Worst years for a BMW 5 Series
Owners have filed 556 complaints about the BMW 5 Series with NHTSA across model years 1989 to 2012. More of them are about the airbags than anything else.
Every BMW 5 Series year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | A | 12 | 0 | 0 | 43,500 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2011 | F | 96 | 6 | 3 | 2,000 | Tires |
| 2010 | — | 9 | 0 | 0 | 53,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2009 | — | 6 | 1 | 0 | 59,500 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2008 | D | 131 | 1 | 5 | 27,000 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2007 | A | 22 | 0 | 0 | 79,000 | Airbags |
| 2006 | F | 125 | 8 | 2 | 68,000 | Airbags |
| 2005 | C | 26 | 4 | 1 | 71,512 | Airbags |
| 2004 | D | 89 | 1 | 11 | 81,000 | Airbags |
| 2003 | A | 13 | 0 | 0 | 100,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2002 | B | 10 | 2 | 3 | 96,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2001 | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
| 2000 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | Airbags |
| 1999 | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | Brakes |
| 1997 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Airbags |
| 1995 | — | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
| 1989 | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | Acceleration & Cruise Control |
What breaks on a BMW 5 Series
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Worst in 2006
Worst in 2006
Worst in 2004
Worst in 2006
Worst in 2004
Worst in 2006
Worst in 2006
Exactly what failed on a BMW 5 Series
The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every BMW 5 Series, by the month it reached NHTSA.
BMW 5 Series problems by state
Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.
Compare the BMW 5 Series
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.