Your vehicleHome›BMW›5 Series› 2026

BMW · Midsize Sedan

2026 BMW 5 Series

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid

Midsize Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical 1

Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 1

Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 31 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2026 BMW 5 Series is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and hybrid midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 530i Sedan, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 1 complaint, most often about the electrical system.

BMW 5 Series — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — BMW 5 Series (2024 generation) · Photo: Benespit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
550e xDrive Sedan	Plug-in hybrid	AWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 145 kW PMSM	22	28	25 (41 MPGe blended)	34 mi electric	49	2 h	$3,300
530i Sedan	Hybrid	RWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	28	35	31	—	—	—	$2,650
530i xDrive Sedan	Hybrid	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	27	35	30	—	—	—	$2,750
540i xDrive Sedan	Hybrid	AWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	26	32	28	—	—	—	$2,950

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49756, 49272, 49273, 49274.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4

Engine Basics

Cylinders	6
Displacement	3 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

483 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Electric

Transmission

Drivetrain

AWD/All-Wheel Drive

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Optional: Adaptive cruise control

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes one configuration rather than every trim (seen: xDrive). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	199.2–200.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	74.8–77.6 in
Height	59.1–59.8 in
Wheelbase	118.1–118.5 in
Track, front	63.8–66.1 in
Track, rear	65.4 in
Curb weight	4,158–5,622 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	50/50 to 54/46

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 530I xDrive 4-door Sedan, 550E xDrive 4-door Sedan, M5 4-door Sedan, M5 Touring 4-door Wagon. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Electrical System

58,713 vehicles 71% reported repaired

Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2025 M5 Sportswagon, 2025-2026 M5, 2024-2025 750e xDrive, 2025-2026 550e xDrive, 2023-2025 I7, 2023-2025 7 Series, 2024-2026 i5, and 5 Series vehicles. The electrical wiring harness for the air conditioning system may become damaged during replacement of the cabin air filter. Risk A damaged wiring harness can short-circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the air conditioning system’s electrical wiring harness and add a retaining strap/bracket to the harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 13, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V096000 reported Feb 19, 2026 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific 5 Series

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2026 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. BMW publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →BMW’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2026 BMW 5 Series, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

1complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

0.6 per 10,000 built · BMW reported 18,083 5 Series built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1

Engine 1

Fuel/Propulsion System 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

I was going down the highway at about 75 mph in middle lane in Naples, Florida on June 26, 2026. It was about 85-90 degrees. Air Conditioning was on, I was not using cruise control. All of the sudden I got a bright red Emergency Message saying the car was non-functional and to pull over immediately.

Electrical System Jun 27, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11746960

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.

Reported by BMW itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 5.5 per 100,000 built. Every 5 Series model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

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

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 8

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-19

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 4 service bulletins, 2 others, 2 emissionss

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Structure.

B064226 Other
2026-08-19 · Structure — Body
Bonnet Release Holder
B120326 Emissions
2026-07-10 · Engine
Due to an implementation error in various OBD diagnostics in the vehicle's control units, in very rare cases itmay happen that stored fault memory codes (DTCs) and the MIL (warning light) are not automaticallydeleted even though the underlying malfunction has already been rectified. This does not comply with the statutory OBD specifications.
B511424 Service bulletin
2026-02-09 · Structure — Body
The hood is difficult to close, or may not close
B652825 Service bulletin
2025-12-10 · Electrical System
The vehicle may experience various operational issues with the Multifunction Display such as: Intermittent black screen Permanent black screen Intermittent head unit functions not displayed (i.e., Navigation screen only is black)
B652725 Service bulletin
2025-12-09 · Electrical System
The vehicle may experience various operational issues with the infotainment system such as: Resets of the head unit Delayed start-up of the head unit (longer than 30 seconds) Failed start-up of the head unit Sporadic or permanent problems with navigation Sporadic or permanent Bluetooth connection problems Sporadic or permanent audio problems Sporadic or permanent speech / IPA (international phonet
B066-25 Other
2025-11-20 · Engine
Expansion Tank Return
B652725 Service bulletin
2025-11-19 · Electrical System
RSU availability. The vehicle may experience various operation faults with the infotainment system such as: Resets of the head unit Delayed start-up of the head unit (longer than 30 seconds) Failed start-up of the head unit Sporadic or permanent problems with navigation Sporadic or permanent Bluetooth connection problems Sporadic or permanent audio problems Sporadic or permanent speech / IPA (inte

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

5 Series by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A^* 0 0 31 mpg 2026 this page B 1 1 31 mpg 2025 F 6 2 31 mpg 2024 F 7 18 30 mpg 2023 C 3 10 28 mpg 2022 F 4 19 Park outside 2021 F 9 27 Park outside 2020 F 8 15 Park outside 2019 C 3 40 Park outside 2018 F 7 89 Park outside 2017 B 2 38 27 mpg 2016 F 7 83 30 mpg

Common questions about the 2026 5 Series

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2026 BMW 5 Series have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2026 BMW 5 Series, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V096000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2026 BMW 5 Series?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2026 BMW 5 Series yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it B (85/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2026 BMW 5 Series?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2026 BMW 5 Series, the best EPA combined figure is 31 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2026 BMW 5 Series?

Transport Canada measured it at 199.2–200.8 in long, 74.8–77.6 in wide (body, without mirrors), 59.1–59.8 in tall, on a 118.1–118.5 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,158–5,622 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2026 BMW 5 Series?

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2026 BMW 5 Series, most often about electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

Are there service bulletins for the 2026 BMW 5 Series?

The manufacturer has filed 8 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2026 BMW 5 Series, most often covering electrical system, engine, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-08-19. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	none	EPA emission certificates	The EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	1	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	none	NHTSA NCAP	NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins	8	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	7 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

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). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API