BMW 5 Series Problems by Year
NHTSA has 426 owner complaints and 16 safety recalls on file for the BMW 5 Series, across 19 model years (1995–2023). The 2008 model year has the most complaints (105). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
BMW 5 Series years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 5 Series year: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2008 5 Series: 105 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2006 5 Series: 85 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2011 5 Series: 81 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1997 5 Series: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 1999 5 Series: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2000 5 Series: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW 5 Series problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 94 | 13 | 6 |
| Electrical System | 67 | 11 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 47 | 7 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 45 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 43 | 7 | 0 |
| Power Train | 41 | 10 | 3 |
| Steering | 33 | 7 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 24 | 7 | 1 |
| Engine | 22 | 9 | 0 |
| Seats | 18 | 6 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 16 | 6 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 15 | 6 | 3 |
| Visibility | 14 | 7 | 0 |
| Structure | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Wheels | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Equipment | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 5 Series model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 5 Series | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2012 5 Series | 10 | 0 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2011 5 Series | 81 | 4 | — | Tires | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 5 Series | 6 | 5 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2009 5 Series | 8 | 3 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2008 5 Series | 105 | 3 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 5 Series | 13 | 3 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2006 5 Series | 85 | 7 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 5 Series | 21 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 5 Series | 64 | 6 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 5 Series | 15 | 0 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 5 Series | 7 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 2001 5 Series | 3 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2000 5 Series | 2 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1999 5 Series | 2 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Air | |
| 1998 5 Series | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 1997 5 Series | 1 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1996 5 Series | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1995 5 Series | 3 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 5 Series years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2004 (64), 2005 (21), 2006 (85), 2008 (105), 2011 (81) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 5 Series year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW 5 Series?
Air Bags, with 94 complaints across 13 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW 5 Series have?
16 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.