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BMW 530IModel year report

2021 BMW 530I Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
18,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
28 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl RWD · 25 city / 33 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 BMW 530I (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2021 BMW 530I. The part named most often is electrical system, with 4 complaints (24% of the total), followed by other or unknown (3) and air bags (2). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 67% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 18,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 173 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the relay and 66 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The recall 25V-636 remains unresolved after more than 6 month passed since the manufacturer issued the campaign regarding the engine starter. I would like to see the NHTSA to put the manufacturer on notice that this is unacceptable. We cannot park the vehicle outside of structures permanently as this devalues the vehicle and creates a loss of use.”

NHTSA complaint #11736037, filed 2026-05

Other or unknown: “After pulling into a parking space and stopping, the braking system became unresponsive. While stopped with the foot on the brakes, attempts to place the car in park failed. After pumping the brakes, the car rolled forward as the car idled and the brakes were unresponsive as it rolled through a corrugated metal wall and the car only stopped after pressing the ignition button to turn off the car, putting anyone in or near the car at that time at risk. The problem has been reported to the dealer and the dealer inspection is pending but the problem has not been isolated and not reproduced. …”

NHTSA complaint #11465809, filed 2022-05, 9,855 miles

Air bags: “I have a code Passanger restraint failure that will not come off unless I pay $2700 to fix. This coding came on after 3 months of getting the vehicle and I’m not the only with the same issue. This is a dangerous situation that Bmw is not recalling but putting this as the owners expense. If I were to get in an accident this will not deploy airbags or open the seat belt this can cause sever injuries or worst death.”

NHTSA complaint #11643861, filed 2025-02

Back-over prevention (rear camera): “RCTA system does not work (other than on rare, unpredictable occasions, and generally only when the alert is worthless) - when another vehicle or pedestrian is too close to the car to make any difference. I have had cars with RCTA for years and none of them failed to detect objects/vehicles/people at much greater distances from my vehicle that could reasonably be expected to collide with my vehicle if I continued to back up. All these other cars provided an adequate advance warning of an impending danger (another car, bike, pedestrian, etc. …”

NHTSA complaint #11515206, filed 2023-04

Mileage when problems were reported

67% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 9,855 and 60,000 miles.

33%0–1033%10–250%25–5033%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (3 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 18,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2021202220232024202552026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2021 BMW 530I version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
530i RWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic253328$2,950
530i xDrive AWD2.0L 4-cyl · hybrid8-speed automatic233227$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 2021 BMW 530I → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 173 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 173 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 530I

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2024133,6007—30—Too new
202287,0003—28—Not enough data
20211718,0007—28—Rising
2020107005—28—Not enough data
20191511,8151—27—Rising
2018265,2502—27Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
20171829,0001—27—Rising
20077398,2502—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200684101,2503—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20055895,0000—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200412980,0000—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20034680,0002—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20022949,0004—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20012574,0004—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19955133,8922—18—Not enough data
1994912,0003—17—Not enough data

All BMW 530I model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 BMW 530I have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2021 BMW 530I as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 BMW 530I is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 4 complaints (24% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 3.

Has the 2021 BMW 530I been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2021 BMW 530I get?

The EPA rates the 2021 BMW 530I (530i, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 25 city and 33 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 BMW 530I reported?

Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 18,000 miles and the middle half falls between 9,855 and 60,000 miles; 67% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.