BMW 5 SERIES Recalls

The BMW 5 Series has 50 recalls spanning 1975 through 2021, with the most serious recent issue being a fire risk on 2020 plug-in hybrid models where debris inside the high-voltage battery can cause a short circuit and ignite a fire. On the 2021 model year, an engine starter can overheat and start a fire. The 2019 M5's transmission wiring harness can short circuit and abruptly drop the car into neutral while driving. On 2018 models, the M5 has two separate fuel-related issues: a fuel level sensor that can falsely show fuel remaining while the tank is actually empty, causing an unexpected stall, and an engine control unit software error that can shut down the fuel pump and stall the engine. Also on 2018 models, 540d xDrive vehicles have an exhaust gas recirculation cooler that can crack internally and leak, creating an engine fire risk. A prior dealer repair attempt on some of those 540d vehicles used the wrong part, so a second repair is required. Rounding out 2018, a crankshaft sensor error on diesel-equipped vehicles can stall the engine, and the rearview camera can default to a near-black display if a driver had previously set brightness very low. The 2017 model has side curtain airbag inflators that can rupture in a crash and send fragments toward occupants. The 2016 model year has airbag inflators that may not deploy properly in a crash, and a bent child restraint anchor on the left rear seat. The 2015 M5 and M6 have a rear driveshaft that can fracture and cut power to the wheels without warning. Going back through the mid-2000s, 2006 models have three issues: loose front control arm nuts that can damage suspension components and affect handling, a parking pawl that can fail to hold the transmission in park, and rear shock absorber bushings that can separate and degrade handling. The 2004 model year has a loose battery cable connector in the trunk that can overheat and start a fire even while parked, a missing fuel line retention clip that can let the line separate in a frontal crash and cause a fire, defective engine management units that can cause stalling, and aftermarket steering center rods that can detach from the steering knuckle and cause sudden loss of steering control. The 2002 model has a front strut mount that can separate from the upper mount if the suspension fully unloads, affecting handling, a Takata-style driver airbag inflator that can rupture with excessive force in a crash and send fragments into the cabin, and tires that may have been cut during mounting and can fail suddenly. The 2001 model has an airbag control module that can deploy one or more airbags when the ignition key is turned. The 2000 model has a brake light switch that can short out in humid conditions, and some M5 and 7 Series vehicles with 18-inch tires had sidewalls damaged at the factory that can fail suddenly. The 1998 model year has a transmission gear position switch that can allow the engine to start in drive or reverse, and certain rear differential pinion shafts that wear prematurely and can lead to loss of rear drive. The 1997 and 1996 models both have front spring strut plates that can crack, contact the tire, and cause sudden loss of tire pressure. The 1994 model has a central locking double-lock feature that can trap occupants inside. The 1991 model has