The 2010 BMW 5 Series has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,647,016 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING23V7070002023-10-20157,796 affected
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…
Consequence
Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 COOLING22V1190002022-03-02917,106 affected
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…
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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…
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…
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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, HYDRAULIC10V4460002010-10-01198,352 affected
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.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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.
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.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1
STRUCTURE:BODY
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
1
Total complaints9
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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.…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2010 BMW 5 Series as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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