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2018 BMW 5 PHEV Series 4 DR AWD

4
Recalls
21
Complaints

Safety Ratings.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare vehicle safety when searching for a car. More stars mean safer cars.

Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
Overall Front Star Rating

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Front Driver Side
Front Passenger Side
Overall Side Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Driver
Passenger
Overall Side Pole Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Rollover Star Rating

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Complaints
Recalls

21 Complaints

for 2018 BMW 5 SERIES PHEV
08/15/2021
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 07/01/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA5C58JG******
Summary

Passenger Restraint System Malfunction. This is what randomly and constantly pops up. The fasten seat alert goes off the whole time I’m riding, although no one is in the passenger seat. I took it to the BMW service center twice and each time they keep my vehicles for hours, just to say they couldn’t duplicate the issue.

08/05/2021
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 08/02/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA9C59JB******
Summary

Passenger seat belt warning light activates even though there is no one or anything in the passenger seat.

05/26/2021
Components: AIR BAGS,SEATS
Incident Date: 04/21/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA7C55JW******
Summary

Passenger restrain system malfunction where airbags will not deploy if car is in accident. this seems as an issue with BMWs and they had recall before on certain models and years, dealers do not want to process claims under manufacturing warranty to fix an issue even the car is still under manufacturing warranty. claiming that water could have been spilled seems very convenient not to fix this issues. i took my car to dealer and they ran diagnostic test and charge me $200 to tell me to turn heat in the seat because moisture, sound unfair. week after that same message came on i am not sure how it is legal for BMW dealers to clear code and send people home and tell them to turn heat in the seat and hopefully problem goes away. which it did not and there should be recall for this issue especially if airbags are concern.

12/17/2020
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 12/17/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJE5C53JW******
Summary

WHEN BRAKING TO COME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT, THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO OVER 5000 RPM. I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR TO GET IT TO STOP. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, IT IMMEDIATELY REVVED UP TO OVER 7000, WHILE I STOOD ON THE BRAKE TO PREVENT IT FROM MOVING. SHUT IT OFF AGAIN, PUT FLASHERS ON AND WAITED A MINUTE. RESTARTED AND IT PERFORMED NORMALLY.

08/23/2020
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 08/11/2020
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA7C50JW******
Summary

MY CAR HAD UNDER 17,000 MILES AND HAD BEEN SERVICED ON SCHEDULE BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. I HAD BMW ANCHORED DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT IN PLACE. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW AND I WERE WEARING OUR SAFETY BELTS. WE WERE APPROACHING A FOUR-WAY INTERSECTION WITH A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE ROAD IS 35 MILES AN HOUR. I WAS DRIVING SLOWER THAN THAT SPEED. AS I WAS APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION WITH A RED LIGHT , I HAD TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. ALTHOUGH MY FOOT WAS NOT ON ANY PEDAL, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I HIT THE BRAKES BUT I COULD NOT SLOW THE CAR. I WAS RAPIDLY APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION AND OTHER VEHICLES. TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD WAS A HOUSE. I STEERED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE FIELD ON THE LEFT. I AM CERTAIN THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE OF ITS POSITION AND RESISTANCE. THE CAR HAD ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY FOOT ON ANY PEDAL. DUE THE CAR'S SPEED AND AN INCLINE AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE FIELD, THE CAR BECAME AIRBORNE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE LANDING HARD AND CONTINUING TOWARD A DUMPSTER. ALTHOUGH I WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR AWAY FROM THE DUMPSTER AND TOWARD A STEEP HILL AT THE END OF THE FIELD. THE CAR WAS SLOWED BY THE INCLINE AND CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I CALLED 911. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY HUSBAND AND THE POLICE OFFICER BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING IMPINGING UPON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS ADMITTED FOR ACUTE LUMBAR SPINAL COMPRESSION FRACTURE. I WAS EVALUATED IN THE ED AND RELEASED. BMW IS TO SEND AN ENGINEER FROM BMW TO EVALUATE MY CAR. THE BODY SHOP TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT AN EMPLOYEE STARTED MY CAR WHICH INITIALLY REVVED AT A HIGH RATE. UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION

01/07/2020
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/04/2020
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA9C52JB******
Summary

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCERLERATION

08/11/2019
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/01/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA9C53JB******
Summary

BACKUP CAMERA DOES NOT RELIABLY ACTIVATE WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN REVERSE. SCREEN ON INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BLANK WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISPLAYING THE BACKUP CAMERA. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY UPLOADED NEW SOFTWARE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, EVEN WITH THE NEW SOFTWARE.

05/06/2019
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 12/02/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA9C53JB******
Summary

THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OPENING WHILE MY CAR WAS IN MOTION. DURING THIS OCCURRENCE, WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR AND DRIVING, FIRST THROUGH A PARKING LOT, AND THEN TURNING RIGHT AND ACCELERATING ON A STREET, AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF. NO ALARMS, TONES OR WARNING LIGHTS WERE PRESENT UNTIL THE DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN.

05/06/2019
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 03/29/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA9C53JB******
Summary

VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAY A FASTEN SEAT BELT WARNING MESSAGE WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ALONG WITH A WARNING TONE EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS BUCKLED AND NO OTHER PEOPLE ARE IN THE CAR AND NO WEIGHT IS ON THE OTHER SEATS. MESSAGE OCCURS WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES OR DRIVING AND WILL SELF-CLEAR AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE. PROBLEM OCCURS SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY AND INTERMITTENTLY.

05/03/2019
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 10/27/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA9C53JB******
Summary

RIGHT FRONT DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WHEN DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF, A LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND A WARNING TONE SOUNDED. PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SLAMMED DOOR SHUT.

03/14/2019
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/14/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA9C5XJB******
Summary

AFTER HAVING MY BMW 530E RUN THROUGH A HAND AND SEMIAUTOMATED CAR WASH, THE CAR WAS DRIED AND DETAILED. WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR AND BEFORE TURNING THE 530E ON, THE IDRIVE SCREEN WAS DISPLAYING A WARNING MESSAGE INDICATING THAT "BATTERY CANNOT BE RECHARGED" AND TO "STOP CAREFULLY: POWER SUPPLY." THE UNDERCARRIAGE WASH WAS NOT DONE ON THIS TRIP TO THE CAR WASH AS IT IS AN ADDED FEATURE. CONTACTED BMW THROUGH THE IDRIVE SYSTEM AND SPOKE TO A MASTER TECHNICIAN WHO ADVISED TO NEVER DO A AN UNDERCARRIAGE WASH. HE ALSO ADVISED TO TURN OFF THE CAR FOR 10 MINUTES. AFTER 10 MINUTES THE MASTER TECH CALLED BACK AND I RESTARTED THE CAR AND ALL WARNINGS WERE GONE AND IDRIVE VEHICLE STATUS WAS "ALL SYSTEMS OK." MY 530E DROVE HOME 10 MILES WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ISSUES.

11/30/2018
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 11/29/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA5C53JG******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, DASH WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, ADVISING TO DRIVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST BMW SERVICE CENTER. AT THE SAME TIME THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER. WHILE TRYING TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR.

10/06/2018
Components: SEAT BELTS,AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 09/27/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA7C50JW******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING MESSAGE WILL POP UP REGARDING PASSANGER'S SEAT BELT AND EVEN DRIVER WAS FASTEN THE SEAT BELT MESSAGE WILL POP UP IN THE SCREEN TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT. IT WILL START AFTER 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING.

09/04/2018
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 09/04/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJE7C58JW******
Summary

PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION ERROR. THIS SHOWS UP ON STARTUP. I HAD THIS PROBLEM EARLIER AND SOME HOW THAT GOT GOT CORRECTED.

07/16/2018
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 08/22/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJE5C5XJW******
Summary

THE REAR CROSS-TRAFFIC/PEDESTRIAN ALERT SYSTEM IS DYSFUNCTIONAL. I HAVE HAD TWO OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS FEATURE AND AM QUITE FAMILIAR WITH IT. THIS VEHICLE IS INCAPABLE OF EFFECTIVELY DETECTING AND WARNING OF APPROACHING REAR TRAFFIC AND/OR (AND WORSE) PEDESTRIANS. REPEATED EFFORTS TO HAVE MY BMW DEALER ADDRESS IT HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS. BMW USA SIMPLY CIRCLES ME BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE NET RESULT IS "SAFELY TECHNOLOGY" THAT, IF RELIED UPON, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

07/12/2018
Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS
Incident Date: 05/01/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJE7C51JG******
Summary

FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW, MY CAR HAS BEEN THROWING A "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" ERROR. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND ONLY STAYS UP FOR BETWEEN 1 AND 5 MINUTES AT A TIME. IT WILL HAPPEN WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT, AND EVEN SOMETIMES AS SOON AS I TURN THE CAR ON. I HAVE BEEN SUBMITTING THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SINCE IT STARTED. I TRIED TO HAVE IT FIXED BY THOMPSON BMW, ONLY TO BE TOLD, LIKE THE OTHER USER WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM ON HERE, THAT THEY THINK MOISTURE IS THE CULPRIT. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY RAIN OR ANY OTHER MOISTURE GET INTO THE CAR, AND EVEN IF IT DID, THIS WOULD BE A HUGE SAFETY RISK. THOMPSON REFUSED TO FIX IT AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET FOR THE SEAT, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND THE CAR IS SCHEDULED TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP SOON. I WILL UPDATE WITH ANY DEVELOPMENTS, BUT IT WOULD APPEAR THAT MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED INDECENT.

07/05/2018
Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 07/03/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJE5C54JG******
Summary

RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE ON BMW 540I 2018, WITH 10600 MILES. PURCHASED AS FACTORY DEMO A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO. WILL BE TAKING IT TO SERVICE SOON. HOWEVER I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A LONG STANDING ISSUE WITH BMW-S THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT CORRECTING OR ISSUING RECALLS.

05/10/2018
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/05/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA7C50JG******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO WORK AT 9AM, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL MORNING TRAFFIC WAS MOVING VERY SMOOTH I WAS GOING 50MPH APPROXIMATELY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR JERKS FORWARD AND BACKWARD THEN A BEEPING SOUND AND STOP SUDDENLY ON THE VAN WYCK EXPRESSWAY I SAW MY LIFE FLASH IN FRONT OF MY EYES. LUCKILY THE PERSON BEHIND ME WAS LIKE TWO CARS AW1 CAR AWAY SO NO ONE COLLIDED IN ME , HOWEVER WHEN I LOOK THROUGH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR I SAW ALL THE TRUCKS AND CARS COMING DOWN I DON'T KNOW HOW I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR OVER INTO THE SERVICE LANE, THE CRAZINESS IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR STOP IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. IT'S BEEN A WEEK SINCE THIS HAPPEN AND I'M STILL HAVING ANXIETY. I AM HAVING A HARD TIME CHANGING THE CAR BECAUSE BMW INSISTED. THEY SAID SOME COLLISION AVOIDANCE WAS ON VERY SENSITIVE AND IT'S FIX NOW. BUT THE WHY WOULD A CAR STOP SUDDENLY ON A HIGHWAY WHEN NOTHING WAS IN FRONT ON ME AND NO OTHER VECHICLE WAS CLOSE BY I THANK GOD THAT I'M ABLE TO WRITE THIS I NEED SOME SERIOUS HELP BECAUSE IF I GET BACK IN THAT SAME CAR I'M GOING TO BE DRIVING IN FEAR FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS WHO DO I SPEAK TO REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I DIDN'T EXPECT TO GET THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT FROM BMW IS LIKE THEY DON'T CARE HOW IT'S AFFECTED ME IT'S ONLY 1 MONTH ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS CHANGE THE CAR I DID NOT PULL SLOT OF MILEAGE ON THE CAR I JUST GOT THE CAR I WAS I LOVE WITH THE CAR BUT AFTER THIS INCIDENT I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL EVER FEEL A 100% SAFE DRIVING A BMW. I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUE WITH MY 528I IT WAS PERFECT BUT IT'S SAD TO SAY THAT NOT THIS TIME AROUND. WHY AM I GOING THROUGH SO MUCH STRESS AND HEADACHE TO CHANGE THE VECHICLE IT'S JOT MY FAULT. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN BMW.

04/27/2018
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 04/04/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJE7C56JG******
Summary

ACCORDING TO BMW LITERATURE, UNDER APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER IS TO BE ALERTED BY MEANS OF VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL OF EITHER UNINTENTIONAL LANE CHANGES OR VEHICLES IN THE DRIVER'S BLIND SPOT WHILE SIGNALING A TURN. IN MY 540I, I CAN DETECT NO STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS AT ALL WITH THE 'LIGHT' AND 'MEDIUM' VIBRATION SETTINGS. WITH THE 'STRONG' SETTING, I CAN SOMETIMES DETECT A VERY SLIGHT VIBRATION ' IF I PAY CLOSE ATTENTION ' BUT IT IS VERY HARD TO DISTINGUISH FROM ROAD SURFACE FEEDBACK. IN ANY EVENT, THE "INTELLIGENT SAFETY SYSTEM" IS NOT ALERTING THE DRIVER OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO. THIS RESULTS IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. MY DEALER AND BMW HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

03/14/2018
Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 03/12/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA5C53JG******
Summary

CAR ISSUED A SAFETY WARNING CONCERNING, "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" STATING THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS LIMITED. WARNING SHOWS UP WHEN PASSENGER SEAT EMPTY AND WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING. DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER VERIFIED VEHICLE HAD ERROR CODE BUT STATED THEY "BELIEVE" IT IS MOISTURE IN THE SENSOR AND INSTRUCTED ME TO REDIRECT AIR CONDITIONING TO FLOOR WHEN WARNING COMES ON SCREEN. CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS REALLY JUST A SENSOR PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE IGNORED OR IF THERE IS ACTUALLY A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.

02/09/2018
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 02/03/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAJA9C54JB******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH ON A NORMAL PAVED CITY STREET STRAIGHTLY, DRIVER SIDE DOOR SUDDENLY EJECTED AND OPENED TO THE "HALF-LOCK HALF-OPEN" STATE (DOOR WAS FULLY LOCKED WHEN BEGINNING TO DRIVE, AND NO WARMING WAS DISPLAYED). AT THE INCIDENT, DOOR DID NOT "FLY OPEN" BUT THE LOCK WAS SUDDENLY DISABLED, AND DOOR OPENED ITSELF. AUDIO WARMING AND VISUAL WARMING ON DISPLAY WERE BOTH ACTIVATED AT THE TIME OF THE DOOR OPENING. I IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED TO A STOP AT THE NEAREST POSSIBLE AREA, AND MANUALLY CLOSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR.

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