2010 Bmw 5 SERIES - Ratings, Complaints and Recalls

The 2010 BMW 5 Series receives mixed safety ratings based on the available data. While the vehicle excels in passenger-side front crash tests with a rating of 5, it falls short in the driver-side front crash test with a rating of 3. The side crash ratings for both the driver and passenger sides are commendable at 5 each, indicating better protection in such scenarios. The rollover rating is also decent at 4, suggesting a lower possibility of rollovers.

In terms of safety features, the BMW 5 Series comes equipped with standard electronic stability control, which can help prevent loss of control in emergency maneuvers. However, it lacks forward collision warning but offers an optional lane departure warning system to assist drivers in staying within their lane.

On the downside, the vehicle has a relatively high number of complaints, totaling 169, indicating potential issues reported by owners or users. Additionally, it has been subject to 12 recalls, highlighting the need for certain parts or systems to be inspected or repaired for safety reasons. Overall, while the BMW 5 Series has some impressive safety features and ratings, the number of complaints and recalls should not be overlooked when considering its overall safety.

Top stats at a glance

Complaint Count

169

Recall Count

12

Investigation Count

0

Safety Rating

Not Rated

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Safety Features

2010 BMW 5 Series 4-DR w/SAB (except GT) Safety Features

Here are the safety features that come as standard on the 2010 BMW 5 Series 4-DR w/SAB (except GT)

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ESC is an advanced safety feature in vehicles designed to help drivers maintain control during challenging driving conditions. By continuously monitoring various factors such as steering angle, vehicle speed, and individual wheel speeds, ESC can detect and reduce the risk of skidding or loss of control. It achieves this by automatically applying brakes to specific wheels to stabilize the vehicle.

Standard
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is a safety feature in vehicles that helps prevent frontal collisions by alerting the driver of an imminent collision with a vehicle or obstacle ahead. Using sensors such as radar or cameras, FCW monitors the distance and speed of vehicles in front, and if it detects a potential collision, it provides visual and/or auditory warnings to prompt the driver to take evasive action.

No
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is a safety feature in vehicles that alerts drivers when their vehicle unintentionally drifts out of its lane without signaling. Utilizing cameras or sensors to monitor lane markings on the road, LDW detects when the vehicle crosses these lines and triggers visual, auditory, or haptic alerts to notify the driver of potential lane departure.

Optional

2010 BMW 5 Series 4-DR w/SAB (except GT) Safety Ratings

Here we have the crash and rollover ratings for the 2010 BMW 5 Series 4-DR w/SAB (except GT) Where possible we've included the ratings for the oldest and latest models of this car so you can compare how the safety ratings have changed over time.

Frontal Crash Ratings

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Test 2005 Score 2010 Score 2022 Score
Overall Front Crash Rating Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated
Front Crash Driver Side Rating Not Rated 3 Not Rated
Front Crash Passenger Side Rating Not Rated 5 Not Rated

Side Crash Ratings

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Test 2005 Score 2010 Score 2022 Score
Overall Side Crash Rating Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated
Side Crash Drivers Side Rating Not Rated 5 Not Rated
Side Crash Passenger Side Rating Not Rated 5 Not Rated
Combined Side Barrier Pole Rating - Front Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated
Combined Side Barrier Pole Rating - Rear Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated
Overall Side Barrier Rating Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated

Rollover Ratings

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Test 2005 Score 2010 Score 2022 Score
Rollover Rating Not Rated 4 Not Rated
Rollover Possibility % 0% 0% 0%
Dynamic Tip Result No Tip
Side Pole Crash Rating Not Rated Not Rated Not Rated

Complaints for the 2010 Bmw 5 SERIES

This chart show the number of complaints for each car component. A Higher number of complaints could indicate that this car might have a common fault. Something to look out for when purchasing one.

Component Complaints

Choose a component to see what complaints people have made about them.

Complaint:
"several times i was placed in peril while traveling at high rates of speed then the car stalls on us highway 95. there were also times when the car stalled while driving less than 35mph. when this happens i have no real control to steer the wheel, no prior warning or issues with the car to indicate it would stall. it is extremely traumatizing. traumatizing! message of "fuel pump malfunction. moderate driving possible". car stalls while in motion whether it is 20mph or 65mph. initial malfunction in july was after 1hr of driving then several times after that periodically as the car isn't driven often due to stay at home restrictions. the issue could not be duplicated at two auto mechanic shops, in fact by the time the tow truck arrived, the car started and was able to be driven onto the truck. there is no pattern of driving behavior or messages between failure / stall and as months went on, the time between stall and inability to start the car shortened from driving1hr to driving 10 minutes. bmw of the main line replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter and stall and error issue remains. wiring to fuel pump issue possible. there are several open complaints on the exact same issue. model year 2010 should be included in the recall for 535i xdrive https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/bmw/5%252520 series/4%252520dr/rwd%25252f4wd#complaints https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/bmw/5%252520series/4%252520dr/rwd%25252f4wd#complaints wiring issue detected and may be part of the recall nhtsa recall no. : 16v-746. if the fuel pump becomes inoperative, a no-start condition or, in rare cases, a stalling condition without the ability to restart the vehicle could occur. started july and degraded september, october, november then finally december. $$$$ in repair costs that did not resolve the "fuel pump malfunction. moderate driving possible" message. help"
Components Involved: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Date of incident: 2021-05-07

Complaint:
"receiving p0087 low pressure fuel, car goes into drivetrain malfunction. fix is replacing high pressure fuel pump."
Components Involved: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Date of incident: 2021-08-11

Complaint:
"when staring up, extended crank/slow startup . contacted bmw 'fuel pump issue'. not covered on current recalls because of year of car. all other 5 series have an open recall for the same problem"
Components Involved: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Date of incident: 2020-01-07

Complaint:
"was driving down the road and was passing a vehicle and as i was getting past other driver my onboard dash popped up saying car needed to get serviced. description of fault was fuel pump. all power was lost and was barely able to get past other motorist to get to the shoulder. once i sat for about 20 min was able to restart vehicle and get to my destination 8 miles down the road. this made me feel very u safe and could have caused an accident with the other motorist. i was on a 2 lanes state road when this happened. there was also another vehicle behind the motorist i was passing to over take. *tr"
Components Involved: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Date of incident: 2021-12-06

Complaint:
"while driving steadily on the interstate (i494 in bloomington, mn) with traffic at roughly 65mph, i received a message on the dash of fuel pump failure, drive slowly. car proceeded to go into 'limp mode' with reduced power and then stalled out'gave me just enough time to navigate to a relatively safer spot on the shoulder of the interstate. tried to restart car, but it would struggle and then fail each time."
Components Involved: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Date of incident: 2020-05-02

Complaint:
"the bmw 535i that i have has had many problems with the fuel system. all pumps have been replaced and still the car will stop running at any time. it has happened at different speeds and has caused me to get off the road and get the car towed. i have spent so far over 6,000 dollars on pumps . now the car is back in the shop and i am told that i am staring at another big bill. this has been an on going problem for about a year and a half. bmw has given me one excuse after the other. this is very dangerous because it has happened to me in traffic at speed. been lucky not to crash the car."
Components Involved: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Date of incident: 2020-06-06

Complaint:
"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"
Components Involved: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Date of incident: 2018-01-01

Complaint:
"fuel pump randomly causes engine failure during normal driving conditions causing it to malfunction, stall engine, and endanger the cars occupants saftey in normal to heavy traffic conditions. the fuel pump will reset itself after 5-10 minutes and the car will start again allowing it to then safely exit the roadway.. this issue is random in occurance. it could happen twice in one day, or it could happen only twice in one month."
Components Involved: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Date of incident: 2019-05-06

Complaint:
"high pressure fuel pump failed. this part has been highly publicized as faulty. including recalls and extended warrantees. the failure at high speeds caused stalling and was very dangerous. bmw failed to replace for free the high pressure fuel pump and charged me full price. failure to honor recall/warranty. it has been noted 150,000 plus vehicles are affected. this needs to be a mandatory recall and paid in full by bmw. seeking investigation and reimbursement. i have the invoice if needed."
Components Involved: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Date of incident: 2021-05-04

Complaint:
"bmw extended warranty to 10 years for the injectors. vehicle experienced injector problems severely impacting acceleration and failing texas emissions testing. bmw then denied reimbursement. this issue is a serious safety problem and a recall should have been implemented."
Components Involved: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Date of incident: 2020-05-08

Recalls for the 2010 Bmw 5 SERIES

Component Recalls

Choose a component to see what recalls people have made about them.

Recall:
"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 sav (x5 3.0si, x5 xdrive30i); 2006-2008 z4 coupe (z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 z4 roadster (z4 3.0i, z4 3.0si, z4 sdrive30i) vehicles. the heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (pcv) valve may short circuit."
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 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 owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Component(s) Involved: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING > EXHAUST SYSTEM > EMISSION CONTROL > CRANKCASE (PCV)
Date of incident: 2022-03-02

BMW Overall Complaint Ranking

This table shows the ranking of car manufacturers when it comes to most complaints and recalls. The manufacturer with the most complaints is at the top. However this doesn't necassarily mean they should be avoided. Some manufacturers might just have more popular or affordable cars which a lot of people have bought. Which means there's more scope for a complaint to be made. Use the ranking table below as a part your wider research into buying a car.

BMW ranks 12 out of 44 in the complaints ranking table.

Manufacturer Complaint Count Recall Count Ranking
FORD 208,358 3,259 1
CHEVROLET 111,306 2,082 2
TOYOTA 81,019 1,852 3
HONDA 61,937 1,268 4
NISSAN 56,226 930 5
DODGE 45,756 827 6
HYUNDAI 44,150 649 7
GMC 34,441 1,410 8
KIA 29,832 501 9
CHRYSLER 27,698 254 10
TESLA 26,230 730 11
BMW 24,890 1,877 12
VOLKSWAGEN 23,125 829 13
MERCEDES-BENZ 19,066 2,925 14
SUBARU 18,513 703 15
MAZDA 10,599 364 16
PONTIAC 10,430 138 17
CADILLAC 9,434 444 18
AUDI 7,865 1,093 19
BUICK 7,851 279 20
SATURN 7,672 84 21
MERCURY 7,374 135 22
LEXUS 6,373 408 23
LINCOLN 5,897 423 24
ACURA 5,722 382 25
MINI 5,585 366 26
INFINITI 4,000 187 27
MITSUBISHI 3,912 397 28
VOLVO 3,875 727 29
PORSCHE 2,646 1,231 30
SUZUKI 2,272 123 31
FIAT 2,205 80 32
SAAB 1,536 76 33
JAGUAR 1,195 198 34
SMART 528 17 35
GENESIS 436 42 36
ISUZU 249 37 37
ALFA ROMEO 161 37 38
MASERATI 76 46 39
BENTLEY 46 159 40
POLESTAR 42 2 41
LUCID 14 6 42
CODA 4 2 43
MAYBACH 0 0 44

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