Bmw 5-SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
74,238 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 17 complaints (35.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 23.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 11.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Electrical System: 6; Air Bags: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Engine: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
2004: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 4
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10446867 · 2012-02-06 (February 6, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER. HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD QUICKLY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT; HAD THIS BEEN AT HIGH SPEED, THE SITUATION MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORSE. SUBSEQUENTLY WHEN TRYING TO START, THE CAR SHOWS A MYRIAD OF WARNING LIGHTS AND FAULTS. A FUSE FOR THE MAIN COMPUTER (DME) HAD BLOWN, DUE TO A WIRING SHORT BETWEEN THE ELECTRONIC THERMOSTAT AND THE MAIN COMPUTER. REPLACING THE FUSE IS NOT A PERMANENT FIX, AS IT BLOWS SHORTLY AFTER EACH TIME THE CAR IS STARTED, RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. THIS FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449475 · 2012-02-27 (February 27, 2012)
MY 2003 BMW 530I SEDAN CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAULT WHILE PARKED IN NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE WERE CALLED. CASE #[XXX] WAS ASSIGNED BY OFFICER [XXX] OF THE NEW HAVEN PD. THE CAR, TOO BADLY DAMAGED TO REPAIR, WAS HAULED AWAY FOR EVENTUAL SCRAPPING. I WAS CLOSE TO THE CAR WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. FLAMES WERE ERUPTING FROM THE DASH, WHERE THE CLIMATE CONTROL SWITCHES ARE LOCATED. I TRIED SMOTHERING THE FLAMES WITH A SWEATER. THIS DID NOT INTERRUPT THE PROGRESS OF THE FIRE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY OR …
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10840376 · 2016-03-07 (March 7, 2016)
ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING STALLING AND JERKING VIOLENTLY AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS BAD GAS FROM DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM. I WENT TO BMW IN OCTOBER 2015 I WAS TOLD IT WAS FUEL INJECTORS I WAS TOLD NO RECALL ON THE CAR AT THAT TIME. IN MARCH 2016 THE CAR STOPPED ON ME AND MY VISUALLY IMPAIRED GRANDSON WITHOUT WARNING ON THE FREEWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO CONRAD AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP SO I TOOK THE CAR TO DIFFERENT BMW SERVICE CENTER NOW I AM TOLD IT THE FUEL PUMP BUT NOT THE ONE UNDER WARRAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,680 miles reported. Look up ODI 10840376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10917599 · 2016-10-20 (October 20, 2016)
"TAKATA RECALL" BMW SENT ME A NOTICE OF RECALL: DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG MODULE IN MARCH 2016, HOWEVER, UNTIL NOW 10/20/2016, THE LOCAL DEALER NEVER CALL ME TO REPLACE THE FRONT AIR BAG. ANOTHER PROBLEM: I SMELL GAS COMING OUT FROM THE FUEL TANK WHEN PARKING IN THE GARAGE, HOWEVER, I CAN NOT FIND ANY LEAK FROM THE GAS TANK. I FEEL MY BMW X5 V8 2009 MAY BE CAUGHT IN FIRE IF I DROVE LONG DISTANCE AND THE CAR HEATED UP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10917599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10533930 · 2013-08-06 (August 6, 2013)
THE GROUNDING WIRE IN THE CONNECTOR TO THE TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDER MELTED AND MELTED PARTS OF THE CONNECTOR. THIS RESULTED IN NO SIGNAL, BRAKE AND RUNNING REAR LIGHTS. A RECALL HAS BEEN CALLED FOR BMW E46 3 SERIES FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM (SEE BELOW). THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER THE 5 SERIES AS WELL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10678436 · 2015-01-22 (January 22, 2015)
OUR 2007 BMW 530XI DEVELOPED A STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION WARNING. A RED STEERING WHEEL WITH A PADLOCK APPEARS ON THE DASH SCREEN WITH A WARNING ON THE COMPUTER. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND UNLOCKS PERFECTLY EVERY TIME. THE CAR IS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER SAYS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE MUST BE REPLACED FOR $600. I FOUND THAT THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM ON BMWS AND THAT BMW CORPORATION IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10678436 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
2003: 0; 2008: 0; 2009: 0