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BMW best and worst years: 3 Series, 5 Series, X3 and X5
Which model years drew the most and fewest owner complaints to NHTSA, with the recalls, warranty extensions and engines for each year. Counts, not scores.
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3 Series 5 Series X3 X5 How we count Reliability by engine
How we count, and what it can't tell you
- Owner complaints are the reports owners filed with NHTSA for each model year, 25,187 BMW car complaints for model years 2000 on, downloaded from NHTSA's public complaints data on 2026-10-18. A complaint that appears under two model names is counted once.
- They aren't adjusted for sales. A year that sold more cars will usually have more complaints. Older cars have had more years to collect them, and a recall in the news can bring a wave of reports. That is why we only name "fewest" years among cars at least four model years old, and why a low count is weaker evidence than a high one.
- Recalls and warranty extensions are counted when their published model-year range includes that year. Each may cover only some cars; check yours by VIN.
- BMW-acknowledged engine items, the number after each engine, count BMW warranty extensions, class-action settlements and emissions recalls whose own title names that engine, leaving out extensions on emissions-control parts. The engine ranking lists every one.
- We don't combine these into a score. The data can show where problems were reported; it can't predict how any one car will hold up. A pre-purchase inspection and the service history matter more than the model year.
BMW 3 Series
- Most owner complaints to NHTSA: 2006 (1,257; E46/E90), 2007 (1,041; E90), 2011 (935; E90/E9x M3).
- Fewest, among model years at least four years old: 1999 (0; E46), 2022 (16; G20/G80), 2019 (41; F30/F34/G20).
| Model year | Generations sold | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Warranty extensions | Engines (BMW-acknowledged engine items) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | E46 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2000 | E46 | 692 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2001 | E46 | 542 | 10 | 0 | M54 (0), S54 (0) |
| 2002 | E46 | 491 | 5 | 0 | M54 (0), S54 (0) |
| 2003 | E46 | 543 | 3 | 0 | M54 (0), S54 (0) |
| 2004 | E46 | 589 | 3 | 0 | M54 (0), S54 (0) |
| 2005 | E46 | 239 | 3 | 0 | M54 (0), S54 (0) |
| 2006 | E46, E90 | 1,257 | 10 | 6 | M54 (0), S54 (0), N52 (0) |
| 2007 | E90 | 1,041 | 7 | 11 | N52 (0), N54 (5) |
| 2008 | E90, E9x M3 | 773 | 7 | 9 | N52 (0), N54 (5), S65 (1) |
| 2009 | E90, E9x M3 | 433 | 7 | 10 | N52 (0), N54 (5), M57 (0), S65 (1) |
| 2010 | E90, E9x M3 | 289 | 9 | 11 | N52 (0), N54 (5), M57 (0), S65 (1) |
| 2011 | E90, E9x M3 | 935 | 11 | 11 | N52 (0), N55 (2), N54 (5), M57 (0), S65 (1) |
| 2012 | E90, E9x M3, F30 | 184 | 11 | 19 | N52 (0), N55 (2), N54 (5), S65 (1), N20 (4) |
| 2013 | E90, E9x M3, F30 | 404 | 7 | 20 | N52 (0), N55 (2), N54 (5), S65 (1), N20 (4) |
| 2014 | F30, F34 | 411 | 14 | 22 | N20 (4), N47 (2), N55 (2) |
| 2015 | F30, F34, F80 | 219 | 14 | 17 | N20 (4), N47 (2), N55 (2), S55 (0) |
| 2016 | F30, F34, F80 | 98 | 9 | 17 | N20 (4), N47 (2), B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), N55 (2), S55 (0) |
| 2017 | F30, F34, F80 | 77 | 7 | 16 | B46/B48 (0), N47 (2), B58 (1), S55 (0) |
| 2018 | F30, F34, F80 | 69 | 9 | 14 | B46/B48 (0), N47 (2), B58 (1), S55 (0) |
| 2019 | F30, F34, G20 | 41 | 15 | 11 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1) |
| 2020 | G20 | 106 | 19 | 11 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1) |
| 2021 | G20, G80 | 47 | 13 | 9 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S58 (0) |
| 2022 | G20, G80 | 16 | 5 | 8 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S58 (0) |
| 2023 | G20, G80 | 15 | 3 | 4 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S58 (0) |
| 2024 | G20, G80 | 11 | 2 | 5 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S58 (0) |
| 2025 | G20, G80 | 7 | 1 | 2 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S58 (0) |
| 2026 | G20, G80 | 1 | 0 | 0 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S58 (0) |
Complaints include every 3 Series body style and M model filed under that model year. Per-generation counts, with the components owners complained about most, are in each buyer's guide: E46, E90, E9x M3, F30, F34, F80, G20, G80.
BMW 5 Series
- Most owner complaints to NHTSA: 2011 (480; F10/F07), 2008 (438; E60), 2006 (427; E60).
- Fewest, among model years at least four years old: 2020 (19; F90/G30), 2022 (20; F90/G30), 2021 (31; F90/G30).
| Model year | Generations sold | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Warranty extensions | Engines (BMW-acknowledged engine items) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | E60 | 427 | 4 | 4 | N52 (0), N62 (0), S85 (0) |
| 2007 | E60 | 290 | 4 | 5 | N52 (0), N62 (0), S85 (0) |
| 2008 | E60 | 438 | 6 | 6 | N52 (0), N54 (5), N62 (0), S85 (0) |
| 2009 | E60 | 111 | 7 | 13 | N52 (0), N54 (5), N62 (0), S85 (0) |
| 2010 | E60, F07 | 181 | 9 | 14 | N52 (0), N54 (5), N62 (0), S85 (0), N55 (2), N63 (16) |
| 2011 | F10, F07 | 480 | 9 | 14 | N52 (0), N55 (2), N63 (16) |
| 2012 | F10, F07 | 265 | 8 | 19 | N20 (4), N55 (2), N63 (16) |
| 2013 | F10, F07 | 205 | 6 | 21 | N20 (4), N55 (2), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2014 | F10, F07 | 155 | 8 | 23 | N20 (4), N55 (2), N57 (2), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2015 | F10, F07 | 103 | 6 | 21 | N20 (4), N55 (2), N57 (2), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2016 | F10, F07 | 84 | 8 | 21 | N20 (4), N55 (2), N57 (2), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2017 | F07, G30 | 38 | 8 | 21 | N55 (2), N63 (16), B46/B48 (0), B58 (1) |
| 2018 | F90, G30 | 107 | 13 | 19 | S63 (5), B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), B57 (0), N63 (16) |
| 2019 | F90, G30 | 47 | 9 | 15 | S63 (5), B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), B57 (0), N63 (16) |
| 2020 | F90, G30 | 19 | 10 | 12 | S63 (5), B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), N63 (16) |
| 2021 | F90, G30 | 31 | 9 | 8 | S63 (5), B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), N63 (16) |
| 2022 | F90, G30 | 20 | 4 | 6 | S63 (5), B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), N63 (16) |
| 2023 | F90, G30 | 9 | 8 | 3 | S63 (5), B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), N63 (16) |
| 2024 | G60 | 39 | 11 | 3 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1) |
| 2025 | G60, G90 | 11 | 8 | 1 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S68 (0) |
| 2026 | G60, G90 | 1 | 1 | 0 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S68 (0) |
Complaints include every 5 Series body style and M model filed under that model year. Per-generation counts, with the components owners complained about most, are in each buyer's guide: E60, F10, F07, F90, G30, G60, G90.
BMW X3
- Most owner complaints to NHTSA: 2007 (258; E83), 2013 (226; F25), 2019 (171; G01).
- Fewest, among model years at least four years old: 2009 (35; E83), 2012 (48; F25), 2010 (55; E83).
| Model year | Generations sold | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Warranty extensions | Engines (BMW-acknowledged engine items) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | E83 | 143 | 4 | 4 | M54 (0) |
| 2007 | E83 | 258 | 5 | 3 | N52 (0) |
| 2008 | E83 | 122 | 5 | 3 | N52 (0) |
| 2009 | E83 | 35 | 5 | 4 | N52 (0) |
| 2010 | E83 | 55 | 7 | 4 | N52 (0) |
| 2011 | F25 | 126 | 8 | 5 | N52 (0), N55 (2) |
| 2012 | F25 | 48 | 10 | 9 | N20 (4), N55 (2) |
| 2013 | F25 | 226 | 10 | 9 | N20 (4), N55 (2) |
| 2014 | F25 | 86 | 12 | 10 | N20 (4), N55 (2), N47 (2) |
| 2015 | F25 | 105 | 11 | 10 | N20 (4), N55 (2), N47 (2) |
| 2016 | F25 | 82 | 5 | 9 | N20 (4), N55 (2), N47 (2) |
| 2017 | F25 | 92 | 6 | 11 | N20 (4), N55 (2), N47 (2) |
| 2018 | G01 | 76 | 15 | 10 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1) |
| 2019 | G01 | 171 | 14 | 8 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1) |
| 2020 | G01, F97 | 110 | 16 | 8 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S58 (0) |
| 2021 | G01, F97 | 113 | 11 | 6 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S58 (0) |
| 2022 | G01, F97 | 83 | 7 | 5 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S58 (0) |
| 2023 | G01, F97 | 15 | 4 | 3 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S58 (0) |
| 2024 | G01, F97 | 42 | 4 | 1 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1), S58 (0) |
| 2025 | G45 | 38 | 9 | 1 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1) |
| 2026 | G45 | 19 | 2 | 0 | B46/B48 (0), B58 (1) |
Complaints include every X3 body style and M model filed under that model year. Per-generation counts, with the components owners complained about most, are in each buyer's guide: E83, F25, G01, F97, G45.
BMW X5
- Most owner complaints to NHTSA: 2011 (331; E70), 2012 (295; E70), 2008 (235; E70).
- Fewest, among model years at least four years old: 2018 (73; F15/F85), 2016 (74; F15/F85), 2022 (74; G05/F95).
| Model year | Generations sold | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Warranty extensions | Engines (BMW-acknowledged engine items) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | E53 | 195 | 4 | 5 | M54 (0), N62 (0) |
| 2007 | E70 | 130 | 12 | 8 | N52 (0), N62 (0) |
| 2008 | E70 | 235 | 14 | 9 | N52 (0), N62 (0) |
| 2009 | E70 | 157 | 17 | 16 | N52 (0), N62 (0), M57 (0) |
| 2010 | E70 | 143 | 20 | 17 | N52 (0), N62 (0), M57 (0), S63 (5) |
| 2011 | E70 | 331 | 21 | 20 | N55 (2), M57 (0), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2012 | E70 | 295 | 18 | 17 | N55 (2), M57 (0), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2013 | E70 | 162 | 10 | 17 | N55 (2), M57 (0), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2014 | F15 | 99 | 13 | 20 | N55 (2), N57 (2), N63 (16) |
| 2015 | F15, F85 | 152 | 11 | 15 | N55 (2), N57 (2), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2016 | F15, F85 | 74 | 5 | 17 | N55 (2), N57 (2), N20 (4), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2017 | F15, F85 | 75 | 6 | 17 | N55 (2), N57 (2), N20 (4), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2018 | F15, F85 | 73 | 8 | 15 | N55 (2), N57 (2), N20 (4), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2019 | G05 | 192 | 14 | 13 | B58 (1) |
| 2020 | G05, F95 | 113 | 14 | 12 | B58 (1), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2021 | G05, F95 | 110 | 14 | 10 | B58 (1), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2022 | G05, F95 | 74 | 2 | 11 | B58 (1), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2023 | G05, F95 | 33 | 12 | 5 | B58 (1), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2024 | G05, F95 | 145 | 10 | 4 | B58 (1), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2025 | G05, F95 | 63 | 6 | 2 | B58 (1), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
| 2026 | G05, F95 | 27 | 2 | 0 | B58 (1), N63 (16), S63 (5) |
Complaints include every X5 body style and M model filed under that model year. Per-generation counts, with the components owners complained about most, are in each buyer's guide: E53, E70, F15, F85, G05, F95.