the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward without warning. The contact stated that the brakes failed to respond and as a result, the contact crashed into a building. The contact was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries to the ribs and muscle tearing. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 BMW 530I. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The dealer was notified and stated that there were no recalls for the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The failure mileage was 35,000. Updated 12/27/12
The steering wheel has a lock with an electronic system that creates a "fault" notice when not working. The fault notice can come on even when the steering wheel is operable. Apparently, the fault notice can lock the steering wheel after 10 +/- notices. The lock can cause the steering wheel to freeze, and/or the car to shut down. There are literally thousands of reports online about this issue. The repair costs $850. This dangerous situation should be a manufacturer's problem and a recall should be implemented.