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2016 BMW 5 Series Sedan
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
81 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Complaints are still coming in strong late in this car's life, a chronic-problem pattern, not early teething.
Electrical system problems dominate (41% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 BMW 5 Series 4 DR RWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 9%
2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 BMW 5 Series Sedan, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (33) · Engine & cooling (27) · Airbags (12) · Transmission & drivetrain (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
41%33 complaints · 33 in the last 2 years
“My coolant line overheated. From the leaking water pump and pcv that exploded all over my engine causing it to overheat and now how has not turned back on. Ive been wi…”
Engine & cooling
33%27 complaints · 27 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2016 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the pa…”
Engine
27%22 complaints · typically near 76k mi · 16 in the last 2 years
“My coolant line overheated. From the leaking water pump and pcv that exploded all over my engine causing it to overheat and now how has not turned back on. Ive been wi…”
Airbags
15%12 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“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.”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 BMW 5 SERIES SEDAN beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every 5 Series Sedan model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 BMW 5 Series Sedan against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.