Total Complaints
9 filings
BMW 5-SERIES · model year
9 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2010BMW5-SERIES carries 9 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 2010 5-SERIES is air bags with 1 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and engine and engine cooling (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. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2010 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.
Total Complaints
9 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 6-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 M5, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 M6 VEHICLES. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR FOR THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAN LEAD TO A LOOS
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2010 AND 2011 5-SERIES AND 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 12 THROUGH JULY 1, 2010. THE VEHICLE'S FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WITHIN THE FUEL TANK CAN BECOME WEDGED AGAINST THE TANK.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
CAR STALLS AT HIGH SPEED, FUEL PUMP WARNINGS LIGHT COMES ON. CAR WILL RESET AFTER 30 MINS BUT WILL CONTINUE TO SHUT OFF DURING DRIVING. BOTH FUEL PUMPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED
Mileage: 130,000
ON SUNDAY 12/03 I SUDDENLY HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING AND IMMEDIATELY REACHED THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED. THE DIAGNOSIS I RECEIVED IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A FATAL FAILURE OF BEARING THAT CAUSE THE ENGINE TO GET DAMAGED AND IN NEED TO BE REPLACED. I LOOKED UP ON THE WEB AND FOUND OUT THAT IN 2014 BMW HAD A WORLDWIDE RECALL OF 2010 5 SERIES MODELS FOR A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD HAVE GENERATED THE SAME FAILURE I HAVE EXPERIENCE, SUDDENLY, ON SUNDAY. MY CAR WAS NEVER RECALLED, BUT THE FAILURE MODE AND THE YEAR OF THE MODEL ARE STRIKINGLY SIMILAR. THE RECALL I AM REFERENCING IS 14V-176 FOR THE VANOS. THE AFFECTED 5 SERIES MODELS WERE PRODUCED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 2010 ' AUGUST 2011. MY 5 SERIES WAS MANUFACTURED ON OCTOBER 2009, THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER THE FAILURE IS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE DESCRIBED BY THE RECALL AND I FEEL THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE INCLUSIVE. MY 535 HAD 130 K MILES, WHICH DO NOT WARRANT SUCH A DRASTIC FAILU
Mileage: 130,000
I WAS TRAVELING ON FREEWAY TO THE AIRPORT WHEN MY WIFE AND I HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND SUDDENLY HEARD LOUD AIRFLOW. I PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD AND INSPECTED CAR. THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED. THE CAR TRAVELING BEHIND ME ALSO STOPPED TO INSPECT HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF FLYING GLASS. THE CABIN DOOR TO THE SUNROOF HAD LUCKILY HAD BEEN CLOSED SO AS MY WIFE AND I AVOIDED THE FLYING GLASS. WHEN WE RETURNED FROM OUR TRIP I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THIS PART WAS NOT COVERED AND WOULD COST $3600 TO REPAIR. WE GOGGLED BMW5 SERIES EXPLODING SUNROOFS AND DISCOVERED WE WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES TO EXPERIENCE EXPLODING SUNROOFS. SURELY BMW KNOWS ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY GRIEVOUS PROBLEM. WE CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE RESOLUTION DEPARTMENT. THE NEXT DAY BMW TO MY CHAGRIN WAS WILLING TO PAY 50 PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COST. I EXPECTED FULL COVERAGE. I NEEDED THE CAR BACK AND EXCEPTED OFFER VOWING NEVER TO BUY A BMW AGAIN. I EXPE
Mileage: 53,000
I WAS TRAVELING ON FREEWAY TO THE AIRPORT WHEN MY WIFE AND I HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND SUDDENLY HEARD LOUD AIRFLOW. I PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD AND INSPECTED CAR. THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED. THE CAR TRAVELING BEHIND ME ALSO STOPPED TO INSPECT HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF FLYING GLASS. THE CABIN DOOR TO THE SUNROOF HAD LUCKILY HAD BEEN CLOSED SO AS MY WIFE AND I AVOIDED THE FLYING GLASS. WHEN WE RETURNED FROM OUR TRIP I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THIS PART WAS NOT COVERED AND WOULD COST $3600 TO REPAIR. WE GOGGLED BMW5 SERIES EXPLODING SUNROOFS AND DISCOVERED WE WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES TO EXPERIENCE EXPLODING SUNROOFS. SURELY BMW KNOWS ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY GRIEVOUS PROBLEM. WE CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE RESOLUTION DEPARTMENT. THE NEXT DAY BMW TO MY CHAGRIN WAS WILLING TO PAY 50 PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COST. I EXPECTED FULL COVERAGE. I NEEDED THE CAR BACK AND EXCEPTED OFFER VOWING NEVER TO BUY A BMW AGAIN. I EXPE
Mileage: 53,000
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE HITS 100 DEGREES AS IT DOES IN THE DESERT 5 MONTHS OR SO PER YEAR, THE INTERIOR CABIN FILLS UP WITH VERY HARMFUL GAS FUMES. WE OWNED A 2008 AND THE SAME SITUATION. AS A RESULT OF THIS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP ON THE 2008, THE DEALERSHIP BOUGHT THE CAR BACK. MY HUSBAND REALLY WANTED ANOTHER BMW AND WHEN HE WAS LOOKING AT BUYING THE 2010 HE WAS TOLD ALL THE PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE GAS FUMES HAD BEEN RESOLVED. NOT SO. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO SERVICE TWICE FOR THE GAS FUMES AND NO ONE CAN SHED ANY LIGHT ON THE SITUATION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR AS THE FUMES WILL KNOCK YOU OUT. THE CAR HAS TO SIT ON THE DRIVEWAY AND AIR OUT FOR A FEW DAYS. YOU CAN'T PARK IN THE GARAGE AS THE GAS FUMES ENTER THE HOUSE. FOR A CAR OF THIS CALIBER IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. PLUS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH.
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE HITS 100 DEGREES AS IT DOES IN THE DESERT 5 MONTHS OR SO PER YEAR, THE INTERIOR CABIN FILLS UP WITH VERY HARMFUL GAS FUMES. WE OWNED A 2008 AND THE SAME SITUATION. AS A RESULT OF THIS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP ON THE 2008, THE DEALERSHIP BOUGHT THE CAR BACK. MY HUSBAND REALLY WANTED ANOTHER BMW AND WHEN HE WAS LOOKING AT BUYING THE 2010 HE WAS TOLD ALL THE PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE GAS FUMES HAD BEEN RESOLVED. NOT SO. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO SERVICE TWICE FOR THE GAS FUMES AND NO ONE CAN SHED ANY LIGHT ON THE SITUATION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR AS THE FUMES WILL KNOCK YOU OUT. THE CAR HAS TO SIT ON THE DRIVEWAY AND AIR OUT FOR A FEW DAYS. YOU CAN'T PARK IN THE GARAGE AS THE GAS FUMES ENTER THE HOUSE. FOR A CAR OF THIS CALIBER IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. PLUS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR LOST POWER WHEN REVS WENT UP ABOVE 3.5K RPM AND RECOVERED AS SOON AS REVS FELL BELOW THIS RANGE. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE WITH THE ABRUPT REDUCTION IN SPEED. I TOOK THE CAR TO BMW FOR SERVICE AND THEY REPORTED IT HAD BEEN FIXED. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH ON THE LEFTMOST LANE OF A THREE LANE HIGHWAY. THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND A WARNING WAS DISPLAYED INDICATING: "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE AT REDUCED POWER". THERE WAS NO POWER AT ALL. THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY OFF, CAR SWITCHED TO NEUTRAL. I TURNED THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON SINCE THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUTING TRAFFIC AND THE QUICK REDUCTION IN SPEED COULD HAVE AGAIN RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I MANAGED TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. CAR WAS TOWED AND IS BEING SERVICED BY BMW. SEARCHING THE WEB I FOUND NUMERO
Mileage: 10,000
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WITH ADULT PASSENGER FIRMLY BELTED INTO PASSENGER SEAT. LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED FOR PERIODS WHICH VARY FROM 5 MINUTES TO 30 MINUTES. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF THIS IS A DEFECTIVE LIGHT ONLY OR IF THE AIR BAG IS INOPERATIVE. AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT BMW DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES ARE NOT ABLE TO DETECT THIS FAILURE. BMW REFUSES TO CORRECT THE DEFECT.
Mileage: 5,000
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WITH ADULT PASSENGER FIRMLY BELTED INTO PASSENGER SEAT. LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED FOR PERIODS WHICH VARY FROM 5 MINUTES TO 30 MINUTES. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF THIS IS A DEFECTIVE LIGHT ONLY OR IF THE AIR BAG IS INOPERATIVE. AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT BMW DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES ARE NOT ABLE TO DETECT THIS FAILURE. BMW REFUSES TO CORRECT THE DEFECT.
Mileage: 5,000
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.