BMW 5 Series Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 16 safety recalls and 427 owner complaints across 19 model years of the BMW 5 Series (1989–2023). The most-complained-about year is 2008.
Pick your BMW 5 Series model year
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 BMW 5 Series | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 10 |
| 2011 BMW 5 Series | 4 | 81 |
| 2010 BMW 5 Series | 5 | 6 |
| 2009 BMW 5 Series | 3 | 8 |
| 2008 BMW 5 Series | 3 | 105 |
| 2007 BMW 5 Series | 3 | 13 |
| 2006 BMW 5 Series | 7 | 85 |
| 2005 BMW 5 Series | 4 | 21 |
| 2004 BMW 5 Series | 6 | 64 |
| 2003 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 15 |
| 2002 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 7 |
| 2001 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 2000 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 1999 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 BMW 5 Series | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 BMW 5 Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1989 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 1 |
What BMW 5 Series owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 427 complaints with NHTSA. The 2008 model year has the most, with 105.
All BMW 5 Series recalls (16)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a BMW 5 Series, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota GR Supra, 3 Series Sedan (330i xDrive, M340i xDrive, M3), 5 Series Sedan (530i, 530i xDrive, M5), 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 4 Series Convertible (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 8 Series Coupe (840i, M850i…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics module and the automatic transmission fluid, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer…
Model years: 2023
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners…
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Crankcase (pcv) (engine and engine cooling)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i…
Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of…
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Turbo/supercharger (engine and engine cooling)
BMW is recalling certain model year 2011 5-series, 5-series gran turismo, model year 2012 6-series convertible, 7-series, x5 sav, and x6 sav vehicles equipped with 8- or 12-cylinder, turbocharged, engines because the circuit board for the electric auxiliary water pump can overheat.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump free of charge. The safety recall began on april 30, 2012. Owners may contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.
Model years: 2011
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Cables (electrical system)
BMW is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 5-series, model year 2004-2010 6-series, model year 2006-2010 m5, and model year 2007-2010 m6 vehicles. The insulated bulkhead connector for the positive battery cable may have been incorrectly attached to the trunk floor panel, which can lead to a loosening of the bolt connection. As it…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the battery bolt cable connection as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 30, 2012. Owners may contact BMW customer relations and…
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Turbo/supercharger (engine and engine cooling)
BMW is recalling certain model year 2011 5-series, model year 2010-2011 5-series gran turismo, model year 2009-2011 7-series, model year 2010-2011 x5 sav, and model year 2008-2011 x6 sav vehicles equipped with 8- or 12-cylinder, turbocharged, engines because the circuit board for the electric auxiliary water pump can overheat.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump free of charge. The safety recall began on december 19, 2011. Owners may contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.
Model years: 2011
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Vacuum (service brakes)
BMW is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 5-series, 6-series, and model year 2002-2008 7-series vehicles. A check valve of the brake vacuum pump may leak a small amount of lubricating oil. Over time this could result in contamination of the brake booster.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on november 24, 2010. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
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Fuel gauge system (fuel system)
BMW is recalling certain 2010 and 2011 5-series and 5-series gran turismo passenger vehicles manufactured from january 12 through july 1, 2010. The vehicle's fuel level sensor within the fuel tank can become wedged against the tank.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on october 18, 2010. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
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Air bags: frontal
BMW is recalling 200,000 my 2006 3 series sport seat, my 2004-2006 5 series standard and sport seat, and my 2004-2006 x3 passenger vehicles. Depending on the manner and frequency of the front passenger's entry and exit, small cracks have developed in the mat. If this occurs, the front passenger air bags, with the exception of the head…
Remedy: Dealers will rework the front passenger seat sensor mat so that external force application to the seat does not cause a crack to the mat. The recall began on november 6, 2008. BMW will also extend the warranty on these…
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Shock absorber (suspension)
On certain passenger vehicles, the lower rubber mount of the rear shock absorbers may not have been manufactured to specifications and may not adhere correctly to its housing within the shock absorber.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear shock absorber free of charge. The recall began on september 13, 2006. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Model years: 2006
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Suspension: control arm
On certain passenger vehicles, the nuts which secure the front axle control arm and tension strut to the front wheel hub may not have been tightened to specification. Over time the nuts could loosen and the control arm and tension strut could be damaged.
Remedy: Dealers will retighten the front axle control arm and tension strut nuts to the correct specifications free of charge. The recall began on june 28, 2006. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Model years: 2006
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Automatic transmission (power train)
Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with an incorrectly manufactured automatic transmission parking pawl guide plate.
Remedy: Dealers will repair and replace the automatic transmission guide plate free of charge. The recall began on november 30, 2005. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-332-4269.
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Seat heater/cooler (seats)
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with front seat heating systems, upon entering and exiting the vehicle, excessive contact with the side bolster that is contained in the seat's backrest may damage the heating mat located in this area. If such damage were to occur, with the system turned on, the vehicle occupant may feel excessive…
Remedy: Dealers will modify the seat heating circuit. The recall is expected to begin during december 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Model years: 2004
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Power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 8 and 12 cylinder engines, the digital engine management control (emc) units were not produced according to specifications.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new digital engine management control unit. The recall began on july 16, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Model years: 2004
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Fuel system, gasoline
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 8-cylinder engines, a circular retention clip at the quick-release coupling along the fuel supply line was inadvertently not installed.
Remedy: Dealers will install a circular retention clip at the quick-release coupling along the fuel supply line. The recall began on july 5, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Model years: 2004
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Suspension: front
On certain passenger vehicles, due to long exposures to certain environmental and operating conditions, the material structure of the front spring strut plate could be affected. In some cases, the strut plate could begin to crack, and eventually it could break. If this occurred, the plate could contact the tire.
Remedy: Dealers will install a retaining clip to the underside of the front spring strut plates. The recall began may 17, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.