BMW 5-SERIES · model year

2009 BMW 5-SERIES

6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009BMW5-SERIES carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 5-SERIES is fuel system, gasoline with 2 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (2) and service brakes, hydraulic (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2009 5-SERIES. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

6
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

6 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
ENGINE1
ENGINE1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
AIR BAGS1

Recent Complaints

20161020AIR BAGS

"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.

20161020FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

"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.

20161004FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 5 SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S POWER SEIZED AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/05/2017*CT UPDATED 01/23/17.*JB

Mileage: 59,500

20161004FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 5 SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S POWER SEIZED AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/05/2017*CT UPDATED 01/23/17.*JB

Mileage: 59,500

20160307FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 WARRANTY. BOTH SERVICE CENTERS REFUSE TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP THAT IS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH IS THE PRIME PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM THE FUEL PUMP IS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY NAME OTHER STUFF INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE PROBLEM THE CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD. BMW IS NOT STICKING TO KEEPING THEIR CARS SAFE. I BELIEVE IS ACTING IN A DISCRIMINATORY WAY AND WANT MORE MONEY OUT OF GREED. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS

Mileage: 86,680

20140503ENGINE

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE STALL IS RELATED TO THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR NOT PROPERLY WORKING AND THE FUEL SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE A 2009 BMW 528I. IN APRIL 2014 BMW DID A RECALL RELATED TO THE CAMSHAFT FOR 2010 - 2014 528 BMW'S. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THE NATIONAL BMW DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2009 AND TO SEE IF THEY WERE GOING TO EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THE 2009 MODELS. THEY TOLD ME NO AT THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING EXPANDING THE RECALL. I ALSO LET THEM KNOW THAT I HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE CAR THAT COULD BE RELATED TO THE CAMSHAFT. THE CAR'S FUEL SYSTEM WAS LEAKING.THE GAS WAS NOT PROPERLY GOING TO THE ENGINE AND IT WAS FLOWING BACK INTO THE CAR AND THE EXHAUST. YOU COULD SMELL GAS IN THE CAR AND SEE PUDDLES OF GAS WHEN THEY LIFTED THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I WAS DRIVING A BOMB. I PAID $450 TO HAVE THAT REPAIRED. BMW NEEDS TO EXPAND THE RECALL TO

Mileage: 83,000

20140503FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE STALL IS RELATED TO THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR NOT PROPERLY WORKING AND THE FUEL SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE A 2009 BMW 528I. IN APRIL 2014 BMW DID A RECALL RELATED TO THE CAMSHAFT FOR 2010 - 2014 528 BMW'S. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THE NATIONAL BMW DEALER TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2009 AND TO SEE IF THEY WERE GOING TO EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THE 2009 MODELS. THEY TOLD ME NO AT THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING EXPANDING THE RECALL. I ALSO LET THEM KNOW THAT I HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE CAR THAT COULD BE RELATED TO THE CAMSHAFT. THE CAR'S FUEL SYSTEM WAS LEAKING.THE GAS WAS NOT PROPERLY GOING TO THE ENGINE AND IT WAS FLOWING BACK INTO THE CAR AND THE EXHAUST. YOU COULD SMELL GAS IN THE CAR AND SEE PUDDLES OF GAS WHEN THEY LIFTED THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I WAS DRIVING A BOMB. I PAID $450 TO HAVE THAT REPAIRED. BMW NEEDS TO EXPAND THE RECALL TO

Mileage: 83,000

20140428ENGINE

DRIVING ON A POSTED SPEED LIMIT ROAD OF 30MPH WHEN WE SEE THIS MESSAGE ON OUR SCREEN "ENGINE MALFUNCTION POWER REDUCED". *JS

Mileage: 74,238

20130806ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 53,000

20130806EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

Mileage: 53,000

20110523ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CURRENTLY HAVE A 2009 BMW 550I. VEHICLE HAS HAD AN ONGOING AND UNIDENTIFIABLE ELECTRICAL ISSUE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OFTEN AND WITHOUT INITIAL NOTICE "LOOSE POWER" AND GO INTO A "SAFETY MODE" OPERATING AT A REDUCED POWER BY NOT GOING ABOVE 30MPH AND/OR 3000RPM'S. VEHICLE WITH OFTEN START "BOGGING" AND "SHUTTERING(SHAKING)" AND WILL OFTEN ATTEMPT TO "SURGE" FORWARD WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC OFTEN TRYING TO CAUSE A REAR END ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE INFRONT. THE DRIVER OF THE BMW OFTEN HAS TO "STAND" ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE SURGES FROM ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SHOT FORWARD AT STOPS. ISSUES STARTED IN JANUARY OF 2011, TOOK IT TO FAIRFAX BMW WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE VEHICLE HAD SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY. NO FIX WAS PROVIDED IN THE SHOP FOR 3 DAYS. ISSUES PERSISTED THROUGH JANUARY AND TOOK IT TO BMW OF ALEXANDRIA WHERE THEY REPLACED A TRANSMISSION SOLENOID AND A INTAKE SENSOR, IN THE SHOP FOR ROUGHLY 7 DAYS. ELECTRICAL ISSUE REAPPEARED IN MARCH

Mileage: 28,000

20110106CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND IT MOVED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER SENT A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE; THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,200.

Mileage: 15,200

Compare 2009BMW5-SERIES to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 BMW 5-SERIES have?
The 2009 BMW 5-SERIES has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 BMW 5-SERIES?
The most-complained component for the 2009 BMW 5-SERIES is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2009 BMW 5-SERIES safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.