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Vehicle statistics

BMW 5 Series

409 owner complaints (NHTSA, USA) + recalls with manufacturer remedies. Real numbers, not prose.

Worst year: 2008 · 98 complaints

Most reported problem areas: Air Bags

Complaints by model year

1989
1⚠ 1
1995
3⚠ 1
1997
1
1999
2
2000
2
2001
3
2002
7⚠ 1 🔥 1
2003
9
2004
63⚠ 1 🔥 9
2005
21⚠ 2 🔥 1
2006
85⚠ 4 🔥 2
2007
13
2008
98⚠ 1 🔥 3
2009
4⚠ 1
2010
6
2011
81⚠ 2 🔥 2
2012
10

Most reported problem areas

Air Bags96
Electrical System62
Fuel System53
Engine And Engine Cooling47
Gasoline46
Tires43
Power Train41
Steering32
Service Brakes22
Exterior Lighting22

Recalls with manufacturer remedy (7)

2006 Power Train (05V504000)

Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.

Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN THE PARK ("P") POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY CONDITION.

Manufacturer fix: 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.

2006 Suspension (06V187000)

Defect: 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.

Risk: VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL COULD COMPROMISE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer fix: 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.

2005 Air Bags (08V384000)

Defect: 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 PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED.

Risk: IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.

Manufacturer fix: 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 VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

2004 Fuel System, Gasoline (04V303000)

Defect: 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.

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE FRONTAL CRASH, THE QUICK-RELEASE COUPLING COULD SEPARATE CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer fix: 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.

2004 Electrical System (12V126000)

Defect: 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 LOOSENS, AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AT THIS CABLE CONNECTION IS POSSIBLE AND COULD CAUSE THE CABLE CONNECTION TO OVERHEAT.

Risk: OVERHEATING COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN USE. AS A PRECAUTION, OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO PARK OUTSIDE UNTIL THE REMEDY HAS BEEN MADE.

Manufacturer fix: 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 SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

2003 Steering (19E058000)

Defect: ZF Group North America Operations (ZF) is recalling certain Lemförder Steering Center Rods sold as aftermarket parts for 1996-2004 BMW 5-Series (E39) vehicles. The steering center rods may have an insufficient ball pin pull force that may allow the rods to detach from the steering knuckle.

Risk: If the steering rod detaches from the steerable wheel knuckle, it can cause sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer fix: ZF has notified the parts distributors, instructing them to inform the end customer. ZF will reimburse them for the affected parts. The recall began August 28, 2019.

1997 Suspension (04V183000)

Defect: 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.

Risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE OR TIRE FAILURE.

Manufacturer fix: 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.

CodMec cases on this model

No CodMec case on this model yet — statistics above are the starting point.

Open a case on this model

Source: NHTSA (US public domain data). CodMec cases: from the community.