NHTSA (USA)Critical
This page covers 7 recalls and 20 owner complaints for the 2024 BMW I5.
The 2024 BMW i5 complaint picture is spread across a relatively small number of reports, so no single system dominates heavily. Brake-related complaints appear most often, with owners describing unexpected dashboard warnings about reduced braking ability or the need for additional pedal force, in some cases during active highway merging. A separate cluster of reports describes sudden electric power steering loss, with the instrument cluster displaying multiple simultaneous warnings and the steering wheel becoming difficult to turn at low speeds. A few owners report thermal or cooling system concerns tied to the high-voltage battery, including persistent warning messages and an audible banging noise while driving. One isolated report describes a panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattering at speed without any apparent impact.
20
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
By System
The 2024 BMW i5 has 7 recalls, the most serious involving braking system malfunctions that can reduce stopping power and disable anti-lock brakes and stability control, along with a high-voltage battery defect that can overheat and cause a fire.
The braking and stability concerns span several overlapping recalls that together point to the same real-world risk: the integrated brake system can lose its power assist, meaning the driver has to push the pedal much harder to slow the car, and the anti-lock braking and dynamic stability control systems can stop working, making the vehicle harder to control during hard braking or a skid. On the electric drivetrain side, certain i5 eDrive40 models carry a battery module with incomplete weld seams that can cause the battery to overheat, raising the risk of fire. A separate software defect in the electric drive motor can cause the high-voltage system to shut down without warning, cutting drive power entirely while the vehicle is moving.
Two driver assistance recalls round out the list. A loose or incorrectly attached ground connection at the steering wheel can disable the hands-on detection system, which is the sensor that recognizes when the driver has let go of the wheel. Without it working, the car cannot trigger the emergency stopping assistant that would otherwise bring the vehicle to a halt if the driver becomes unresponsive. The final recall affects i5 eDrive40 and i5 M60 trims specifically: a fault in the pedestrian alert control unit during startup can prevent the car from generating its low-speed artificial sound, leaving pedestrians without warning that
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
At a glance
What can fail
The integrated brake system may fail, reducing power brake assist or preventing the anti-lock brake and stability control systems from working properly.
What the fix does
The integrated brake system will be inspected and replaced if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric drive motor software may unexpectedly shut down the high-voltage system, causing the vehicle to lose driving power.
What the fix does
BMW will update the electric drive motor software remotely or at a dealer at no cost to restore normal operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Welds in the servomotor of the brake control module may break, causing loss of power brake assist, rear braking, and potentially the antilock brake and stability control systems.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the integrated brake system at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high-voltage battery module may have incomplete welds, which could allow the battery to overheat.
What the fix does
Your dealer will replace the high-voltage battery module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The integrated brake system may fail, reducing power brake assist or preventing the antilock brake and stability control systems from working properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the integrated brake system at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The external pedestrian warning sound system may fail during vehicle startup, preventing the required artificial sound from alerting nearby pedestrians.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the external sound generator software at no cost to restore the warning sound function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering wheel's ground connection may not be properly attached, which can disable the hands-on detection system that monitors if the driver is holding the wheel.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the ground connection and reattach it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
