HomeBMW5 Series › 2023

2023 BMW 5 Series

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas Midsize car

202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Specs & fuel economyRecallsComplaintsCrash ratings
F
Safety Signal
54 / 100
FSafety Signal · 54 / 100
4Recalls · 2 critical
9Complaints · owner reports
Crash rating · NHTSA overall
28 mpgFuel economy · best combined

The 2023 BMW 5 Series is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas midsize car with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 530i Sedan, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 9 complaints, most often about engine.

Specs & fuel economy (EPA)

ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
530e SedanPlug-in hybridRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 80 kW PMSM242926 (37 MPGe blended)21 mi electric493 h$3,000
530e xDrive SedanPlug-in hybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 80 kW PMSM222825 (33 MPGe blended)19 mi electric533 h$3,100
540i SedanHybridRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion253227$2,850
540i xDrive SedanHybridAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion222925$3,100
530i SedanGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253328$2,750
530i xDrive SedanGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233226$3,000
M550i xDrive SedanGasAWD4.4L 8-cyl turbo172520$3,900

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.

Out of factory warranty soon?

The 2023 BMW 5 Series is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Power Train

high
27,720 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2026 840i, 840i xDrive, 2021-2023 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, and 2024-2026 750e xDrive vehicles. The connection between the driveshaft and the rear differential may become damaged, possibly resulting in a loss of power to the rear wheels or a vehicle rollaway.

Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. In addition, a damaged driveshaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the connection between the driveshaft and rear axle differential, and apply adhesive or replace the driveshaft and rear axle differential, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 2, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 2, 2026.

NHTSA campaign 26V525000 · reported Aug 12, 2026 · BMW of North America, LLC

Electrical System

critical
318,495 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Supra, 2022-2025 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2023 5 Series, 2022-2026 Z4, 2023-2024 4 Series Gran Coupe, 4 Series Convertible, 4 Series Coupe, 3 Series, 2021-2025 X4, and 2021-2024 X3 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all models. The engine starter may overheat and catch fire due to wear on an internal component.

Risk: Fire increases the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning August 28, 2026. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall 26V056.

NHTSA campaign 26V438000 · reported Jul 8, 2026 · BMW of North America, LLC

Electrical System

critical
87,394 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Toyota Supra, 2022-2023 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2024 5 Series (xDrive), 2021-2022 Z4, 2022-2024 4 Series (Gran Coupe), 2021-2024 4 Series (Convertible and xDrive Convertible), 2021-2023 4 Series (Coupe), 2021-2024 3 Series, 2021-2023 X4, 2021-2024 X3 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all models. The engine starter may overheat and catch fire due to wear on an internal component.

Risk: Fire increases the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 24, 2026.

NHTSA campaign 26V056000 · reported Jan 30, 2026 · BMW of North America, LLC

Power Train

high
552 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota GR Supra, 3 Series Sedan (330i xDrive, M340i xDrive, M3), 5 Series Sedan (530i, 530i xDrive, M5), 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 4 Series Convertible (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 8 Series Coupe (840i, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Convertible (840i, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Gran Coupe (850i xDrive, M8), X3 SAV (X3 xDrive30i, X3M), X4 SAV (X4 xDrive30i), X5 SAV (X5 xDrive40i, X5 M50i, X5M), X6 SAV (X6 xDrive40i, X6 M50i, X6M), and Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i vehicles. The weld seam of the integrated transmission control unit's cover may not have been manufactured prop

Risk: Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics module and the automatic transmission fluid, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign 23V821000 · reported Dec 6, 2023 · BMW of North America, LLC

Owner complaints

9 complaints filed

2 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.

Filed by year — 2023: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

  • Engine — 3
  • Service Brakes — 2
  • Back Over Prevention — 2
  • Structure — 2
  • Vehicle Speed Control — 2
“I own a 2023 BMW 530i affected by NHTSA recall campaign 26V-438 (BMW "Engine Starter" recall), issued July 8, 2026. Per BMW's own recall documentation, unexpected wear on an internal starter component can cause the starter to malfunction and, in an extreme case, cause a thermal event or fire when starting the engine OR…”Jul 25, 2026 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“My vehicle offers rear traffic alert system, but it is not working properly. It's a safety issue that I almost caused several accidents because of it. The vehicle is available for inspection. Safety to me and others are at risk because the feature is not working (rear traffic alert system). I have an appointment on May…”May 20, 2026 · Back Over Prevention · NHTSA owner report
“I purchased a 2021 BMW 530e from a BMW dealership still under warranty. Upon driving the vehicle I have noticed that there is a significant jerk forward when the car shifts from first to second. I have owned multiple BMW vehicles in the past and none of them exhibited this condition, but the three times it has been at …”Jun 23, 2025 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other 5 Series model years

A

2027 5 Series

0 recalls · 0 complaints

B

2026 5 Series

1 recalls · 1 complaints

F

2025 5 Series

6 recalls · 2 complaints

F

2024 5 Series

7 recalls · 18 complaints

F

2022 5 Series

5 recalls · 17 complaints

F

2021 5 Series

10 recalls · 26 complaints

F

2020 5 Series

8 recalls · 15 complaints

D

2019 5 Series

3 recalls · 38 complaints

F

2018 5 Series

7 recalls · 85 complaints

B

2017 5 Series

2 recalls · 38 complaints

F

2016 5 Series

7 recalls · 81 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 46246, 46247, 46133, 45520, 45518, 45519, 45521). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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