The Lemon Index2010 BMW 5 Series.
The 2010 BMW 5 Series is better than average by owner complaints: 34 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 75, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about fuel system, gasoline, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 18 to 22 mpg combined. The best BMW 5 Series year is 2016.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 155 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every BMW 5 Series year. 2010 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 50K to 115K miles on the car (119 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 59K–120K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 66K–116K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 26K–85K miles
Recalls 2
- engine 2017
The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
- lights 2013
Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or mo…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems BMW told dealers about
BMW sent dealers 95 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Loss of performance and turbocharger noise due to the oil supply restricted, causing oil…
- Engine, due to ambient temperatures and engine is cold, fails to turn over on first attempt, but
- ConnectedDrive/BMW Assist System Diagnosis Information
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★☆☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3600–4400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.0L 6-cyl, 4.4L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
I was accelerating up a hill on the highway and my car just lost power.
2010 BMW 5 Series owner · NHTSA complaint 10368176
More owner reports
High pressure fuel pump failure on 2010 BMW 535xi the fuel pump has failed twice, and has been replaced twice. Engine loses power - unsafe to operate. First failure in october of 2009, second failure on june 22, 2010.
NHTSA complaint 10356356
Acceleration for the vehicle was reduced by more than 50%. 0-60 mph was approximately 15 seconds. At least the vehicle was drivable. No warning, no indicator. The warning message did show up the next day.
NHTSA complaint 10360549
Quick answers
Is the 2010 BMW 5 Series reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 75; 100 is average, lower is better). The best BMW 5 Series year by this measure is 2016.
What are the most common 2010 BMW 5 Series problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are fuel system, gasoline (41%), engine (15%) and electrical (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2010 BMW 5 Series have?
2 safety recalls (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2010 BMW 5 Series get?
18 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2010 BMW 5 Series problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 50,000 and 115,000 miles. The middle report was at 71,000 miles, from 119 complaints.
Does the 2010 BMW 5 Series have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2010 BMW 5 Series cost in fuel a year?
About $3600 to $4400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2010 BMW 5 Series have?
3.0L 6-cyl, 4.4L 8-cyl.
What BMW 5 Series year is better than the 2010?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2016, 2015 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works