What are the most common problems with the 2014 BMW 5 Series?

Engine is the group named most often, with 76 of 153 complaints on file. Electrical has 39 and fuel/propulsion has 29.

Does the 2014 BMW 5 Series have recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year, covering a water pump connector, a driver air bag inflator, diesel EGR coolers, a diesel fuel pump and rear reflectors.

What gas mileage does the 2014 BMW 5 Series get?

EPA combined ratings run from 19 MPG for the 550i xDrive to 30 MPG for the 535d diesel. The 528i is rated 26 combined.

How safe is the 2014 BMW 5 Series?

NHTSA gives the 4 DR RWD body 5 stars overall and 4 stars in the frontal test.

2014 BMW 5 Series Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 153 owner complaints on file for the 2014 BMW 5 Series, and the engine is the group named most often^[1]^[2]. The model year also has 6 recalls on file, so check your car's VIN before you buy or keep one^[3].

153owner complaints^[1]

6recalls^[3]

19–30MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners reported problems to NHTSA in several areas. Five complaints mention a crash, 8 mention a fire, 5 mention injuries and none report a death^[1]. These are unverified owner reports, so treat them as signals and not as proof.

Engine. This is the biggest group, with 76 complaints^[2]. They include 2 crashes, 4 fires and 3 injuries, and the median mileage at failure is 77,500^[2]. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe the car stalling or shutting off while driving. Some diesel owners describe waiting for parts for the EGR cooler recall^[2].
Electrical system. 39 complaints, with 6 fires and 2 injuries, and a median failure mileage of 59,000^[6]. In the sample we read, owners describe a door that will not unlock from the inside, and a few describe fires^[6].
Fuel and propulsion. 29 complaints, with 1 fire and 1 injury, and a median failure mileage of 49,000^[7]. Owners of diesel cars in our sample describe a failed fuel pump and a sudden loss of power^[7].
Power train. 13 complaints, none with a crash, fire or injury, and a median failure mileage of 60,750^[8]. In the sample we read, owners describe stalling with the transmission locking in park, and driveshaft trouble^[8].

Smaller groups include unknown or other (12 complaints), structure (8), diesel fuel system (8) and exterior lighting (8, with 2 fires)^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12].

Recalls

NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year^[3]. Newest first:

Water pump connector (24V608). Issued 2024-08-13 for 720,796 vehicles^[13]. BMW's notice lists the 528i and 528i xDrive among many models^[13]. A connector on the water pump may not be sealed well, so water can reach it and cause a short, which raises the risk of fire. Dealers inspect and replace the pump and connector as needed and add a protective shield, free of charge^[13].
Driver air bag inflator (24V527). Issued 2024-07-11 for 1,145 vehicles^[14]. The notice names 2014 5 Series Sedan and 5 Series Gran Turismo^[14]. A manufacturing defect could make the inflator burst when the bag deploys, sending metal fragments toward people in the car. That raises the risk of injury or death. The driver's front air bag is replaced free of charge^[14].
Diesel EGR cooler (21V907). Issued 2021-11-19 for 50,404 vehicles, and the notice names the 535d and 535d xDrive^[15]. A leaking cooler can let coolant mix with soot, which could smolder and melt the intake manifold. That raises the risk of fire. Dealers replace the cooler, check the manifold and replace it if needed, free of charge. Cars handled under the earlier recall 18V-755 need this new fix^[15].
Diesel high-pressure fuel pump (21V586). Issued 2021-07-29 for 11,216 vehicles, and the notice names the 535d and 535d xDrive^[16]. The pump may fail and stall the engine while driving, which raises the risk of a crash. Dealers replace the pump free of charge^[16].
Diesel EGR cooler, earlier recall (18V755). Issued 2018-10-25 for 44,368 vehicles, and the notice names the 535d and 535d xDrive^[17]. It describes the same cooler leak and fire risk as 21V907. Dealers inspect and replace the cooler as needed, and replace the intake manifold if a leak already happened, all free of charge^[17].
Rear reflectors (15V188). Issued 2015-03-31 for 13,443 vehicles^[18]. The notice itself names model year 2013 cars, though it appears in the recall list for this model year. The rear reflectors may not reflect enough light, so the car may be harder for other drivers to see, which raises the risk of a crash. Dealers replace them free of charge^[18].

BMW customer service is listed in each notice as the contact for owners^[13].

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the version. Here are a few versions from our data:

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
535d diesel, rear-wheel drive^[4]	26 / 37 / 30	$3,200
528i, rear-wheel drive^[19]	23 / 33 / 26	$3,150
535i, rear-wheel drive^[20]	20 / 30 / 23	$3,550
550i, rear-wheel drive^[21]	17 / 25 / 20	$4,100
550i xDrive, all-wheel drive^[22]	16 / 24 / 19	$4,350

Across the listed versions, combined MPG runs from 19 to 30. The 535d diesel is highest at 30^[4], and the 550i versions are lowest at 19 or 20^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]. The 528i xDrive is rated 26 combined^[25]. The EPA's annual fuel cost uses its own fuel price assumptions.

Safety ratings

NHTSA rated the 4 DR RWD body at 5 stars overall, 4 stars in the frontal test, 5 stars for side and 5 stars for rollover^[5]. Its rollover risk is 9.3%^[5]^[26]^[27]. Our data has no ratings for other bodies.

Engine and size

EPA lists these power ratings for the 2014 5 Series:

2.0L 4-cylinder: 241 hp^[28]
3.0L 6-cylinder: 255 to 300 hp, depending on version^[29]
4.4L 8-cylinder: 443 to 448 hp, depending on version^[30]

Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications, converted to inches and pounds.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
528i sedan, RWD^[31]	193 in	73 in	57 in	117 in	3,814 lb
528i xDrive sedan^[32]	193 in	73 in	57 in	117 in	4,001 lb
535i xDrive sedan^[33]	193 in	73 in	57 in	117 in	4,156 lb
535d xDrive sedan^[34]	193 in	73 in	57 in	117 in	4,255 lb
550i sedan, RWD^[35]	193 in	73 in	57 in	117 in	4,365 lb
535i xDrive Gran Turismo^[36]	197 in	75 in	61 in	121 in	4,696 lb

How 2014 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each 5 Series model year. The 2014 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	48	3
1997	84	1
1998	66	2
1999	84	2
2000	93	2
2001	86	4
2002	88	4
2003	119	2
2004	321	6
2005	192	4
2006	388	11
2007	284	6
2008	432	6
2009	111	5
2010	180	12
2011	480	10
2012	265	6
2013	188	4
2014	153	6
2015	100	4
2016	81	7
2017	38	2
2018	86	5
2019	39	3
2020	15	8
2021	27	8
2022	17	3
2023	9	2
2024	18	7
2025	2	5

NHTSA lists 153 complaints and 6 recalls for 2014^[3]. The 2013 model year has 188 complaints and 4 recalls, and 2015 has 100 complaints and 4 recalls^[3]. The highest complaint count for any year is 480, for 2011^[3]. Counts like these are raw totals and do not show how often a problem happens, so use them only as a rough guide.

Should you buy a used 2014 5 Series?

The 2014 5 Series earned 5 stars overall from NHTSA for the 4 DR RWD body^[5]. It also has 6 recalls on file and 153 complaints, led by the engine group^[3]^[1]^[2]. Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and ask for proof that every recall repair was done. Be extra careful with a 535d diesel, which is named in three of the recalls^[15]^[16]^[17]. Our data does not cover oil capacity, towing or tire size, so look those up elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 BMW 5 Series?: Engine is the group named most often, with 76 of 153 complaints on file^[1]^[2]. Electrical has 39 and fuel/propulsion has 29^[6]^[7].
Does the 2014 BMW 5 Series have recalls?: NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year, covering a water pump connector, a driver air bag inflator, diesel EGR coolers, a diesel fuel pump and rear reflectors^[3]^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18].
What gas mileage does the 2014 BMW 5 Series get?: EPA combined ratings run from 19 MPG for the 550i xDrive to 30 MPG for the 535d diesel^[22]^[4]. The 528i is rated 26 combined^[19].
How safe is the 2014 BMW 5 Series?: NHTSA gives the 4 DR RWD body 5 stars overall and 4 stars in the frontal test^[5].

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 153 owner complaints on file for the 2014 BMW 5 Series (5 mention a crash, 8 a fire, 5 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
76 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 4 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 77,500). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every BMW 5 Series model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for 535d, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Diesel, Rear-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 37 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR RWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
39 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 6 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 59,000). NHTSA vehicle records
29 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 49,000). NHTSA vehicle records
13 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,750). NHTSA vehicle records
12 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 58,500). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the fuel system, diesel component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 24V608, filed August 13, 2024: Electrical System › Wiring › Connectors / Plugs / Receptacles. NHTSA recall database
Recall 24V527, filed July 11, 2024: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V907, filed November 19, 2021: Fuel System, Diesel. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V586, filed July 29, 2021: Fuel System, Diesel › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V755, filed October 25, 2018: Engine And Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve). NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V188, filed March 31, 2015: Exterior Lighting. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for 528i, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 33 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 535i, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 30 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 550i, 4.4L 8-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 550i xDrive, 4.4L 8-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 550i Gran Turismo, 4.4L 8-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 550i xDrive Gran Turismo, 4.4L 8-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 528i xDrive, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 32 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR RWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR RWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2014 BMW 5 Series with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 241 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 BMW 5 Series with 3.0L 6-cylinder: rated 255 to 300 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 BMW 5 Series with 4.4L 8-cylinder: rated 443 to 448 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 5 SERIES 528i 4 DR SEDAN RWD: length 193 in, width 73 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 117 in, curb weight 3,814 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 5 SERIES 528i xDRIVE 4 DR SEDAN AWD: length 193 in, width 73 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 117 in, curb weight 4,001 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 5 SERIES 535i xDrive 4 DR SEDAN AWD: length 193 in, width 73 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 117 in, curb weight 4,156 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 5 SERIES 535d xDrive 4 DR SEDAN AWD: length 193 in, width 73 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 117 in, curb weight 4,255 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 5 SERIES 550i 4 DR SEDAN RWD: length 193 in, width 73 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 117 in, curb weight 4,365 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 5 SERIES 535i xDrive Gran Turismo 5DR SEDAN A: length 197 in, width 75 in, height 61 in, wheelbase 121 in, curb weight 4,696 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2014 BMW 5 Series: problems, recalls and fuel economy