2013 BMW 5 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 106 of 193 complaints (55%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more crash reports (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 260 in 2012 to 193 in 2013.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | vs. 2013 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,100–4,550 | 2,850–4,550 | 2,850–4,550 | 3,000–4,100 | 3,000–4,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–25 | 17–27 | 17–27 | 19–30 | 19–30 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–21 / 22–31 | 15–23 / 19–34 | 15–24 / 22–33 | 16–26 / 24–37 | 16–26 / 24–38 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 355–523 | 329–523 | 325–510 | 335–469 | 334–477 | |
| Complaints filed | 466 | 260 | 193 | 151 | 100 | |
| Recalls issued | 10 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 20 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 5 | |
| Injuries reported | 14 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2013 BMW 5 Series have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2013 BMW 5 Series?
Engine: 106 of 193 NHTSA complaints (55%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2013 BMW 5 Series get?
EPA rates it 17–27 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2013 BMW 5 Series?
EPA estimates $2,850–$4,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (13)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 24 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 327 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 22 mpg | 32 mpg | 26 mpg | $3,000 | 325 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 20 mpg | 30 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 375 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 20 mpg | 29 mpg | 23 mpg | $3,350 | 387 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 21 mpg | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 371 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg | 25 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,900 | 454 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 6-spd | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $4,550 (high) | 510 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 20 mpg | 30 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 375 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 23 mpg | 30 mpg | 26 mpg | $3,000 | 346 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 16 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 476 g/mi |
Show 3 more configurations
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 11 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 18 mpg | 26 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 433 g/mi |
| Configuration 12 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 16 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 480 g/mi |
| Configuration 13 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 16 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 473 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 106 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 42 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 23 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 12 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:PUMP; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:CONNECTORS/PLUGS/RECEPTACLES · Campaign 24V608000 · Aug 14, 2024
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING · Campaign 15V188000 · Mar 31, 2015
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · Campaign 14V627000 · Oct 7, 2014
Defect: BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.
Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · Campaign 13V454000 · Oct 21, 2013
Defect: BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.