BMW 5 Series recalls and problems by year
NHTSA lists 14 recalls and 383 owner complaints for the BMW 5 Series (model years 2000–2012, 2023). The most reported problem area is air bags (85 complaints), followed by electrical system (60 complaints). The 2006 model year has the most recalls (7).
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 81 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2010 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 3 | 105 | 1 | 3 | |
| 2007 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 7 | 85 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 4 | 21 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 6 | 64 | 1 | 9 | |
| 2003 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
By complaints filed, the peak model years are 2008 (105), 2006 (85) and 2011 (81). Among model years at least two years old, the 2023 has the fewest complaints on file (0).
Most reported problem areas
What owners name in their complaints across all BMW 5 Series model years. A complaint can name more than one area.
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 85 | 7 of 14 | |
| Electrical system | 60 | 8 of 14 | |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 45 | 4 of 14 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 43 | 4 of 14 | |
| Tires | 40 | 5 of 14 |
Latest 8 of 14 recalls
| Recall | Date | Problem area | Model years | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23V707000 | Oct 20, 2023 | Engine and engine cooling: engine | 2010–2011 | 157,796 |
| 22V119000 | Mar 2, 2022 | Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system, emission control, crankcase (pcv) | 2006–2010 | 917,106 |
| 12V161000 | Apr 10, 2012 | Engine and engine cooling: engine, other fuel types, turbo/supercharger | 2011 | 2,846 |
| 12V126000 | Mar 26, 2012 | Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery, cables | 2004–2010 | 367,682 |
| 11V521000 | Oct 20, 2011 | Engine and engine cooling: engine, other fuel types, turbo/supercharger | 2011 | 32,084 |
| 10V446000 | Oct 1, 2010 | Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist, vacuum | 2004–2010 | 198,352 |
| 10V331000 | Jul 22, 2010 | Fuel system, other: storage, fuel gauge system | 2010–2011 | 6,080 |
| 08V384000 | Aug 5, 2008 | Air bags: frontal | 2004–2006 | 200,000 |
Vehicles: the manufacturer's estimate of all vehicles potentially affected by the recall, across every model it covers. Each model-year page lists what its recalls fix.
Owners reported a crash in 11 complaints and a fire in 17 complaints; 11 people injured and 0 deaths are recorded in these reports. These are the owners' accounts, not findings of cause.
Complaint counts grow with how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road; compare years with that in mind. Complaints are unverified owner reports.