6 NHTSA safety recalls cover the BMW 5 Series, across model years 2000–2023. Every recall repair is free at any BMW dealer.
Is yours affected? Check your 5 Series by VIN — or pick your model year below for every recall, complaint and fix.
Recalls and owner complaints by model year
Of the BMW 5 Series model years, the 2011 drew the most owner complaints (81).
Recalls: NHTSA campaigns covering each BMW 5 Series model year on this page. Complaints: owner reports filed with NHTSA for that model year, including trims and variants sold under the model name (e.g. an F-150 page counts F-150 Raptor). Separate scales: compare the shape, not the heights across panels.
| Model year | Recalls | Owner complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 | no data |
| 2001 | 1 | no data |
| 2002 | 1 | no data |
| 2003 | 1 | no data |
| 2004 | 3 | no data |
| 2005 | 3 | no data |
| 2006 | 4 | no data |
| 2007 | 4 | no data |
| 2008 | 4 | no data |
| 2009 | 4 | no data |
| 2010 | 2 | 6 |
| 2011 | 1 | 81 |
| 2012 | 0 | 10 |
| 2013 | 0 | no data |
| 2014 | 0 | no data |
| 2015 | 0 | no data |
| 2016 | 0 | no data |
| 2017 | 0 | no data |
| 2018 | 0 | no data |
| 2019 | 0 | no data |
| 2020 | 0 | no data |
| 2021 | 0 | no data |
| 2022 | 0 | no data |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 |
What these recalls fix, grouped by the vehicle system NHTSA files them under:
BMW recalls 2011 X5 vehicles with loose VANOS bolts that can cause engine stalls and increase crash risk. Owners must have bolts replaced by dealers free of charge.
BMW is recalling certain 2023 X3 models due to a potential transmission oil leak that could cause sudden loss of drive power and increase crash risk. Owners must contact dealers for free repairs.
BMW recalls certain 2008-2013 1 Series and 3 Series vehicles due to PCV valve heater overheating that could cause fire while driving or after parking.
When the BMW 5 Series recalls were issued, by year — a cluster usually means one defect recalled in stages or across a platform.
Owners have filed 97 complaints with NHTSA about the BMW 5 Series; the most reported area is tires. These are reports, not recalls: they are how NHTSA spots defects.
See BMW 5 Series complaints, TSBs and investigations by year →
We have 6 NHTSA safety recalls on record for the BMW 5 Series, covering model years 2000–2023. The most recent was issued Oct 20, 2023 (Engine and Engine Cooling).
The 2009 BMW 5 Series has the most, with 4 recalls on record. Every model year with a recall is listed on this page with links to each one.
By system: Engine and Engine Cooling (3), Power Train (1), Electrical System (1), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (1).
None of these recalls carries an NHTSA do-not-drive or park-outside warning, but each fixes a safety defect, so book the free repair promptly.
Run a VIN recall check: enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact year, then confirm at NHTSA.gov which are still unrepaired on your vehicle. Any BMW dealer can also look it up.
Yes. Federal law requires BMW to fix safety recalls free of charge at any authorized BMW dealer, regardless of the vehicle’s age or how many owners it has had.