Model year
2021 BMW 5 Series
NHTSA does not list the EPA model name 5 Series for 2021. Under the matched names 530E, 530I, 540I, 540I XDRIVE, and 550E, NHTSA lists 9 recalls and 27 complaints (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). 1 recall marked park outside. The components listed on the most complaints for 530I are ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (4), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3), AIR BAGS (2). NHTSA lists 1 investigation. NHTSA lists crash-test variants for this model year and marks the overall rating Not Rated. EPA rates it 25–28 mpg combined and 49–53 kWh/100 mi depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,950–$3,300, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 2 complaints
- 2001 3 complaints
- 2002 7 complaints
- 2003 15 complaints
- 2004 64 complaints
- 2005 21 complaints
- 2006 85 complaints
- 2007 13 complaints
- 2008 105 complaints
- 2009 8 complaints
- 2010 6 complaints
- 2011 81 complaints
- 2012 10 complaints
- 2013 194 complaints
- 2014 152 complaints
- 2015 100 complaints
- 2016 83 complaints
- 2017 38 complaints
- 2018 89 complaints
- 2019 39 complaints
- 2020 15 complaints
- 2021 27 complaints
- 2022 17 complaints
- 2023 0 complaints
- 2024 18 complaints
- 2025 2 complaints
- 2026 1 complaints
- 2027 0 complaints
Matched NHTSA names
The EPA model name is not itself a name in the NHTSA file for 2021. The counts in the answer are the sum of the names below. Overlap between those names is not removed.
| NHTSA name | Recalls | Complaints | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 530E | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 530I | 7 | 17 | 0 |
| 540I | 6 | 9 | 1 |
| 540I XDRIVE | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 550E | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls for 530I
26V056000 · Jan 30, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Toyota Supra, 2022-2023 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2024 5 Series (xDrive), 2021-2022 Z4, 2022-2024 4 Series (Gran Coupe), 2021-2024 4 Series (Convertible and xDrive Convertible), 2021-2023 4 Series (Coupe), 2021-2024 3…
25V636000 · Sep 23, 2025
Park outsideELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 BMW 330i, 2019-2022 BMW Z4, 2020-2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4, Toyota Supra, 2021-2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible, and 2022 BMW 230i vehicles. The engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short…
21V554000 · Jul 21, 2021
SEAT BELTS
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i,…
21V096000 · Feb 19, 2021
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE; BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i…
21V046000 · Feb 3, 2021
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530i xDrive, 540i xDrive and 2021 740Li xDrive vehicles. The output shafts (left/right) which transfer power from the driveshaft to the rear wheels may break due to a heat treatment error during supplier production.
20V761000 · Dec 9, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The…
20V598000 · Sep 30, 2020
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e iPerformance vehicles. A small portion of the rearview image may…
Complaints for 530I
17 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 1, fire flag on 0, injury field 0, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Investigations for 530I
No investigations are matched to this name.
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR AWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated · possibility 0 | — |
| 4 DR RWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated · possibility 0 | — |
| 2021 BMW 530e 4 DR AWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated · possibility 0 | — |
| 2021 BMW 530e 4 DR RWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated · possibility 0 | — |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 530i · 2L · Automatic (S8) · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 25 | 33 | 28 | — | — | $2,950 |
| 530i xDrive · 2L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Hybrid | 23 | 32 | 27 | — | — | $3,050 |
| 540i xDrive · 3L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 23 | 31 | 26 | — | — | $3,150 |
| 540i · 3L · Automatic (S8) · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Hybrid | 25 | 32 | 27 | — | — | $3,050 |
| 530e · 2L · Automatic (S8) · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Plug-in Hybrid | 24 | 29 | 26 | 49.0 | 340 | $3,150 |
| 530e xDrive · 2L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Plug-in Hybrid | 22 | 28 | 25 | 53.0 | 320 | $3,300 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2021 BMW 5 Series at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.