RoadVitals

2007 BMW 5 Series Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Aug 13, 2016
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jun 14, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2007 BMW 5 Series. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–13 of 13

Steering
Filed Aug 13, 2016

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. CAN NOT GET IT OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MODE THAT SHOWS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FIND THAT THIS HAS AND IS A PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN BMW AUTOMOBILES, WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. NOT TO MENTION INCONVENIENT SINCE YOU CAN NOT START OR DRIVE THE CAR. IT HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE FOR NO KNOWN REASON. I AM PRETTY DARN UPSET ABOUT THIS! LUCKILY I HAD JUST PUT THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MIGHT OF HAPPENED IF I WAS ON A PUBLIC STREET OR AWAY FROM MY HOME...PERHAPS IN A PARKING LOT. I WOULD BE STRANDED SINCE THE CAR CAN NOT START OR BE DRIVEN IF THE WHEEL IS LOCKED.

NHTSA ID
10895538
Incident
Aug 13, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 9, 2016

LH AND RH ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS WIRING INSULATION IS CRUMBLING POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A ELECTRICAL HEADLIGHT FIRE FROM THE EXPOSED BARE WIRES.

NHTSA ID
10825205
Incident
Nov 10, 2015
Mileage
84,089 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 2, 2015

MY PROBLEM STARTED 2 YEARS AGO. AFTER TWO DAYS OF VERY HEAVY RAIN I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND MY NAVIGATION SCREEN STARTED TO FLICKER THEN EVENTUALLY BURNED OUT OVER A TWO WEEK TIME ALSO MY RADIO STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. I DIDN'T HAVE THE 2,000 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. A FEW MONTHS LATER AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN I'VE NOTICED THE DRIVERS FLOOR SOAKED THEN THE CAR WAS HESITANT TO START. THE CAR OVER ANOTHER FEW MONTHS MY WIPERS WOULD CUT ON BY THEMSELVES AND I COULDN'T CUT THEM OFF. IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE WIPERS WERE STILL WORKING WITH NO KEY IN THE CAR... THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MECHANICS.. NOW MY WINDOW WORK INTERMITTENTLY SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T ...AT THIS TIME I ALSO SMELL THE ODOR OF A BURNING ELECTRICAL FROM TIME TO TIME.

NHTSA ID
10787870
Incident
Mar 20, 2015
Brakes
Filed Aug 24, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ID
10758825
Incident
Aug 23, 2015
Mileage
126,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 16, 2015

VEHICLE IS DISPLAYING A STEERING WHEEL LOCK. A RED WARNING LIGHT WITH A LOCK SYMBOL (UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER) IS ON THE PANEL DISPLAY. THIS IS VERY ALARMING AND DISTRACTING WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL IMPACT THE ACTUAL STEERING. SO FAR THE VEHICLE DOES START UP AND RUNS NORMALLY, BUT THE INDICATOR IS CONSTANTLY ON. I REVIEWED SOME OF THE ONLINE FORUMS AND SOME SUGGEST THAT THIS FAULT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO NOT START. MY DAUGHTER IS THE ONE NORMALLY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE GOING TO ASSIST TO GET HER ANOTHER VEHICLE, SINCE I DON'T KNOW IF THIS ONE IS SAFE.

NHTSA ID
10748947
Incident
Aug 15, 2015
Mileage
120,455 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V5640200 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER INFORMED CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PART BEING UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10596450
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed May 23, 2014

I HAD AN ON & OFF ISSUE SINCE LAST WEEK OF THIS YEAR ABOUT THE AIRBAG & SEATBELT WARNING BEING ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD & OVERHEAD CONSOLE OF MY 2007 BMW 530 XI. IT WILL STAY ON FOR A WHILE AS I START THE CAR BUT WILL TURN OFF BY ITSELF AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES. NOW SINCE LAST WEEK THE WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. THE IDRIVE SCREEN SHOWS " PASS. RESTRAINTS SYSTEM FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINTS SYSTEM AFFECTING THE AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SEATBELT. HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED BY BMW SERVICE CENTER". I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE & FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000. I CALLED BMW OF TENAFLY AND INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE I'M HAVING ON MY VEHICLE BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE VIN# OF MY CAR IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT FALLS INTO THE SAME CATEGORY OF MAKE, MODEL & YEAR OF VEHICLES BEING RECALLED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT AND DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593738
Incident
May 13, 2014
Mileage
63,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Oct 1, 2013

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING COMES ON SAYING THE AIR BAG IS IN DEFECT, THE SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING BUT WEAR SEAT BELT FOR SAFETY ANYWAY. MY CAR IS A 2007 MODEL THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WAS MADE WITH DEFECTIVE FAULTS, SINCE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEM IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BROADER RECALL THAN THEY THOUGHT!! MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW FOR REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10546369
Incident
Sep 23, 2013
Mileage
64,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 6, 2013

REPORTED ENGINE LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUIDS (LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AT THE TIME REPORTED) AND WAS ADVISED BY BMW DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, REPAIRS EXCEED $1000. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC'S ADVICE THAT IF TRANSMISSION GOES UNREPAIRED, RISK TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP AND NO LONGER DRIVABLE. BMW IS AWARE OF LATENT DEFECT AND POTENTIAL DAMAGE, SHOULD MAKE REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. BMW SHOULD ALSO BE CONCERNED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. TRANSMISSION FLUID RELEASES TOXINS THAT WHEN LEACHED INTO GROUNDWATER, REALSEASES CONTAMINATES INTO SOIL AND WATER, AND POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO ECOSYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10496662
Incident
Apr 8, 2011
Mileage
40,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 14, 2012

IDRIVE DISPLAYS SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG WARNING ON PASSENGER FRONT SEAT WHEN OCCUPIED BY PASSENGER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10470630
Incident
Feb 13, 2012
Mileage
115,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed May 8, 2012

VEHICLE KEEPS SAYING PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION. PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE YEAR 2004-2006 MODELS, FOR THE SAME REASON (PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION). THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER THE 2007, 2008, 2009 MODEL. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND I FEEL LIKE IF IT DOES, MY PASSENGER AIR BAG SHOULD DEPLOY WHEN THERE IS A BODY OCCUPYING THAT SEAT. THE CAR SAYS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM IN ANY VEHICLE, LET ALONE A BMW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10457839
Incident
Apr 1, 2012
Mileage
89,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jan 12, 2012

THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT AIRBAG/SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT SHOW UP BECAUSE THE MAT SENSOR UNDER PASSENAGE SEAT IS BROKEN BY NORMAL USE. BMW REFUSE TO HONOR THE FREE FIX FOR THIS ISSUE AND WANTED TO CHARGE AROUND $1300 FOR THE REPAIR THE SAFTY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10443609
Incident
Oct 20, 2011
Mileage
79,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 14, 2009

NOT PRECISELY SURE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT ALL 3 OCCURRENCES OF THIS PROBLEM HAVE HAPPENED AFTER I WASHED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT DRIVE IT. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING TO THE POINT IT COMPLETELY DRAINS THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY. AFTER THE SECOND TIME I WENT TO START THE VEHICLE, I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE 3RD TIME, ALL OF THE VEHICLE EXTERIOR LIGHTS HAD TURNED THEMSELVES ON DURING THE COURSE OF THE NIGHT, AND HAD ALMOST FULLY DISCHARGED THE BATTERY. THE CAR STARTED, BUT MANY ITEMS IN THE ELECTRONIC MEMORY WERE LOST, INCLUDING DATE AND TIME. THE CAR INVOLVED IS A 2007 BMW 528I, WHICH I PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO, CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10273744
Incident
Jun 10, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .