BMW · Midsize car
BMW 5 Series
Every model year 2016–2027: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side.
| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Plug-in hybridHybrid | A | 0 | 0 | — | 31 mpg | |
| 2026 | Plug-in hybridHybrid | B | 1 | 1 | — | 31 mpg | |
| 2025 | Plug-in hybridHybrid | F | 6 | 2 | — | 31 mpg | |
| 2024 | Hybrid | F | 7 | 18 | — | 30 mpg | |
| 2023 | Plug-in hybridHybridGas | F | 4 | 9 | — | 28 mpg | |
| 2022 | Plug-in hybridHybridGas | F | 5 | 17 | — | 28 mpg | Park outside |
| 2021 | Plug-in hybridHybridGas | F | 10 | 26 | — | 28 mpg | Park outside |
| 2020 | Plug-in hybridGas | F | 8 | 15 | — | 28 mpg | Park outside |
| 2019 | Plug-in hybridGas | D | 3 | 38 | — | 29 mpg | Park outside |
| 2018 | Plug-in hybridGasDiesel | F | 7 | 85 | — | 30 mpg | Park outside |
| 2017 | Gas | B | 2 | 38 | ★★★★★ | 27 mpg | |
| 2016 | HybridGasDiesel | F | 7 | 81 | ★★★★★ | 30 mpg |
What changed year to year
- 2025: added plug-in hybrid; best combined mpg 30 → 31; 3 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2024: dropped plug-in hybrid, gas; best combined mpg 28 → 30; 7 → 3 EPA configurations
- 2022: 6 → 7 EPA configurations
- 2021: added hybrid
- 2020: best combined mpg 29 → 28
- 2019: dropped diesel; best combined mpg 30 → 29; 7 → 6 EPA configurations
- 2018: added plug-in hybrid, diesel; best combined mpg 27 → 30
- 2017: dropped hybrid, diesel; best combined mpg 30 → 27; 11 → 7 EPA configurations
Best 5 Series years to buy used
- 2017 — Safety B, 2 recalls, 38 complaints
- 2019 — Safety D, 3 recalls, 38 complaints
- 2023 — Safety F, 4 recalls, 9 complaints
- 2022 — Safety F, 5 recalls, 17 complaints
- 2025 — Safety F, 6 recalls, 2 complaints
Ranked by Safety Signal, then fewest complaints. Older years have had more time to accumulate both.