Home · 2016 BMW 5 Series Hybrid Sedan Phev · Complaints

What 81 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 BMW 5 Series Hybrid Sedan Phev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (81)Crash / fire / injury (6)Electrical system (33)Engine & cooling (27)Engine (22)Airbags (12)Transmission & drivetrain (5)Fuel system (4)Fuel System, Diesel (3)Suspension (3)Tires (3)Lights (2)

12 of 81 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters

Nov 18, 2024Engine & coolingElectrical systemAirbags

The contact owns a 2016 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact received a message displaying a hazard symbol for the driver restraint system. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the fault for the driver’s side air bag Intel Stage 2. The dealer confirmed that there was an internal disconnect with the air bag that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer confirmed that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the repair was not included in the recall or covered under warranty. The failure mileage was 17,700. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11625951

Sep 26, 2024Airbags

Passenger restraint system malfunction, available for inspection. Passenger side air bag will not work if in an accident Problem has been confirmed by dealer Warning lamp appeared approximately 4-5 weeks ago, prior to that no symptoms. Just happened all of a sudden.

NHTSA ODI 11616563

Sep 10, 2024Airbags

Some wires within the steering wheel deteriorated causing my driver air bag to no longer be connected and my horn no longer works to alert other drivers.

NHTSA ODI 11613768

Apr 10, 2024Airbags

PASSENGER RESTRAIN MALFUNCTION

NHTSA ODI 11582126

Mar 27, 2024Airbags

The driver restraint system malfunctioned out of the blue. It’s still at the dealership where I’m paying to have it diagnosed. This problem is so common it is a running joke on Twitter, yet there’s no recall on my car that is only 8 years old.

NHTSA ODI 11579693

Feb 6, 2024Airbags

The passenger air bag signal flashes on and off even when someone is seating on the passenger seat.

NHTSA ODI 11570431

Feb 2, 2024Airbags

Air Bag warning light stays on.

NHTSA ODI 11569571

Jun 3, 2023Airbags

*drivers' restraint system t * There is a big possibility that airbags won't deploy when I need them to. *Confirmed by dealership *Yes vehicle has been inspected by BMW dealership. * There was no warning no other symptoms

NHTSA ODI 11525214

Feb 8, 2023Airbags

The driver's side supplemental restraint warning light has come on and stays on. I have an appointment with my service center.

NHTSA ODI 11506240

Feb 29, 2020Airbags

MY CAR IS SHOWING A WARNING SIGN PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION

NHTSA ODI 11312190

Apr 9, 2018AirbagsBrakesCrash1 injury

TAKATA RECALL,, 12-20-2017 I WAS IN A COLLISION. MY VEHICLE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE WHILE TRYING TO STOP. I WAS ALONE IN MY VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE STEERING WHEEL AND KNEE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. BMW UPON MY REQUEST AND COMPLAINTS HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED MY ONE OF THEIR ENGINEERS. WHO I WAS TOLD SAID THAT THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. WHEN I ASKED THEM WHY WOULD THE PASSENGERS IF I WAS ALONE AND WAS TOLD OH THAT'S A SAFETY PRECAUTION DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11083916

Aug 2, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE ON 7/31/2017 OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING MY VEHICLE AND TAKATA AIR BAGS.; HOWEVER BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX THE AIR BAG PROBLEM. IS BMW OBLIGATED TO FIX THE AIR BAG PROBLEM REGARDLESS IF I JOIN THE SUIT OR NOT?

NHTSA ODI 11012313

Working with the data? Download all 81 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 BMW 5 Series Hybrid Sedan Phev verdict →