2016 BMW 5 Series problems and complaints
Owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW 5 Series. The most-reported areas: Electrical System (33), Engine And Engine Cooling (27), Engine (22).
Key takeaways
- 83 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 1 involve a crash, 5 a fire, 2 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 33 | 40% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 27 | 33% |
| Engine | 22 | 27% |
| Air Bags | 12 | 14% |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 | 10% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 | 7% |
| Power Train | 5 | 6% |
| Fuel System | 3 | 4% |
| Diesel | 3 | 4% |
| Suspension | 3 | 4% |
| Tires | 3 | 4% |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 BMW 5 Series 4 DR RWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| 2016 BMW 5 Series 4 DR AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-07-29
Vehicle: 2016 BMW 528i xDrive (VIN: [XXX]) Safety Issue / Defect Description: Strong, hazardous raw gasoline fumes began entering the passenger cabin and trunk area. On XXX, the vehicle was brought to an authorized dealership (BMW of Sterling) for diagnostic evaluation. The dealership's technician conducted a multi-p...
Fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-07-20
The vehicle developed a strong, toxic odor of raw gasoline inside the passenger cabin and trunk area. The vehicle was brought to an authorized franchise, BMW of Sterling, where technicians performed a multi-point inspection. The technician confirmed that the factory plastic fuel tank assembly is structurally defective ...
Engine - filed 2026-02-23
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 528i. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under an unknown recall, and after the recall repair, while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal oil-burning odor entering the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local Midas, where it was discovered that o...
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More for the 2016 BMW 5 Series
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.