2019 BMW 5 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 11 of 38 complaints (29%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 85 in 2018 to 38 in 2019.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | vs. 2019 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–4,300 | 2,650–3,350 | 2,650–3,250 | 2,750–3,100 | 2,750–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–27 | 23–30 | 24–29 | 25–28 | 25–28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–24 / 24–34 | 20–27 / 29–36 | 21–27 / 29–34 | 22–25 / 29–33 | 22–25 / 28–33 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 326–486 | 324–380 | 324–371 | 316–359 | 313–337 | |
| Complaints filed | 38 | 85 | 38 | 15 | 26 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 10 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 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 2019 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 2019 BMW 5 Series?
Electrical: 11 of 38 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2019 BMW 5 Series get?
EPA rates it 24–29 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2019 BMW 5 Series?
EPA estimates $2,650–$3,250 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| 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 | 34 mpg (high) | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 324 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 23 mpg | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 331 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 21 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $3,250 (high) | 371 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 21 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $3,250 (high) | 371 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium and Electricity | Compact Cars | 27 mpg (high) | 30 mpg | 29 mpg (high) | $2,650 (low) | 193 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium and Electricity | Compact Cars | 27 mpg (high) | 31 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 200 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 11 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 9 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 6 | 0 | 1 | 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)
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · Campaign 19V684000 · Sep 30, 2019
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50i, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, Z4 sDrive, Z4 M40i, 740Le xDrive and 745Le xDrive, 2018-2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2019 M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and Rolls-Royce Cullinan and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL · Campaign 18V652000 · Sep 26, 2018
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, i3 Rex, i3 Sport Rex, X5 xDrive40e, i3 BEV, i3 Sport BEV and 2019 i8 and i8 Roadster vehicles and 2018-2019 530e iPerformance, 530e xDrive iPerformance and 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles. Capacitors within the TurboCord Portable Chargers may fail, possibly resulting in a shock hazard or a fire.
Consequence: An electrical shock or a fire can increase the risk of injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the charging cable, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.