2017 BMW 5 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 13 of 38 complaints (34%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 83 in 2016 to 38 in 2017.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | vs. 2017 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,000–4,100 | 2,850–4,100 | 2,850–4,300 | 2,650–3,350 | 2,650–3,250 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–30 | 19–30 | 18–27 | 23–30 | 24–29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–26 / 24–38 | 16–26 / 24–38 | 15–24 / 24–34 | 20–27 / 29–36 | 21–27 / 29–34 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 334–477 | 335–463 | 326–486 | 324–380 | 324–371 | |
| Complaints filed | 100 | 83 | 38 | 85 | 38 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
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 2017 BMW 5 Series have?
2 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 2017 BMW 5 Series?
Airbags & Restraints: 13 of 38 NHTSA complaints (34%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2017 BMW 5 Series get?
EPA rates it 18–27 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2017 BMW 5 Series?
EPA estimates $2,850–$4,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 15 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $4,300 (high) | 486 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 19 mpg | 27 mpg | 22 mpg | $3,500 | 405 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 18 mpg | 26 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 419 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 24 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 326 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 23 mpg | 33 mpg | 27 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 335 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 20 mpg | 30 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 374 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 20 mpg | 29 mpg | 23 mpg | $3,350 | 380 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 (2)
AIR BAGS; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 20V243000 · Apr 30, 2020
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i and 540i xDrive and 2017-2018 530e xDrive vehicles. Prior exposure to excessive levels of humidity within the driver and passenger head air bag inflators may affect the proper deployment of the head air bags.
Consequence: In the event of a crash of sufficient severity, deployment of the head air bag may be impaired and/or the igniter could separate from the inflator, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left or right head air bag, free of charge. The recall began June 24, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
AIR BAGS · Campaign 16V914000 · Dec 20, 2016
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.
Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.