Problems with the ABS and ESP on BMW: affected models and engines

Reviewed on 5 October 2026How we work

Documented faults, from most to least important

Severity × frequency. Below each one, the BMW models it appears in.

- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 3 F30ABS pump and ABS/DSC module failureThe British press describes ABS pump failures that can cause a brake to stick, along with campaigns related to the ABS/DSC module on the 3 Series F30/F31.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 5 E39ABS module failure on the BMW 5 Series E39According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr (317 for the 1995-2003 5 Series), there are 16 cases of ABS module failure.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 7 G11ABS module: recall for longer braking distanceAccording to the fiches-auto.fr page, BMW issued a recall in April 2021 for cars built between December 2018 and February 2021 because of an ABS module defect that could lengthen the braking distance. Check with your chassis number whether your car is included.
- High severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 1 E87ABS/DSC module failurefiches-auto.fr documents a case of a faulty ABS/DSC unit on a 1 Series E87 at 75,000 km, with a repair cost of €2,100, which lights up the ABS and stability control warning lights.Repair (garage): €2,100
- High severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 4 F32ABS and DSC system faultsAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, there are 2 cases of ABS/DSC faults among 103 reports on the 4 Series. No official recall is recorded.

By BMW model

Open yours to see only the faults that affect it, by engine and by year.

Frequently asked questions

What faults with the ABS and ESP do BMW cars have?

In 5 models from BMW there are 5 documented faults with the ABS and ESP. The most important: ABS pump and ABS/DSC module failure, ABS module failure on the BMW 5 Series E39 and ABS module: recall for longer braking distance. Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and the repair cost.

Which BMW models have the most problems with the ABS and ESP?

BMW Serie 5 E39 (1 fault), BMW Serie 1 E87 (1 fault), BMW Serie 3 F30 (1 fault) and BMW Serie 4 F32 (1 fault).