2018 BMW 5 Series

2018 BMW 5 Series recalls (0)

No open NHTSA recalls were found for the 2018 BMW 5 Series. Verify by VIN for the specific vehicle, as recalls can be issued at any time.

2018 BMW 5 Series safety ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP ratings.

2018 BMW 5 Series owner complaints (15)

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

  My 2018 BMW 530e suddenly shut down while I was driving. I charged it overnight, but the next day it showed a check‑engine light and a drivetrain failure warning. I tried driving it again, and it drove for some distance and shutdown after few minutes. Luckily, i was able to park the car on the side of the road. I brought(towed) it to a mechanic, and he told me the issue was a CCU failure, which would cost about 12,000 to fix. I believe this should be covered by the manufacturer because this isn’t a normal wear‑and‑tear problem, and I can’t absorb such a high repair cost."

• ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,AIR BAGS

  The contact owns a 2018 BMW 530E. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for water pump repairs, the wrench warning light was illuminated, and the message "Passenger Seat Restraint Sensor Failure" was displayed. The contact stated that the dealer inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that the passenger's seat occupant weight sensor had failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to cost. The contact stated that the failure had persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

• AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS

  Passenger seat occupancy sensor faulty causing restraint system malfunction and seat belt warning

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I got a "Drivetrain malfunction" error on my 2018 530e bmw, which is a hybrid plug-in model. I sent the car to the local dealer. They did all the diagnosis and concluded the high voltage battery needed to be replaced. However, they told me that the warranty (80K/8 years) will not cover it although my card is still in the warranty period. The dealer said that the BMW North America made the decision and there was nothing they could do. Without replacing the battery, the car could fail on the highway, which could be a huge safety concern. I called BMW North America and talked to the warranty department, the guy sounded stoned/disillusioned with his job/just woke up and said there’s nothing he can do and the dealership already talked to the warranty department/somebody the public doesn’t have access to and the dealership goes with whatever that department tells them.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER

  Infotainment System interplay through audio voices coming from place of employment this have been unusual to audio system in various of my vehicles this over the air bugs are safety concerns as well as frequent unexpected wiper blade activation without touching for auto movement complex to electrical issues uncommon to vehicle routing infotainment system leading to unexpected interruptions sending false signals to vehicle electrical system causing many interruptions. highlighting the growing complexity and potential risks associated with vehicle software.implications, and solutions for these complex symptoms.

• AIR BAGS

  It keeps coming up with the error message passenger restraint system malfunction

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  Sunroof exploded, glass shards everywhere. This has to be a manufacturer defect

• ENGINE

  I was driving home after picking my son up from school and out of no where the vehicle temperature was in the red and a message popped up stating that vehicle coolant needed to be replenished but that continued driving of the vehicle was ok. It was not ok at all! The car started smoking and we were left stranded on the side of the road. I’ve read numerous blogs showing that the same thing has happened to other people and that there have even been recalls on other bmw’s in regards to the engine coolant system.

• SEAT BELTS

  The seatbelt/passenger seat fails to recognize a passenger is occupying the seat and turns off the airbag. This issue has been reported many times to BMW and on vehicle forums. This is an expensive fix ($2800) that should be issued a recall by the manufacture and not passed onto the owner of the car.

• AIR BAGS

  i have read all the forums and there are many complaints on this same safety issue and why hasn't a recall been issued? Passenger restraint system light stay on !

• AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS

  i was just driving my bmw and a airbag light and a malfunction error popped up on my dashboard, that read that the Passenger restraint system has malfunctioned. and i was doing some research on what was wrong with my car, and all the forums are indicating that this is a very common issue on these cars due to a bad seat occupancy sensor mat. to fix this you either still have to have an extended warranty if you don’t have one you have to pay upwards of 3,000$ to get this part replaced at a dealer. and me personally i don’t have the money to just spend on car repair of that amount and im sure alot of the other people with this same problem are in the same boat as me. this could be very dangerous because it puts all my passengers at risk if i were to get in a auto collision it would be devastating. i mean this should 100% be a recall because of this is a wide spread problem that puts many many people at risk. i haven’t been to the dealer with it yet, but i can self diagnose because countless people have been reporting on forums and online the same issue with the same error on the dash. my car hasn’t been in an accident yet so i haven’t had it inspected by insurance companies or police. this problem first appeared today and my heart dropped.

• SEAT BELTS,SEATS

  Constantly pops up a message for passenger restraint system malfunction. I had an accident where I swerved off the road into a ditch at about 60 mph. I the driver was not hurt and the passenger wouldn’t have been hurt either if it was for the passenger seat belt not locking correctly at first and then repeatedly locking and unlocking the entire time hurting his chest.

• ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  The contact's wife owns a 2018 BMW 530I. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir, and the warning light turned off; however, the check engine light soon returned. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where a diagnostic test discovered that coolant and freon had leaked from the turbo lines, causing damages to the oil housing and water pump. The dealer provided the contact with an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  1. Telematics Control Unit (TCU) Internal Emergency (Backup) Battery malfunction. It is available for inspection. It puts passengers at risk because passenger are not able to make emergency calls. Its warning message on dashboard blocks display of car mileage. BMW issued letter in December 2024 admitting to the defect. Our car 2018 BMW has been experiencing the malfunction since 2023.7 or earlier as evidenced by dealer service record. But BMW only in Dec 2024 started offering 6 year extended warranty from car delivery. BMW NA and dealership denied servicing the defect in our car when we requested in Jan 2025. We demand BMW to recall all cars having the defects or cover all extended warranty for 15 years. 2. GPS malfunction. GPS registers the wrong position of the car. It puts passengers at risk by directing them to wrong destinations such as open waters. Issue occurred since Dec. 2024. No warning sign.

• SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS

  On September 11, 2024, I took my vehicle to BMW of Great Neck for a tire and rim job under insurance. BMW failed to return my lug nuts, leaving my vehicle in an unsafe condition. It took nearly a month for them to provide the missing lug nuts. Upon inspection, each wheel had fewer than the required 5 lug nuts, creating a serious safety risk. On September 24, 2024, I had to return to BMW due to a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) sensor issue, which should not have occurred after their September 11th service. Instead of addressing the issue, BMW dismissed it and suggested I get it fixed elsewhere. BMW’s own manager confirmed my vehicle was returned in this unsafe condition. If I hadn’t noticed, this could have resulted in wheel detachment, loss of control, or a crash. Additionally, after a routine oil change on December 27, 2024, BMW’s Multi-Point Inspection (provided January 12, 2024) revealed: •A missing stiffening plate, which supports chassis integrity. BMW stated this could cause chassis damage. •Coolant expansion tank & vent hose leaks, affecting vehicle cooling. •Fluid leaks, which could worsen over time. Contradiction in BMW’s Diagnostics & Evidence of Negligence: •The 1/12 Multi-Point Inspection contradicts the 12/27 diagnostic image I captured from service advisor Kevin Guo. •BMW failed to identify these issues on 12/27, despite servicing my vehicle that day. •This suggests either a misdiagnosis, negligence, or an attempt to cover up damages. Safety Concerns & Inspection Status: •The wheel issue put my safety at risk, and BMW has not taken accountability. •The stiffening plate issue affects vehicle stability, which could lead to handling problems or structural failure. •These issues were confirmed by BMW’s own inspection report on 1/12/25, contradicting the 12/27 diagnostic. BMW of Great Neck’s negligence directly compromised my vehicle’s safety. I request an investigation into their repair practices to prevent this from happening to others.