BestCarRank
Bmw

2010 Bmw 5 SERIES

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2010 Bmw 5 SERIES has 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: 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.

9

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

2 complaints
22%
  • • 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
  • • 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
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

2 complaints
22%
  • • 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
  • • 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
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

1 complaints
11%
  • • 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 BM
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 BM”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

1 complaints
11%
  • • 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 BM
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 BM”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

1 complaints
11%
  • • 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
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)
$500
AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 9 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ☐
    ENGINE: 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

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    FUEL SYSTEM: 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

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    AIR BAGS: 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 BM

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    ELECTRICAL: 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 BM

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Bmw 5 SERIES — Year Comparison

How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2012
12Excellent Reliability
2011
96Below Average
2010
9Excellent Reliability
Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2010 Bmw 5 SERIES

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