BMW 5 Series — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

No year of this model has a ranking yet: each has too few complaints, or too few other years to compare with. Open a year below to see its complaints and recalls.

Complaint history

1989: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1989 1990: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1991: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1992: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1993: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1994: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1994 1995: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1996: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1997: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1998: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1999: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1999 2000: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2001: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2002: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2003: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2004: 64 complaints, Not enough data 2005: 21 complaints, Not enough data 2006: 85 complaints, Not enough data 2007: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2008: 105 complaints, Not enough data 2008 2009: 8 complaints, Not enough data 2010: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2011: 81 complaints, Not enough data 2012: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2014 2019 2023: 0 complaints, Not enough data 2008 · 105
1989: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1989 1990: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1991: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1992: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1992 1993: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1994: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1995: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1995 1996: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1997: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1998: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1998 1999: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2000: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2001: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2001 2002: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2003: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2004: 64 complaints, Not enough data 2004 2005: 21 complaints, Not enough data 2006: 85 complaints, Not enough data 2007: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2008: 105 complaints, Not enough data 2008 2009: 8 complaints, Not enough data 2010: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2011: 81 complaints, Not enough data 2012: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2013 2016 2019 2022 2023: 0 complaints, Not enough data 2008 · 105
1989: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1989 1990: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1991: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1991 1992: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1993: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1993 1994: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1995: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1995 1996: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1997: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1997 1998: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1999: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1999 2000: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2001: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2001 2002: 7 complaints, Not enough data 2003: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2003 2004: 64 complaints, Not enough data 2005: 21 complaints, Not enough data 2005 2006: 85 complaints, Not enough data 2007: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2008: 105 complaints, Not enough data 2008 2009: 8 complaints, Not enough data 2010: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2011: 81 complaints, Not enough data 2011 2012: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023: 0 complaints, Not enough data 2023 2008 · 105
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2023 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2013–2022 No NHTSA records on file — this model year may not have been sold, or no complaints, recalls or investigations were ever filed against it.
2012 ○ Not enough data 10 Only 10 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2011 ○ Not enough data 81 Not enough comparison years on file yet for a fair verdict.
2010 ○ Not enough data 6 Only 6 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2009 ○ Not enough data 8 Only 4 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2008 ○ Not enough data 105 Not enough comparison years on file yet for a fair verdict.
2007 ○ Not enough data 13 Only 13 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2006 ○ Not enough data 85 Not enough comparison years on file yet for a fair verdict.
2005 ○ Not enough data 21 Only 21 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2004 ○ Not enough data 64 Not enough comparison years on file yet for a fair verdict.
2003 ○ Not enough data 15 Only 9 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2002 ○ Not enough data 7 Only 7 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2001 ○ Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2000 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1999 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1998 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1997 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1996 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1995 ○ Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1994 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1993 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1992 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1991 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1990 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1989 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

21

recalls on file across every BMW 5 Series model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other BMW models