42 complaints reported

2010 BMW 5 Series Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
42
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Mar 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER (FLEMINGTON BMW, 216 US HIGHWAY 202 31, FLEMINGTON, NJ 08822, (908) 788-2691) INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO WAIT TO RECEIVE A SECOND LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER, AND THAT PARTS MAY BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE SUMMER OF 2018. THE DEALER MADE NO MENTION OF INSPECTING THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THE PART WOULD PREMATURELY FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 528XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2017
Feb 2018

VEHICLE STALLED TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH; THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BOTH TIMES. ANOTHER TIME IT STALLED WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE BMW IN BATON ROUGE FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS NOW AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THERE IS NOT YET A FIX FROM BMW.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 528I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2018
Feb 2018

EACH TIME I STARTED THE ENGINE , THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, INVOLVING THE PCV VALVE, WHICH ALSO RELATES TO LEAKAGE OF ENGINE OIL. THE RECALL POSES A FIRE RISK . I'VE CONTACTED BMW, THEY STATED "UNFORTUNATELY, THE PARTS AND PROCEDURES AREN'T AVAILABLE TO ANY DEALER YET. BMW IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON PRODUCING THE PARTS FOR THIS RECALL. " I HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME TO WHICH THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM , THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS ON THE NEWS OF BMW CARS THAT HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE , EVEN WHILE JUST BEING PARKED. I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND I'M VER CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 528I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Sep 2017
Jan 2018

ON 11/17/17 I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MY WIFE WHO HAD A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE DRIVING OUR BMW. SHE WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY 3 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR FAILED CREATING A VERY LOUD SCARY SHRILL NOISE, NOT UNLIKE A SIREN. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN SURGING CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOSE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS GIVING A FEELING FOR THE DRIVER OF LACK OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FEAR OF HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SPEAK WITH EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I MET MY WIFE AT A SHOPPING CENTER AND SWITCHED CARS WITH HER, AND CAREFULLY DRIVING THE DAMAGED CAR HOME. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR, 2500 DOLLARS, PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE IS NOT A GOOD OPTION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 528XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 1917
Dec 2017

ON SUNDAY 12/03 I SUDDENLY HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING AND IMMEDIATELY REACHED THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED. THE DIAGNOSIS I RECEIVED IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A FATAL FAILURE OF BEARING THAT CAUSE THE ENGINE TO GET DAMAGED AND IN NEED TO BE REPLACED. I LOOKED UP ON THE WEB AND FOUND OUT THAT IN 2014 BMW HAD A WORLDWIDE RECALL OF 2010 5 SERIES MODELS FOR A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD HAVE GENERATED THE SAME FAILURE I HAVE EXPERIENCE, SUDDENLY, ON SUNDAY. MY CAR WAS NEVER RECALLED, BUT THE FAILURE MODE AND THE YEAR OF THE MODEL ARE STRIKINGLY SIMILAR. THE RECALL I AM REFERENCING IS 14V-176 FOR THE VANOS. THE AFFECTED 5 SERIES MODELS WERE PRODUCED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 2010 ' AUGUST 2011. MY 5 SERIES WAS MANUFACTURED ON OCTOBER 2009, THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER THE FAILURE IS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE DESCRIBED BY THE RECALL AND I FEEL THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE INCLUSIVE. MY 535 HAD 130 K MILES, WHICH DO NOT WARRANT SUCH A DRASTIC FAILURE, ESPECIALLY SINCE HAS BEEN DILIGENTLY SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE. LAST OIL CHANGE HAD STILL 9000 MILES TO SPARE AND WHEN THEY REPLACED THE FILTER NOTHING WAS NOTICED. SUCH A DRASTIC AND RAPID FAILURE IT IS NOT OTHERWISE EXPLAINABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 5-SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2017
Jul 2017

ENGINE VALVE COVERS CRACKED, LEADING TO ACCUMULATED OIL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2017
Sep 2016 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO. THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Sep 2016
Jul 2016

ENGINE OIL LEAKING FROM COMMON VALVE COVER LEAK. CAUSES SUDDEN POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2016
May 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535XI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT WITH AN ENGINE LOSS. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE CAM SHAFT IN THE ENGINE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 535XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Apr 2014
Apr 2014

ON 9-2-14 SURROUND 11:30 AM AC UNIT STOPPED WORKING, COMPRESSOR ON THE AC UNIT IS IN FUNCTION, HOWEVER THE AC FAN IS NOT BLOWING AIR, THERE IS NO MALFUNCTION ON FUSES OR RELAYS, THERE'S MIGHT BE AN INDICATION OF THE FSU OR FINAL STAGE UNIT AS OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS PART. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 528I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2014
Mar 2014

INJECTORS FAIL AT JUST 59000; REQUIRE ALL SIX INJECTORS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 535XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2013
Mar 2014

HAD 3 IGNITION COILS REPLACED AT 49000 MILES. WAS CAUSING ROUGH IDLE. HAD 3 MORE IGNITION COILS REPLACED AT 67000 MILES. WAS CAUSING ROUGH IDLE. HAD FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED IN CYLINDER 3. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 535XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Sep 2014
Jun 2013

FROM A VERY SLOW ROLL THERE IS A DELAY IN ENGINE RESPONSE OF 1-2 SECONDS. THERE IS ALSO A DELAY IN ENGINE RESPONSE IN THE 10-30 MPH RANGE OF THE SAME LENGTH OF TIME. THE SLOW ROLL EVENT CAN CAUSE CONFUSION TO OTHER DRIVERS WHO BELIEVE YOU ARE YIELDING THE RIGHT AWAY WHEN YOU DO NOT ACCELERATE IN A TIMELY MANNER GOING FORWARD OR MAKING A TURNING MOVEMENT. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT IF A PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLIST OR ANOTHER CAR TAKES THE DELAY AS A SIGN THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY. THE DELAYED ENGINE RESPONSE IN THE 10-30 MPH RANGE IS OF GREAT CONCERN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO A FREEWAY FROM A SHORT ON-RAMP IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE RESPONSE DELAY IS VERY PRONOUNCED UNDER HARD THROTTLE AND HAS CAUSED HEAVY BRAKING BY CARS UNSURE IF I'M GOING TO BE AT SPEED WHEN MERGING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 550I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Oct 2010

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR LOST POWER WHEN REVS WENT UP ABOVE 3.5K RPM AND RECOVERED AS SOON AS REVS FELL BELOW THIS RANGE. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE WITH THE ABRUPT REDUCTION IN SPEED. I TOOK THE CAR TO BMW FOR SERVICE AND THEY REPORTED IT HAD BEEN FIXED. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH ON THE LEFTMOST LANE OF A THREE LANE HIGHWAY. THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND A WARNING WAS DISPLAYED INDICATING: "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE AT REDUCED POWER". THERE WAS NO POWER AT ALL. THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY OFF, CAR SWITCHED TO NEUTRAL. I TURNED THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON SINCE THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUTING TRAFFIC AND THE QUICK REDUCTION IN SPEED COULD HAVE AGAIN RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I MANAGED TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. CAR WAS TOWED AND IS BEING SERVICED BY BMW. SEARCHING THE WEB I FOUND NUMEROUS REFERENCES TO THIS EXACT PROBLEM REPORTED AS EARLY AS 2008. SOME OF THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THIS ISSUE HAPPENED A FEW TIMES TO THE SAME CAR EVEN AFTER THE ISSUE WAS DECLARED RESOLVED. I AM DUMBFOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED. DOES IT TAKE SOMEONE DYING FOR ANYONE TO PAY ATTENTION AND DO THE RIGHT THING? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 5-SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Aug 2010
Sep 2010

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. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2009
Jul 2010

UPON DELIVERY OF VEHICLE LEAKING OIL, TURNS OUT TO BE THE HEAT TRANSFERER UNTIL. PART REPLACED FROM MFG, THEN FUEL PUMP CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP DEAD WITH 5000 MILES ON IT, NOISE ON CAR FROM DELIVERY IN FOR SERVICE MORE THAN 3 TIMES REQUIRED A NEW TRANSMISSION. WANTING TO LEMON LAW THE VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2009
Jun 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, IT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REBOOTED THE COMPUTER AND REPROGRAMMED FAULTY CODES AT LEAST SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE ALSO WOULD NOT START AT TIMES. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS PARKED AT HIS HOME AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,299. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2010 BMW 535I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2009

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2010 BMW 5 Series has 42 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.