The Lemon Index

All cars · BMW 5 Series · 2018

2018 BMW 5 Series. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index61100 = average car
Complaints27NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold43,937U.S. model year
Per 100K sold61complaints
Year rank#12 of 20#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 5

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
3.0L 6-cyl turboManual 6-spdRWD17 / 25 / 20Premium$3,850
3.0L 6-cyl turboAuto (AM-S7)RWD16 / 22 / 19Premium$4,050
4.4L 8-cyl turboAuto (S8)AWD16 / 25 / 19Premium$4,050
4.4L 8-cyl turboManual 6-spdRWD15 / 22 / 17Premium$4,550
4.4L 8-cyl turboAuto (AM-S7)RWD14 / 20 / 16Premium$4,850

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 4,500 and 29,000 miles. Median 9,800, from 25 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Seat belts6,5003,700–9,2005

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Seat belts33%
Airbags26%
Electrical19%
Body structure11%
Engine7%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
11851403

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 4

  • 20V243000 Apr 2020 Air Bags

    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.

    Risk. 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.

  • 19V684000 Sep 2019 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera

    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 C

    Risk. 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.

  • 18V652000 Sep 2018 Equipment / Electrical

    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.

    Risk. 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.

  • 18V465000 Jul 2018 Engine And Engine Cooling / Engine

    Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive

    Risk. A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedPedestrian alert sounds20232023

Manufacturer communications 426

BMW filed 426 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • DME FAULT MEMORY ENTRY FOR THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision…
  • FAULT 930C1E IS FOUND IN THE ACSM: Vehicle comes into the workshop with the following…
  • Ccm displayed "increased battery drain" caused by controller

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
BMW 5 Series 4 DR RWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
BMW 5 Series 4 DR AWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
BMW 5 PHEV Series 4 DR AWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
BMW 5 Series PHEV 4 DR RWDnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardOptionalOptional

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
201515744,162Visibility
201614532,408Airbags
201721940,658Steering
2018612743,937Seat belts
2019391638,709Brakes
202018526,875Fuel system, gasoline
2021651624,523Electrical

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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