The 2021 BMW 5 Series is associated with 27 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 10 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Electrical System, accounting for 5 reports (19% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 7 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2l 4-cyl, 2L 4-Cyl hybrid, 3L 6-Cyl hybrid, 2L 4-Cyl plug-in hybrid, 3l 6-cyl, and 4.4l 8-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 20 to 28 MPG combined. Plug-in hybrid variants are rated up to 64 MPGe (25–26 MPG on gasoline) with up to 21 miles of electric driving range. Detailed NHTSA crash-test ratings are not available in the current AutoUtility dataset for this model year. The 2021 BMW 5 Series belongs to the 7th generation (G30) 5 Series platform spanning model years 2017–2023.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 27 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 10 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Electrical System (5 / 19%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 2 crash / 1 fire / 0 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: Not rated by NHTSA
- • EPA Efficiency: 20–28 MPG (7 variants • PHEV up to 64 MPGe)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| 530i | 2L 4-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 25 MPG | 33 MPG | 28 MPG | — | $2,700 / yr |
| 530i xDrive Hybrid | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 23 MPG | 32 MPG | 27 MPG | — | $2,800 / yr |
| 540i Hybrid | 3L 6-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 25 MPG | 32 MPG | 27 MPG | — | $2,800 / yr |
| 530e Plug-in Hybrid | 2L 4-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 59 MPGe (24 MPG) | 72 MPGe (29 MPG) | 64 MPGe (26 MPG) | 21 mi EV (340 mi total) | $2,900 / yr |
| 540i xDrive | 3L 6-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 23 MPG | 31 MPG | 26 MPG | — | $2,900 / yr |
| 530e xDrive Plug-in Hybrid | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 59 MPGe (22 MPG) | 67 MPGe (28 MPG) | 62 MPGe (25 MPG) | 19 mi EV (320 mi total) | $3,050 / yr |
| M550i xDrive | 4.4L 8-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 17 MPG | 25 MPG | 20 MPG | — | $3,800 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| 4 DR AWD | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | — |
| 4 DR RWD | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | — |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2021 BMW 5 Series models.
View complete 2021 BMW 5 Series crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2021 BMW 5 Series problems & component breakdown (17 categories) →
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
Defect Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 BMW 330i, 2019-2022 BMW Z4, 2020-2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4, Toyota Supra, 2021-2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible, and 2022 BMW 230i vehicles. The engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 6, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov November 14, 2025.
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Defect Summary: 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.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
Defect Summary: 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.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on August 28, 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.
View all 2021 BMW 5 Series recalls & campaign history (10 campaigns) →