2010 Bmw 5 Series problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly (1) · Fuel/Propulsion System (1) · Engine And Engine Cooling (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Bmw 5 Series model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2023-10-20 · campaign 23V707000 · 157,796 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.
Risk: Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (Pcv) 2022-03-02 · campaign 22V119000 · 917,106 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SA
Risk: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
Fix: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing ow
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:cables 2012-03-26 · campaign 12V126000 · 367,682 vehicles
Defect: 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 LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION. AS IT LOOSENS, AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AT THIS CABLE CONNECTION IS POSSIBLE AND COULD CAUSE THE CABLE CONNECTION TO OVERHEAT.
Risk: OVERHEATING COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN USE. AS A PRECAUTION, OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO PARK OUTSIDE UNTIL THE REMEDY HAS BEEN MADE.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND SECURE THE BATTERY BOLT CABLE CONNECTION AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum 2010-10-01 · campaign 10V446000 · 198,352 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System 2010-07-22 · campaign 10V331000 · 6,080 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE FUEL GAUGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD DISPLAY A LARGER AMOUNT OF FUEL THAN WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK. AS A RESULT, IF THE TANK BECAME EMPTY, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
Service bulletins (59)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2025-12-02 · B066425 · Other
gasket return
Engine 2025-03-27 · B110614 · Service Campaign
this bulletin outlines the customer care package program that has been designed exclusively for bmwvehicles with the n63 engine. vehicles with the n63 high performance engine are engineered with efficientdynamics that provides fueleconomy without compromising on its “class leading” power and perform
Unknown Or Other 2024-12-19 · B068824 · Other
screw cap return
Unknown Or Other 2024-12-05 · B068624 · Other
socket housing return
Fuel/Propulsion System 2024-10-31 · B067824 · Other
plastic fuel tank return
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls 2024-01-16 · B510819 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Showing the 6 most recent of 59 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2019-06-17 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 130,000 mi“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…”
2017-12-22 · Engine · 130,000 mi“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…”
2014-07-30 · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly · 53,000 mi“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 …”
2011-07-25 · Unknown Or Other“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 …”
2010-12-10 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 10,000 mi“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…”
2010-12-04 · Electrical System · 5,000 mi“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 thi…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.