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2019 BMW 5 Series Complaints

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

37

Total

7

Crashes

1

Fires

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

Most Reported Components

ENGINE
12
OTHER
8
BRAKES
5
ELECTRICAL
4
AIR BAGS
3

Recent Complaints

ODI #11737812Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 05/01/2026

The contact owns a 2019 BMW 540i. The contact stated that while slowly driving into the driveway the vehicle erroneously accelerated forward at a high rate of speed and crashed into the garage door. The contact indicated that during the incident the brake pedal was being pressed but the vehicle did not immediately stop. During the incident the front end of the vehicle was damaged but no air bags deployed. No injuries were reported but the contact experienced emotional stress from the incident. The contact also indicated that the failure had once occurred while the husband was driving the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,000.

ODI #11731750

ENGINE — Filed 04/10/2026

oil filter housing is plastic and is bound to give I hadn’t reach 150k miles its an expensive job not normal maintenance problem bmw is expensive but recall this part to protect consumers

ODI #11731708

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 04/16/2026

Start blowing black smoke-while idling, over heated, stalled.

ODI #11726908

ENGINE — Filed 03/23/2026

I own a 2019 BMW 540 with B58 engine and I have begun noticing abnormal rattling noise from the engine area, which may indicate early stage failure of the oil pump assembly. There are widespread reports from other owners of failure of the oil pump rotor housing/adjusting ring due to heat-related degradation of plastic components. Failure of this component can lead to sudden loss of oil pressure, drivetrain malfunction warnings, and ultimately engine seizure while driving. Sudden engine failure at speed presents a significant safety hazard due to loss of propulsion and potential inability to maneuver out of traffic. BMW has reportedly updated the oil pump design to an all-metal version around mid-2020, suggesting awareness of a design failure. I am submitting this report as a potential early indicator before catastrophic failure occurs.

ODI #11722692

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 01/15/2026

I was driving my car for about 7 min (in 0 degree weather) and it overheated and just shut off on the road. I noticed it was over heating and headed to the repair shop. It stalled again. Even after apparently it was fixed the engine continues to act like it wants to stall. It’s says malfunction, but codes do not show up in the system. They keep telling me it’s fine and they fixed it, it keeps wanting to shut off.

ODI #11699176Fire

EQUIPMENT — Filed 11/08/2025

The contact owned a 2019 BMW 530E. The contact stated that while driving at a moderate rate of speed, a warning message that stated" This car will not start again" appeared on the instrument panel. Upon exiting the vehicle, a grayish-whitish smoke began to emit from the driver's side door. The contact and her granddaughters immediately exited the vehicle, and the authorities were called to the scene. The contact attempted to use her home's water hose as flames began to emit from the undercarriage of the vehicle. Upon the authorities' arrival at the scene, the fire department took almost an hour to an hour and a half to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported. A fire report was given. Due to the fire, the vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard, where an investigation was being performed to determine the cause of the fire. The contact stated that the capacity of water that was needed to extinguish the fire clogged a drain connected to the contact's home. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V652000 (Equipment), which was linked to the failure. The vehicle had yet to be deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a claim was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

ODI #11695605

EXTERIOR LIGHTING — Filed 07/15/2025

daytime running light module fails from improper cooling and melts the light tube (light tube is not sold as replaceable item) and is only sold as an assembly which is roughly $4000-6000 to replace per side and is a failure of the north carolina state inspection

ODI #11685194

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — Filed 09/04/2025

On the night of 9/4/25, I parked my 2019 BMW 530i in my closed garage and believed I had turned off the vehicle. I removed the key fob. Hours later, our household carbon monoxide detector activated. The fire department responded and measured 480 ppm CO throughout the house and 1,500 ppm inside the vehicle. They stated we were seconds from death due to carbon monoxide exposure. The engine bay reached nearly 600°F, and oxygen in the garage dropped to 7%. The fire department incident report is not yet available, but I will provide it once obtained. The keyless ignition system did not shut off the engine when the fob was removed, even though the vehicle usually shuts off automatically during brief stops (via Auto Start/Stop). The engine continued running indefinitely, creating a life-threatening hazard. My family survived only because the CO detector activated in time.

ODI #11679354

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 07/26/2025

Q) What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A) Refrigerant gas(R-1234yf) leak in the evaporator core. If the inspection request is made after the repair, no. It is suspected that there is a inherent defect in the evaporator core. Possibly related to interaction between the R-1234yf refrigerant and the material of the evaporator core. Q) How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A) The hole caused by this defect leaks refrigerant gas into the cabin, which in turn exposes drivers and passengers to a range of harmful health effects, including respiratory issues, skin irritation, nausea, neurological symptoms, and cardiovascular problems. The driver/passengers can even sense it after the recharge of the refrigerant gas(R-1234yf). Located behind the dashboard, manufacturer hinders users from being able to take appropriate and timely counter measures to protect them against such exposure. There is no warning system in placed either. Q) Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? A) BMW service center confirmed the leak in the evaporator core using a Nitrogen Gas test. Q) Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? A) No. Q) Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? A) No. If did, I could have maintained the system and avoid myself and passengers from being exposed to the safety risks, especially for a long-distance driving. The AC issue involving replacement of evaporator core in BMW 5 Series and etc, is not mere an issue of inconvenience but rather pose long term health safety issue. People drive cars for a long period of time, sometimes hours and hours. Even if not all of the leaked refrigerant gas come into the cabin, driver and passengers are still exposed to the leaked gas.

ODI #11675399

POWER TRAIN — Filed 07/22/2025

* The component that failed is the front axle of my 2019 530e xDrive, and it's a common issue for the xDrive, even under NORMAL use. I was told by my service advisor at my local BMW dealership that it should be repaired as soon as possible. * A damaged axle can lead to a wheel locking up, causing the vehicle to skid or veer off course, especially during turns or at higher speeds. This can result in loss of control, making it difficult to steer and brake safely. A failed xDrive front axle is a known common issue for the xDrive. While BMW isn't doing anything while knowing it would lead to serious safety issues. * Yes, it has been inspected by the service department, and more concerning is the quality of BMW OEM's part supplier, I bought the car used at around 26k miles, when at around 35k miles that the axle are beginning to make clunking noise. More surprising is that after having the vehicle checked out, they've found out that the front right axle was already replaced by the previous owner, replaced with GKN brand axle, which is the original supplier that manufactures BMW's axle. After calculation, the two axles didn't even last over 36,000 miles, with an average lifespan of 18,000 miles. Additionally, each axle costs $ 1,778.95. For replacing both, the cost is around $ 3,557.90, plus labor, which is well over $ 4,000. leaving customers huge financial impact and safety concerns. * No warming lamps, messages. First start with clunking noise while turning at low speed, and sometimes even when braking/decelerating.

About This Data

Complaints are filed by vehicle owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They represent individual consumer experiences and do not necessarily indicate a widespread defect.

View on NHTSA.gov