BMW 5 Series years to avoid
More than twice the 5 Series's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best BMW 5 Series years
Not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
BMW 5 Series complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common BMW 5 Series problems
All model years combined.
- Airbags94
- Engine69
- Electrical67
- Fuel system60
- Tires43
- Transmission41
- Steering33
- Lights24
- Brakes22
- Visibility18
- Seats18
- Seat belts16
Most reported problems on the BMW 5 Series
BMW 5 Series problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 82 | 10 | Engine | 40,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 12 | 81 | Tires | 2,000 | 4 | 2 | Avoid |
| 2010 | 85 | 6 | Engine | 53,000 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 84 | 8 | Fuel system | 59,500 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 5 | 105 | Fuel system | 27,000 | 3 | 1 | Avoid |
| 2007 | 77 | 13 | Airbags | 84,089 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 85 | Airbags | 65,000 | 7 | 4 | Avoid |
| 2005 | 59 | 21 | Airbags | 71,000 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 13 | 64 | Airbags | 79,000 | 6 | 1 | Avoid |
| 2003 | 71 | 15 | Airbags | 90,000 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 87 | 7 | Engine | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2001 | 93 | 3 | Body | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2000 | - | 2 | Airbags | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1999 | - | 2 | Brakes | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1997 | - | 1 | Airbags | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1995 | - | 3 | Electrical | 0 | 1 |
Recalls 16
Questions about the BMW 5 Series
What years of the BMW 5 Series should you avoid?
2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. Each has more than twice the BMW 5 Series's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2008 alone has 105, mostly about fuel system and engine.
What is the best year for a used BMW 5 Series?
There are not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
What is the most common problem with the BMW 5 Series?
Airbags, with 94 complaints across all years, followed by engine (69) and electrical (67).
How many recalls does the BMW 5 Series have?
16 recalls between 1995 and 2012. The 2006 model year has the most, with 7.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used BMW 5 Series?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history