BMW 5 SeriesYears to avoid, problems & recalls
Based on 423 NHTSA owner complaints across 17 model years, no BMW 5 Series year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. The 5 Series has 16 safety recalls on record.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Aciarium, CC BY 4.0.
BMW 5 Series years to avoid
Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 5 Series median. Tap a year for its full report.
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
Most common BMW 5 Series problems
All model years combined: 423 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 94 | 9 |
| Electrical system | 67 | 12 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 47 | 0 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 45 | 1 |
| Tires | 43 | 0 |
| Power train | 41 | 4 |
| Steering | 33 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 24 | 3 |
| Engine | 22 | 1 |
| 20 other systems | 145 | 22 |
BMW 5 Series recalls
Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.
Showing the 12 newest of 16 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.
NHTSA investigations of the 5 Series
- Loss of power assist brakingLed to recall 13V-454
- BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATIONLed to recall 08V-384
- BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATIONNo recall
- WINDSHIELD WIPER INOPERATIONNo recall