2018 BMW 530i recalls and problems

The 2018 BMW 530i has 2 safety recalls and 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any BMW dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

1 / 0

Injuries / deaths

2 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2018 BMW 530i vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2018 BMW 530i recalls

Recall 19V-684: Back Over Prevention

Reported Sep 27, 2019 · 257,473 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50i, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, Z4 sDrive, Z4 M40i, 740Le xDrive and 745Le xDrive, 2018-2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2019 M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and Rolls-Royce Cullinan and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

Recall 18V-465: Engine and Engine Cooling

Reported Jul 11, 2018 · 5,309 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330e, 2019 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440i xDrive Gran Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, 740i, 740i xDrive, MINI Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), and MINI Clubman (Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, JCW All4) vehicles.

Risk: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

2018 BMW 530i problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Air Bags	14
Seat Belts	7
Seats	5
Unknown or Other	4
Engine	4
Electrical System	2
Engine and Engine Cooling	2
Steering	1

Most reported parts

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 5,500 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2018 BMW 530i complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Air Bags · reported Oct 10, 2026

Vehicle keeps saying that "passenger restraint system malfunction" and turns off air bags even when there is a passenger . A lot of people from BMW forums are reporting same issue

Engine · reported Aug 20, 2025

The oil filter housing has a plastic coolant passage that cracked. That lead to a complete loss of coolant, leaving my teenage daughter stranded. The problem seems pretty wide spread on these cars and happens right around the end of the warranty period. It could have been a more than $2500 repair. I ended up fixing it myself for a little less.

Engine · reported Jun 17, 2025

I was driving home after picking my son up from school and out of no where the vehicle temperature was in the red and a message popped up stating that vehicle coolant needed to be replenished but that continued driving of the vehicle was ok. It was not ok at all! The car started smoking and we were left stranded on the side of the road. Iâve read numerous blogs showing that the same thing has happened to other people and that there have even been recalls on other bmwâs in regards to the engine coolant system.

Engine and Engine Cooling · at 105,000 miles · reported Jan 24, 2025

The contact's wife owns a 2018 BMW 530I. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir, and the warning light turned off; however, the check engine light soon returned. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where a diagnostic test discovered that coolant and freon had leaked from the turbo lines, causing damages to the oil housing and water pump. The dealer provided the contact with an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The…

Engine and Engine Cooling · at 64,000 miles · reported Jan 2, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 BMW 530I. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a coolant-level message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test determined that there was a coolant leak inside the engine. The contact was informed that the vehicle was covered under warranty and that an undisclosed part inside the coolant system was replaced. The contact stated that one week after the repair, the message returned, and the contact was informed that the upper coolant hose was defective. The contact was informed that the vehicle was…

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Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 BMW 530i have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 BMW 530i: 19V-684 (back over prevention), 18V-465 (engine and engine cooling). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2018 BMW 530i?

Owners report air bags problems most often (14 reports), followed by seat belts (7). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 5,500 miles.

Are BMW recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized BMW dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.